Why a Princeton Grad Left Corporate America to Build a Tech Company from Scratch
Reflections on Episode 63 of Women In… with Hannah Sorkin
What does it take to walk away from a dream job at one of the biggest companies in the world and bet entirely on yourself?
In Episode 63 of Women In..., I sat down with Hannah Sorkin, a bright, driven Princeton graduate who did just that. She had it all on paper — a high-performing role at Anheuser-Busch, the classic corporate ladder ahead of her, and the kind of resume most twenty-somethings would kill for. But inside? She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was building someone else’s dream.
So she gave herself one year. One year to go all-in on becoming a founder. No backup plan. No safety net.
And that’s where her journey gets powerful.
🎧 Why You Should Listen to Hannah’s Story
This episode isn’t just about quitting your job — it’s about choosing alignment over applause. It’s about the courage it takes to step out of the mold, especially as a young woman in a male-dominated industry like tech.
Hannah’s story is raw, real, and refreshing. She shares:
What it actually feels like to leave a secure corporate job
How she overcame impostor syndrome in founder spaces
Her process for validating her startup idea
What surprised her most about early-stage entrepreneurship
How she’s tapping into accelerators and venture studios to build her company from the ground up
💡 Tools & Resources for Aspiring Female Founders
If Hannah’s story lit something up in you — maybe that whisper that says you’ve got more in you — here are some places you can start exploring:
1. ANTLER
A global early-stage VC and startup generator. Antler helps founders build and scale companies from day zero, even if you don’t have a co-founder or a fully-baked idea yet. You get funding, mentorship, and a powerful network of global operators.
2. Y Combinator Startup School
Free online courses and resources from the world-renowned Y Combinator accelerator. A great place to test your idea, get feedback, and understand what investors are looking for.
3. Techstars
An accelerator program offering mentorship and funding for early-stage tech startups. They focus on high-growth potential businesses and have programs around the globe.
4. Backstage Capital
VC firm that invests in founders who are women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+. Backstage is changing the funding narrative for underrepresented founders.
5. IFundWomen
A platform dedicated to funding and coaching women entrepreneurs. Offers grants, pitch competitions, and educational resources.
✨ The Power of Giving Yourself Permission
The most inspiring part of Hannah’s story isn’t that she landed a massive round of funding or that she already has a fully scaled business. It’s that she chose to try.
She gave herself one year to go after the life she dreamed of instead of staying in the life she settled into.
If you're in a season of uncertainty, if you're building something new, or if you’re just beginning to admit that maybe your current path isn’t the right one — this episode is for you.
🔗 Listen now: Women In… Episode 63: Hannah Sorkin
(Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.)
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P.S. If you loved this episode, share it with a woman in your life who’s on the edge of something big. Sometimes, all we need is one story to show us it’s possible.
