Smart in Public Why Comms People Make Great VCs with Ashley Mayer, Co-Founder & GP at Coalition
What happens when one of tech's sharpest communications minds crosses over to the investment side? Ashley Mayer, co-founder and GP at Coalition, made the leap from leading comms at some of the most talked-about startups to backing them and the Katies want to know what she's learned sitting in both seats.
Ashley unpacks the messy reality of startup storytelling, why the "chief storyteller" title usually falls on founders whether they want it or not, and how the tech industry's current anti-hero moment is forcing communicators to completely rethink their playbooks.
We covered some pretty awesome shit:
🔥 The VC perspective flip - Sitting on the investor side completely changed her understanding of what communications actually delivers for businesses
🎭 The anti-hero era explained - Why tech's moral complexity moment requires a totally different communications approach than the "change the world" narrative from 5 years ago
🛡️ Psychological safety for founders - Founders need a safe space to explore their company's story before they can tell it publicly
📊 Active operators vs. traditional VCs - How Coalition's model of actual operators creates different (and better) support for portfolio companies
🧭 Navigating narrative shifts - Practical advice on adapting your messaging to the current zeitgeist without abandoning your core values
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