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On May 1, we had the privilege of hearing from two of our outstanding Female Founder Fellows: Kaeja Cox (Steinhardt ‘19 & Staff), founder of Mahogany Dancewear, and Gaby Berne (Langone Clinician), co-founder of MoveMend. The panel event brought together emerging entrepreneurs and seasoned founders for an honest, empowering conversation about what it takes to start, scale, and sustain a business.
Kaeja and Gaby, who have built two companies filling market gaps for inclusive dancewear and immersive exercise, shared hard-won lessons from their entrepreneurial journey alongside powerful insights for any founder at the start of their path. Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion:
- Just go for it.
The first step is often the hardest, but it’s also the most important. As Kaeja and Gaby put it: “You just have to start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—there isn’t one. Do it anyway.” The founders emphasized that action creates momentum, and momentum leads to growth. - Set quarterly goals and one big north star goal.
Entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming. Breaking it down into quarterly milestones while always keeping a larger vision in mind helps keep you focused and motivated. - Understand your competitive edge.
Kaeja explained how Mahogany Dancewear succeeded by identifying the weaknesses of legacy dancewear companies and placing herself in the center of that gap. “You have to know what makes you different,” she said. “Big companies are great at executing what they know, but founders have the agility to go where momentum is shifting.” - Learn constantly.
Listening to podcasts, following the journeys of other entrepreneurs, and learning from those who’ve done it before were common themes. The panel encouraged founders to absorb knowledge anywhere they can: books, interviews, podcasts, and most of all, real-world conversations. - Talk to people—and ask questions.
“Ask people what problems they have, and they’ll talk forever,” Gaby advised. She cautioned, however, against asking people if they would buy your product upfront: “They’ll run in the other direction.” Instead, focus on understanding their pain points. - Embrace the unexpected.
The panelists urged founders to always be prepared for questions they didn’t anticipate and to view surprises as opportunities for growth. “You’ll discover things as you go along,” Kaeja noted. “That’s part of the journey.” - Overcome imposter syndrome.
Gaby and Keja both emphasized the importance of talking to yourself like you are your own best friend. Confidence is contagious, and believing in yourself is the first step toward getting others to believe in you. - Surround yourself with the right people.
The panel highlighted the value of co-founders or collaborators who think differently. “Find someone who sees things from another angle. You need that to challenge your thinking and help you grow.” - Tap into your creative flow.
They shared how important it is to “find the things that co-wire your brain. Once you’re in that headspace, everything else becomes easier.” - Leverage university resources.
The founders encouraged students to take full advantage of the opportunities available at NYU. Whether through networking events, mentorship programs, funding competitions, or academic resources, NYU offers a wealth of tools to help founders build and grow. - Stay purpose-driven.
Finally, the panel came back to what matters most: Care deeply about what you’re doing, they stressed. Passion and authenticity are the true drivers of any business’s long-term success.
The conversation was an inspiring reminder that while entrepreneurship is full of unknowns, it’s also full of possibility. Whether you’re just brainstorming your idea or actively building your company, the message was clear: start now, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to grow as you go.
