Amanda Kahlow
CEO & Founder at 6Sense & Advisor to Girl Rising
Discussion
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
Hi - I'm Amanda Kahlow, founder and CEO of 6sense and an advisor to Girl Rising. I'm committed to creating a different kind of Silicon Valley technology start-up. One not only led by a woman, but run with passion, discipline, integrity and accountability. I'm delighted to be here to share my story - ask me anything!
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Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
What does it take to run a different kind of SV tech company? What are the biggest challenges your are facing with it?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@bentossell it takes patience... persistence... and be ready to make HUGE life sacrifices... to run a company... to run a different kind of company it take a big heart. To truly be ready to put your employees first, and love them and care!
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@bentossell Biggest challenges is to be PRESENT in every moment. not let the little shit bother me or throw me off course. remembering this is a marathon ... and every moment matters most
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
What have been some of the biggest challenges getting 6sense off the ground? How have you overcome these?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@ems_hodge staying focused on OUR mission. I am a big big believer not to focus on the competition... of course know your competition, but don't try to emulate it... you know what is best for your biz. stay true to yourself and your vision. don't let ONE persons opinion move you... listen but be confident
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@ems_hodge another big challenge ... the more successful you are, the more you need to succeed. we've had great success and the bar just gets higher and higher... harder and harder. But truly its so wicked fun when you know you are doing something very different and are solving real problems.
Jacqueline von Tesmar
@jacqvon · Community, Product Hunt ✌️😻
What industries would you place your bets on in the next 10-20 years?
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@bentossell great question. I wanted to be a teacher. Of Kindergarden. Then in college i thought well, theres muchc money in that... so i'll go out make money in the biz world then be a teacher.... then i later in life thougght no i'll just start a school. See my answser above... i wrote a biz plan... then entered GirlRising,.... now I think i'll start a billion schools in Africa one day. :) its still my dream. and my passion.
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
@amandakahlow I wanted to be a teacher too!!!
Ramo Raccoon
@rasmus_moe
Hi Amanda, as a founder how were you able to assemble a good team. Did you create 6sense alone or co-found it with an entrepreneurial team?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@rasmus_moe i started it alone... then after 66 VC No's ... i knew i needed a stronger tech team... and co-founders. so I merged w a very strong big data team... YC backed. And enter 6sense.
Jacqueline von Tesmar
@jacqvon · Community, Product Hunt ✌️😻
Was there one thing that led you down the path towards empowering women? Did you always know you wanted to focus on that?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@jacqvon i think the path found me... i have been fortune that my message has resonated w women, and projects and opportunities to help have been presented to me... i a believer in listening to the signs and it just was really clear when i tuned in to myself and to the universe
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
What would you do with a billion dollars?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@bentossell whos to say i don't have it?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@bentossell be on the cover of Forbes magazine...
"i want to be a billionare' song reference :)
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@bentossell but okay i would start w my boat w a sand volleyball court w dolphins that toss the ball back when it goes over... then i would focus my time my life and my money on spreading the word about the power of educating girls in developing nations...
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@andrewett @bentossell @andreasklinger awesome!!!
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
@amandakahlow @andrewett @andreasklinger I prefer the sound of a yacht!
Andreas Klinger
@andreasklinger · Tech at Product Hunt 💃
Martin Skakala
@mskakala · Founder & CEO WakesApp.com
Hi Amanda, great to have you here! What is the difference in the marketing you guys did in the first 6-12 months as opposed to what works best at the moment? Thanks & good luck to your team!
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@mskakala great question... we were very events driven. in the first year we got me on every stage we possibly could. I love speaking so that helps... :) and we always try to stay one step ahead of the trends... we came up with the category 'predictive intelligence' and today its where everyone in our space puts themselves. We also did a ton of marketing thru partners ... find thought leaders and work with them.... to reach their audience.
Jacqueline von Tesmar
@jacqvon · Community, Product Hunt ✌️😻
Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been before?
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@jacqvon i need to visit my house more
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Amanda Kahlow
@amandakahlow · CEO and founder, 6sense
@jacqvon but that aside i've traveled to 36 countries... so feel very well traveled. that said, we just hired 2 amazing developer from @andela and they live in Lagos Nigeria. i want to go visit them soon as possible. They were just here for 9 weeks and had to go home on friday. I was in tears. As i love them so much ... just as any other 6ensor. ..