#122 The Chief Product Officer Who Built the Company She Wished For as a New Mom
With Poppins Founder, Alex Stried
Hi! New here? Welcome to the Uplifters! I'm Aransas Savas. I've spent the last 20 years at the intersection of behavior change research and coaching. On The Uplifters Podcast, we share diverse stories of trailblazing, change-making women who have done big, brave things and show us how we can too!
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Listen to the latest episode if
You're tired of being told you can just "figure it out" as a parent
You've ever felt like you're drowning in conflicting advice while managing a career
You're wondering how to turn your most frustrating experiences into solutions for others.
This Week’s Featured Uplifter: Alex Stried
I've known Alex Stried since our Weight Watchers days circa 2008 (yes, we literally sat across from each other in our cubicles as I worked through contractions before my first baby). But the woman who joined me for this conversation wasn't just the brilliant product leader I remembered. She was someone who had looked at the chaos of modern parenthood and said, "There has to be a better way," then went ahead and built it.
Alex's journey from Chief Product Officer at Ellevest and Cerebral to co-founding Poppins is the kind of story that makes you want to lean in closer and figure out what magic powers she is conjuring to keep doing big, brave things. Here's someone who was crushing it in the C-suite, working around-the-clock hours, managing teams, making big decisions, enlisting lots of support, and still feeling overwhelmed by the simple act of parenting. When the former Surgeon General declared parents' stress a public health crisis, citing that 48% of parents say their stress is completely overwhelming. Alex didn't just nod in recognition; she saw her calling.
5 Ways She Shows Us How to Build Our Courage Capital:
Turn frustration into fuel – Alex didn't just accept that parenting had to be overwhelmingly stressful. She saw the gap between what parents need and what's available, then decided to build the bridge herself.
Build your case with evidence – Whether it's investor pitches or major life decisions, Alex creates a compelling body of evidence. She doesn't just follow her gut; she backs it up with research, conversations, and real-world validation.
Reframe challenges as data collection – When Alex had to rightsize her team at Cerebral, she used it as a chance to understand the full picture of what the organization needed.
Practice until you can forget the script – Alex will rehearse her pitch until she knows it cold, so that she can be spontaneous, present, and genuinely connected in the moment. True confidence comes from being so prepared that you can be authentic.
Remember that failure isn't final – When investors don't get it or challenges arise, Alex reminds herself that setbacks are temporary and careers are resilient. You started something, you learned something, you can do something else.
Resources Mentioned:
Poppins - Alex's 24/7 pediatric care and parent coaching platform
Amy Cuddy's research on power posing
BJ Fogg's behavior change work from Stanford
Lift Her Up:
Follow Poppins on Instagram and LinkedIn for evidence-based parenting content
Share this episode with any parent who's ever felt like they're drowning in advice
If you know investors who fund companies addressing real human needs, send them Alex's way
If You Liked This Story, Check Out These Founder Stories:
Sarah Dusek (Episode 29): Founded Under Canvas, the US's largest glamping company, and grew it to $100M+ valuation before exiting to start Enygma Ventures, investing in female entrepreneurs across Africa
Jennifer Maanavi (Episode 62): The co-founder and CEO of Physique 57 on scaling a global barre fitness empire while maintaining work-life integration and staying true to your mission
Sarah Krasley (Episode 65): The social impact entrepreneur behind Shimmy, who's revolutionizing manufacturing education for women globally and turning challenges into productive fuel
Kerry Brodie (Episode 79): Founder of Emma's Torch, who saw refugees struggling to find work and built a culinary training program that's now a national model for empowerment
Taylor Scott (Episode 80): The 26-year-old founder of RVA Community Fridges who started with hydroponic vegetables in her home and built a movement addressing food insecurity across Virginia
Regina Gwynn (Episode 87): Co-founder of Black Women Talk Tech, the largest collective of Black women tech founders, who's building the infrastructure for the next generation of billion-dollar businesses
XO,
Aransas
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