Each month, Built in Los Angeles features some of the key players in Los Angeles' burgeoning tech space and the women who are making it all happen. We'll ask these founders, strategists, developers and innovators what drives them forward, their secrets to success, and what advice they have for the next generation of female entrepreneurs.
Kara Nortman
CEO & Co-Founder | Moonfrye
All art is derived from other art. Ideas are a form of art and in order to progress with your ideas you should share them. This is Kara's belief, and she works her tukhus off each day to stay focused in a room full of creatives and their aspirations.
[ibimage==28656==Original==none==self==ibimage_align-left]
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am the CEO of Moonfrye, a company that is dedicated to bridging the gap between digital and real world creativity. Our unique theme-based products transport you virtually anywhere - a DJ booth, the circus, a candy-filled wonderland, a sports stadium or exotic destinations like Tokyo and London. The experience starts with our free photo app, where you can transform your photographs into amazing themed collages.
HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?
It was not somethig I was actively seeking out but rather it found me. I met my incredible Co-Founder and we hit it off in a way that I could not imagine. We shared a common mission and had an incredible couple of months of working through ideas together. I started as an advisor but in the process of many late night sessions, the idea for the new company got under my skin and became something I felt I had to do. I only knew that I really wanted to go for it after I sat with the idea, allowed it to marinate a while, and worked on it as a side project for three to four months. And I did it because I found a great partner with a complementary skill set who I also thought I would enjoy spending endless hours with each week.
WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?
Give your ideas to other people on your team, allow them to take them and make them their own. Now I try to make every good idea that may begin with me someone else's idea. It is meaningless where an idea begins. The only thing that matters is whether it can be executed. I view my role as the coach that removes obstacles and organizes around that idea.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ON A DAILY BASIS?
Staying focused. I work with incredibly bright, creative, talented team members who have incredible ideas of where and how to evolve product every day. We constantly remind ourselves what we are not doing is as important as what we are doing.
WHAT'S YOUR SECRET WEAPON?
My transparency. I try to over-communicarte and make everyone feel a part of important matters in the company. So I will do a brief right after a board meeting. I try to confront any challenges head on, etc.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE?
Dark chocolate with sea salt, Tom's wedges, long emails (I try to caveat these with "read at your leisure") and visits from my kids at the office.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I was a scooper at Ben & Jerry's and not to brag, but I was rapidly promoted to "super" scooper.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
Always try to be a great team player and fill hoels as they come up without looking for recognition. When you see an opportunity to ebe helpful to a team or organization, jump in and lead by example. People who move up are the people who fill the role they want to have before they have it without looking for immediate recognition.
Connect with Kara and email her at [email protected]
.jpg)
.png)
