From Skeptics to Supporters: Catherine Connelly on Navigating Doubt and Designing Her Own Path

Catherine Connelly’s entrepreneurial path wasn’t without personal cost. While building and scaling MyYearbook during high school and college, she faced the intense pressure of balancing academics with executive responsibilities. This relentless pace eventually took a toll on her health, leading her to prioritize boundaries and self-care. Her experience highlights the often-overlooked emotional and physical demands of entrepreneurship, especially for young founders navigating expectations and legitimacy in fast-moving environments. Throughout her journey, Catherine encountered the challenges of gender bias head-on. Despite being a co-founder of a major platform, she was frequently underestimated—first by high school peers and later in professional spaces dominated by men. Rather than let these experiences diminish her drive, she used them to fuel her advocacy for systemic change in the startup ecosystem. She emphasizes the need to normalize female leadership in tech and to create inclusive, accessible pathways for underrepresented founders. For those inspired by Catherine’s insights and experiences, she’s offering a free virtual copy of her book Designing Success exclusively for YBA listeners. 🎁 Additionally, if you're not yet on Audible, you can enjoy the audiobook version for free if you sign up for a trial using this special link. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a founder who has lived the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and continues to give back through real, honest guidance. For the accessible version of the podcast, go to our Ziotag gallery. We’re happy you’re here! Like the pod?Support the podcast and receive discounts from our sponsors: https://yourbrandamplified.codeadx.me/Leave a rating and review on your favorite platformFollow @yourbrandamplified on the socialsTalk to my digital avatar