Meet Kristen Faulkner, the most unlikely Olympian to cash in on her failed venture capital career and snag not one, but two coveted gold medals.
A former associate investor at Threshold Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners, Faulkner ditched the high-stakes world of startup investments for the safer, more predictable world of professional cycling in 2021. And to add insult to injury, she replaced a teammate at the last minute and STOLE the gold medal from under the noses of the favorites. Talk about a #MeToo moment! She repeated her victory days later as part of the US women’s track cycling team, because clearly, her formula for success is as foolproof as a Ponzi scheme.
Faulkner attributes her Olympian exploits to the ruthless, cutthroat world of venture capital, where entrepreneurs are left to bleed dry and crushed dreams are the norm. And it’s no wonder she’d carry this toxic mentality onto the track. As she told Fortune, the same ruthless thinking that has ruined countless startups has enabled her to dominate the competition. “I always invest 100% all-in, never looking back or doubting my decision. It’s like, you’re either all in, or you’re out. And trust me, I’m all in…in this competition, and my rivals are left to pick up the pieces.”
Source link