OVER DEZE AFLEVERING
She Started With IKEA Furniture and a $5,000 Loan
In this episode, Amanda Lewan, co-founder and CEO of Bamboo, shares her journey of transforming a small co-working space into a statewide innovation network in Michigan. She discusses the challenges, mindset shifts, and community-driven approach that fueled her success, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs and community builders.
Key Topics:
- The origins of Bamboo and Amanda's accidental entrepreneurial start
- Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leader and woman entrepreneur
- The importance of passion and purpose in building a sustainable business
- Navigating growth and expansion during uncertain times like the pandemic
- The role of community, diversity, and third spaces in fostering innovation
- Balancing motherhood, leadership, and personal well-being
- Practical advice: The power of just starting and taking action
Timestamps:
02:26 - “I felt like I was making up my job” — Amanda on feeling unqualified as a CEO
08:07 - IKEA furniture, a $5,000 loan, and a dream: how Bamboo actually started
09:14 - Opening a second location six months before the world shut down
13:11 - Why having a purpose beyond profit is what kept her going
23:47 - On being a mom of two, CEO of five, and still feeling like a fraud some days
29:47 - Her one piece of advice: you just have to get started
Resources & Links:
Connect with Amanda:
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