In today’s episode, I speak with Patricia Lizarraga, managing partner at Hypatia Capital. She founded the Hypatia Women CEO ETF, the only investment fund dedicated to publicly traded companies led by women. After decades on Wall Street, she’s seen firsthand what separates high-performing leaders from those who struggle to scale. From funding pitfalls to marketing missteps to the power of bold decision-making, we unpack the key strategies that drive business success.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Patricia Lizarraga and Hypatia Capital
02:00 Patricia’s path to Wall Street
06:00 Discovering a market gap in 2015
10:00 Her realization that women-led companies outperform
14:30 Challenges and insights of marketing an ETF
19:45 Raising capital and building an advisory board
25:00 Key business trends for 2025
Key Takeaways for Business Leaders:
Underestimating time and capital leads to failure. Patricia explains why funding and milestones often take two to three times longer than expected, causing startups to run out of resources too soon. Founders who plan for extended timelines and tighter financial management increase their chances of success.
Social media and storytelling reshape brand awareness. Platforms like LinkedIn and email campaigns level the playing field but success comes from using storytelling to create emotional connections that lead to action.
Building an advisory network accelerates growth. Many founders hesitate to formalize an advisory board, but Patricia explains how structured conversations with trusted advisors provide accountability, fresh insights, and strategic connections.
Investing in women-led businesses is a smart financial strategy. Women-led companies consistently outperform, yet they remain underfunded. Patricia discusses how the Hypatia Women CEO ETF is shifting this narrative and why investing in women is a data-driven opportunity.
Casting a wider net leads to unexpected opportunities. Patricia shares how reaching beyond your existing network—through bold outreach and engaging new connections—can open doors to valuable partnerships and fresh perspectives.
Listen on Apple Podcasts here.
Listen on Spotify here.
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Connect with Patricia Lizarraga
www.wceoetf.com
www.hypatiainvestathon.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricializarraga/
patricia.lizarraga@hypatiacapital.com
Connect with Christie Bilbrey
http://www.christiebilbrey.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiebilbrey
Instagram: https://instagram.com/christiebilbrey
Grow Your Business as a Podcast Guest: https://bit.ly/pod-guesting
Create Your Buyer Persona: https://bit.ly/3H4Q2Hw
