Ep 10: Fostering Serendipity and Chance Encounters with Phoebe Yao

Paint & Pipette: The Art & Science of Innovation

If there’s one thing that today’s guest, Phoebe Yao, learned from the pandemic it's that innovation comes from lucky chance encounters. Phoebe is the founder and CEO of Pareto, a software company that automates mundane tasks for business founders. With a company that operates in eight different time zones, Phoebe joins us today to explain the importance of creating space for serendipity and chance encounters in the world of remote work and how she goes about this. We discuss the tension between breaking down barriers between work and personal relationships while also advocating for self-care and personal time. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Phoebe overcame her hesitancy to talk about work in social interactions, how she overcame the fear of being vulnerable in front of her team, and how she supports her own self-care. To find out how to show up as a manager and leader as your full self at work, how to foster a culture of openness across cultural divides, and how to kindle serendipity on a remote team, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to Phoebe Yao and her company, Pareto.
• Phoebe’s revelation that innovation comes from lucky chance encounters.
• How Phoebe overcame her hesitancy to talk about work in social interactions.
• Thoughts on the Esther Perel quote: “The quality of your relationships is the quality of your life,” that helped Phoebe level up in business.
• How Phoebe overcame the fear of being vulnerable in front of her team.
• An example of a situation where Phoebe failed to show up as her full self.
• How the company’s key values and principles foster a culture of openness.
• The boundaries Phoebe sets for herself in light of the fact that her business operates in eight different time zones.
• Meditation, journaling, and other things Phoebe does to protect herself from burnout.
• How Phoebe kindles serendipity on a remote team.
• The way Phoebe leads meetings and makes sure everyone gets what they need.
• How Phoebe decides between protecting her boundaries and sacrificing her time to help her team.
• Why Phoebe recommends seeing a therapist to anyone who wants to advance more quickly in their career, as well as the book The Great CEO Within.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Phoebe Yao

Phoebe Yao on Twitter

Phoebe Yao's Email

Pareto

Esther Perel

The Great CEO Within