"The Liz Anderson," Maya confirms. The same Liz Anderson who's been on multiple lists for Forbes, raised hundreds of millions in funding, and regularly rubs shoulders with A-list celebrities. (Rumor has it, she's vacationed with Gwyneth Paltrow.) Liz got her start after cofounding a women-focused mood tracking app, Limitless, and has since reemerged on the tech scene with Women Rise, her popular brand of vitamins and supplements for women. According to the company's website, it "helps women become their best selves."
She types back a response before she can second-guess herself:
Maya Patel: That's too kind. Thank you so much! I've been a fan of your work for a long time, so that means a lot coming from you.
"Wow, I knew your segment was going to get amazing reach. It's all over social media!" Dev says, scrolling through Twitter.
"Really?" Maya says, peering over his shoulder to see for herself. "That's great! Tiffany said the marketing team is already seeing a bump in online orders."
Dev playfully elbows her. "See? You're showing the board they had nothing to worry about."
Maya gives him a tentative look. "You really think so?"
"I do. I really do." Dev squeezes her shoulder. "I'm so proud of you, honey."
She leans against him in gratitude and lets out a long, satisfied exhale.
"Who else have you heard from?" Dev asks.
"I'll check in with Beth to see if she's heard anything specific on her end. But so far, cousins, some family back in India, friends, a couple start-ups, and lots of supportive messages from my followers."
Followers.
Maya never wanted to be an influencer, or anything close to one.
But when she first tried to get funding for Medini, multiple investors hinted that they liked founders whose "online platform reflected their brand's values." Translation: they like female founders who are pretty and have a strong online presence. Social media has never been Maya's forte, and she'd spend hours obsessing over what content customers would want to see on their feed. She tried professional headshots, press interviews, aesthetic photos of her products, and even sweet date nights with Dev. None of that made a difference, and her follower count remained low.
But then she uploaded the picture. The one of her in a teal maternity dress and spiked heels, one hand clutching her silver laptop, the other on her baby bump. The caption: This is what a CEO and founder looks like. The hashtag: #pregnantandpowerful.
She posted the picture in response to the countless unsolicited comments she received from investors, family members, and even complete strangers when she announced her pregnancy. Does this mean you're stepping down from Medini? they'd ask. Are you sure you've really thought this through? How are you going to manage everything?
The post was reshared hundreds of thousands of times, and the hashtag alone was used almost a million times that week. Maya knew there was an untapped audience there. So she began documenting everything from her prenatal appointments to her third-trimester insomnia to a day in the life of a pregnant CEO. At first she felt silly. She didn't belong in this "momfluencer" space ruled by white, fit, affluent women. But within weeks of the post going viral, Shape magazine interviewed Maya about her skin care regimen. A rental clothing company asked if she'd model their spring line.
Podcast interviewers started flooding her inbox. And before she could blink, she had amassed one million followers. One million eyes on her at all times. No pressure.
Her phone buzzes again.
Liz Anderson: Having a newborn while running a company is no joke. So, I understand if you're too busy, but I'm around if you ever want to chat or grab a coffee. Your segment really resonated with me and I'm always looking to meet other female founders!
Maya first types out REALLY?! then catches herself.
Maya Patel: That would be great! I'd love to hear more. How's next week?
Liz Anderson: Next week works! I'll send over some dates and times. And in the meantime, I'm going to boost some of Medini's products on WOMEN RISE's socials. Sometimes a little goes a long way! Oh and feel free to bring your little one to our coffee date. Finding child care is such a hassle.
Maya Patel: Wow. Thank you—for the social boost and inviting Shaan along. That's so kind of you.
"We're meeting for coffee next week!" Maya exclaims.
Dev kisses her forehead. "Of course you are. I'm not surprised in the slightest that she reached out to you. You're amazing."
She leans back in her seat, basking in the excitement of the day. It's the first time in weeks she's felt like herself, her old self. Nobody told her becoming a mother would make her feel like a foreigner in her own body. In her own life. It's refreshing to know that the pre-baby Maya is still in there somewhere.
