Actually, I Can.
Actually, I Can.
Podcast Description
What if the voices that say "you can't" and "you shouldn't" are wrong? Actually, I Can. is a celebration of bold choices, courageous journeys, and the deeply personal stories of founders, visionaries, and leaders who dared to defy the doubters and choose "yes" even when the world kept saying "no." This isn’t about growth hacks or formulas—it’s about the raw, human moments that shape real leaders. Host Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with real leaders and digs deep into the grit, grief, and reinvention that turned real dreams into exceptional realities. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a dreamer, or on the edge of your next big move, Actually, I Can. will inspire you to trust your intuition, bet on yourself, and redefine success on your own terms.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of personal empowerment, unconventional success, and leadership development, with episodes covering topics like breaking molds in professional environments, family dynamics in entrepreneurial ventures, and overcoming confidence gaps for female founders. Specific episodes highlight conversations with leaders who share experiences of resilience and the importance of individuality.
What if the voices that say “you can’t” and “you shouldn’t” are wrong? Actually, I Can. is a celebration of bold choices, courageous journeys, and the deeply personal stories of founders, visionaries, and leaders who dared to defy the doubters and choose “yes” even when the world kept saying “no.”
This isn’t about growth hacks or formulas—it’s about the raw, human moments that shape real leaders. Host Lindsay Tjepkema sits down with real leaders and digs deep into the grit, grief, and reinvention that turned real dreams into exceptional realities.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a dreamer, or on the edge of your next big move, Actually, I Can. will inspire you to trust your intuition, bet on yourself, and redefine success on your own terms.
Alina Vandenberghe gets asked constantly: ”Why don't you seek an exit?” In CEO communities, at events, from advisors, the assumption is always that a $3 billion exit is the ultimate goal every founder should pursue. She's been building Chili Piper for a decade. She's not selling.
What you'll learn:
- Why the standard exit advice completely misses the point for values-driven founders
- How Alina transformed from someone who ”didn't comprehend human connection” to organizing intentional dinners and building real relationships
- The daily pressure founders face (and the one thought that keeps Alina going when the arrows come flying)
- Why proving capitalism can look different became her actual mission – not the exit fantasy
- How to withstand relentless pressure when you're building something that doesn't fit anyone else's playbook
About Alina Vandenberghe
Alina Vandenberghe is the co-founder and co-CEO of Chili Piper, a company helping marketing teams and GTM ops people get more pipeline with agents. She started the company to create an environment where she and her husband could thrive, solving complex puzzles with fun people, remotely, with joy and compassion. Before Chili Piper, she climbed from intern to SVP at publicly traded companies across FinTech, healthcare, and education. She made a lot of money. She was very unhappy. Now she's building her own definition of success.
This episode is a masterclass in what happens when you have the audacity to reject everyone's advice and discover your own path – and why the courage to simply be yourself might be the most important work you do as an adult.
TIMESTAMPS
- [0:00] The Bad Advice
- [0:35] Who Alina Is and How Chili Piper Started
- [2:46] ”The Most Important Thing We Do Is Have the Courage to Be Ourselves”
- [14:35] The Relationships Revelation: The Communication Course That Changed Everything
- [17:37] Why Exits Are Tempting (And Why She Says No Anyway)
- [18:13] ”If You Can't Do It, There's No One Else Who Can Do It”
- [19:24] Advice for Founders Feeling the Pull
📩 Subscribe to the newsletter: lindsaytjepkema.substack.com
🌶️ Learn more about Chili Piper: chilipiper.com
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