Episode 12 - From Entrepreneur to EIR Enabler with Mia Bennett

In this episode of EIR Live, hosts Ilya Tabakh and Terrance Orr sit down with Mia Bennett, a serial entrepreneur turned EIR enabler who has transformed from management consultant to venture builder to leading 120+ entrepreneurs at Oneday. With over 25 years of experience spanning corporate innovation at Citi Ventures and PwC, impact entrepreneurship at Zinc VC, and building 40+ products across multiple startups, Mia shares her unique journey through the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship in residence roles. She reveals how a 4 AM cold email changed her career trajectory, why relationships are 15-year investments, and how she's revolutionizing entrepreneurship education by making it accessible to everyone—from medical doctors to people who never touched a college campus. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in corporate innovation, venture building, or understanding how diverse perspectives create entrepreneurial magic.

Chapters

[00:00:00] Cold Open - The 4 AM Email That Changed Everything
[00:01:25] Episode Introduction
[00:01:35] Guest Introduction & Background
[00:03:19] From Consultant to Entrepreneur - Making the Jump
[00:07:04] Management Consulting Lessons - Relationships Matter
[00:14:56] Building an Agency - 30 Failed Proposals to Success
[00:24:08] First EIR Role at Citi Ventures
[00:29:29] Impact Entrepreneurship at Zinc VC
[00:46:34] Joining Oneday - From 2 Hours to Head of Faculty
[00:53:08] Building a Network of 120+ EIRs
[00:58:15] The Power of Diverse Networks
[01:02:35] Long-term Relationships & 15-Year Connections
[01:06:32] Call to Action & Connect with Mia
[01:07:27] Hidden Talent - Spanish Property Development
[01:10:27] Host Reflection - The Onion Episode

Key Takeaways

1. EIR roles find you, you don't find them - These positions are typically created specifically for individuals based on their unique skills and network, not posted as traditional job openings.
2. Relationships are decades-long investments - Mia's first employee from 15 years ago is now a founder she works with again, demonstrating the compound value of professional relationships.
3. Diversity is a superpower in entrepreneurship - Oneday's cohorts include everyone from medical doctors to people without degrees, creating an environment where everyone gets humbled and learns.
4. Impact ventures require more patience than commercial ones - Social entrepreneurship needs longer timelines and government support, but persistence eventually pays off.
5. Speed and partnerships beat traditional RFPs for small players - After 30 failed proposals, one creative partnership transformed Mia's struggling agency into a success.

Notable Quotes

[00:03:35] Mia Bennett: "I ended up in a role that I absolutely loved, great team, great projects. And I felt if I don't make the jump, I will never leave."

[00:17:10] Mia Bennett: "After we did about 30 [proposals], I didn't get anything. I was like, that's it. I am NOT doing any more proposals."

[00:41:46] Terrance Orr: "Usually your EIR role is created for you or it finds you. You don't find it."

[00:40:27] Ilya Tabakh: "This is sort of the concept of the ten or fifteen year overnight success... the story you get directly and what could have gone wrong, how high were the highs, how low were the lows is completely different than the TechCrunch article."

[01:03:22] Mia Bennett: "A lot of these relationships last... my very first employee when I was at the agency, fast forward fifteen years, he's a founder of a really interesting Microsoft. I'm now working with him again."

Organizations & Resources Mentioned

• Oneday - Entrepreneurship MBA program (https://www.oneday.org/)
• Citi Ventures - Corporate innovation arm of Citigroup
• D10X - Citi Ventures' incubator program
• Zinc VC - Impact-focused venture builder (https://www.zinc.vc/)
• PwC - Professional services firm where Mia built emerging tech practice
• IBM - Where Mia received initial consulting training
• Mach49 - Venture building firm mentioned by Terrance
• SAP.iO - SAP's venture studio program
• EMC - IT infrastructure company where Terrance received sales training
• Book: "This Diary Will Change Your Life" by Benrik
• Book: "The Almanac of Naval Ravikant" - Mentioned by Ilya

🔗 Connect with Mia Bennett

▪️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miabennett
▪️ Twitter/X: https://x.com/miaotsoa

🔗 Connect with EIR Live

▪️ Terrance Orr on LinkedIn: /in/terranceorr
 ▪️ Ilya Tabakh on LinkedIn: /in/ilyatabakh
 ▪️ Website: https://eir.live (sign up for early access)
▪️ LinkedIn: /company/eirlive
▪️ YouTube: @eirlive
▪️ Twitter/X: @LiveEIR
▪️ Suggest Guest: https://forms.gle/FQrBHoM3sU18gF3y8

• (00:00) - Cold Open - The 4 AM Email That Changed Everything
  


• (01:25) - Episode Introduction
  


• (01:35) - Guest Introduction & Background
  


• (03:19) - From Consultant to Entrepreneur - Making the Jump
  


• (07:04) - Management Consulting Lessons - Relationships Matter
  


• (14:56) - Building an Agency - 30 Failed Proposals to Success
  


• (24:08) - First EIR Role at Citi Ventures
  


• (29:29) - Impact Entrepreneurship at Zinc VC
  


• (46:34) - Joining Oneday - From 2 Hours to Head of Faculty
  


• (53:08) - Building a Network of 120+ EIRs
  


• (58:15) - The Power of Diverse Networks
  


• (02:35) - Long-term Relationships & 15-Year Connections
  


• (06:32) - Call to Action & Connect with Mia
  


• (07:27) - Hidden Talent - Spanish Property Development
  


• (10:27) - Host Reflection - The Onion Episode