Free Agency

What does it look like to build a beverage brand from scratch — with zero industry experience, no distributor, and a mission rooted in personal loss? Lily Geiger, founder of Figlia, a non-alcoholic aperitivo, joined Sherveen Mashayekhi on Episode 022 of The Sherveen Show to tell the story. She started during the pandemic, long before non-alc became buzzy. She talks about what gets lost when founders outsource too early — and how she got to 500+ accounts without a distributor, just by emailing every day. Watch it via the link in the comments!

AI is now judging startup pitches — live. Every Tuesday, we host The Feedback Loop, a rapid-fire pitch event where founders go head-to-head with top investors... and now, AI. This week, ChatGPT returns to the panel — sharper, spicier, and ready to give live feedback in its own voice ??? And it’s not coming alone. Expect cameos from Grok, Claude, and Gemini. In case you didn’t know: we host The Feedback Loop every week in NYC. Free to attend, fun as hell, and full of real feedback — no polite head-nods here. ??? RSVP in the comments to grab your spot.

Ever heard of the “airport test”? It’s the idea that, all else equal, an interviewer will vouch for the candidate they wouldn’t mind being stuck in an airport with. But passing that test isn’t about being charming or chatty — it’s about creating instant connection, speaking their language, and showing you're already thinking like part of the team. On March 25, Sherveen Mashayekhi is hosting a free 30-minute workshop: 3 Ways to Make the Hiring Manager Love You You’ll learn how to: ? Establish chemistry without forcing it ? Frame your experience in ways hiring managers are secretly scanning for ? Ask smart, calibrated questions that position you as a strategic hire This isn’t about rehearsed answers — it’s about showing up as the person they can’t wait to work with. Tomorrow (3/25) @ 3pm ET | free to join | Link to sign up in the comments!

Last call — signups are closing soon for Breakthrough Job Search! ?? Our next cohort kicks off on March 26, and if you're serious about landing a high-paying role in this ultra-competitive market, this is the system you need. Triple your interview response rate, master storytelling that makes you unforgettable, and negotiate top offers with confidence. Since 2019, our strategies have helped candidates land over $400M in job offers — don’t miss your chance to level up. Secure your spot now in the comments!

If Chewbacca were job searching in 2025... I'd tell him these 3 things: Over-emphasize your interview storytelling toward "one big thing" – the particular project, the truly unique skillset, the industry expertise – the one big reason that you think a hiring panel might pick you over a similarly qualified candidate. In 2025, people are often winning for "one big thing," an advantage they have amongst a field of otherwise similarly competitive potential hires. Embrace running a job search playbook and engine to create sustainability in the tedious activities, thereby also creating room and energy for more specific prep in moments that matter (ex later stage interviews). You should apply to X number of jobs a week, do Y follow up activities on those jobs, spend Z amount of time preparing for interviews – in other words, add structure so you know exactly what you're committing to at different job search moments. You'll have more energy for the tough stuff. Avoid using AI tools to get the basics done - while AI can be great at being an editor for open ended application questions, or a practice interviewer with the right prompts, it can't write a resume that sounds specific enough to you or spot high-fit jobs as well as you can. Zig when everyone else zags - no auto-appliers, no AI resume builders. Don't sound like everyone else in a market that requires you to differentiate yourself.

Sherveen Mashayekhi is hosting two specialized (and free) workshops tomorrow (3/21)! 1 PM ET: Winning Your Growth & Marketing Job Search in 2025 Growth and marketing job searches have fundamentally changed. This workshop gives you clear insights on exactly what employers now expect, helping you position yourself effectively and secure the best roles in 2025. 5 PM ET: Leadership Interviews: Strategies for Directors, VPs & Execs Executive interviews test your ability to communicate your vision, strategic decisions, and leadership impact. Learn specific techniques to confidently answer high-stakes questions and clearly demonstrate why you're the leader they need. Snag your spot using the links in the comments!

AI for DevOps and a SaaS-marketplace for local beauty services! Episode 059 of The Feedback Loop has range. And, once more, I'm joined by the excellent Mirit Lugassi of Laconia, this episode wrapping up a great session we had giving feedback together on stage in February. Two founders had a minute each to pitch, then they got feedback on their storytelling and concept. And a shout out to the founders on stage, Naveen Kumar and Chidi Ashley – we're rootin' for ya!

Join us this Friday (3/21) for a fireside chat featuring Anwar Ghauche, Founder & CEO of Constrafor ($300M raised from NfX and FinTech Collective). We'll explore the gritty reality of building fintech and SaaS solutions in the notoriously tech-resistant construction industry, including how Anwar leveraged his unique background in civil engineering, finance, and AI to tackle complex, real-world challenges. ?? Doors open at 8:30am, fireside chat starts at 8:45am. RSVP below!

Join us in-person tomorrow morning (March 14) for Founders Friday, featuring Shauna Sweeney, founder and CEO of tendercare ($4.25M raised). tendercare is an AI-powered app that helps families manage caregiving for aging loved ones — offering personalized care plans, secure document storage, and smart reminders. Shauna started tendercare after experiencing the gaps in caregiving support firsthand. We'll chat about her journey as a founder, the unique challenges of building tech for caregiving, and strategies for user retention when caregiving needs are often temporary. Doors open at 8:30 AM at 29 E 19th St (3rd floor), NYC. Registration link in the comments!

"Do thank you notes actually matter?" Absolutely. Even if people claim they don’t notice them – trust us, they do. Think of a thank you note as your home turf. The interview is their agenda, but your follow-up email is your space. You decide what gets written and talked about. It stays in their inbox, lingers, and when hiring decisions get close in the final rounds, it could be the deciding factor. Most hiring choices aren’t made on some grand, objective scale. They happen in the margins, when a hiring panel is looking for something to distinguish one candidate from another. And in those moments? A well-written thank you note can make all the difference. Don’t overload it with new ideas about you or your candidacy. Briefly reinforce something memorable from your conversation – something only you could have said. Keep it specific. Keep it intentional. And always send one.