Ep. 145 Cecilia Zapata-Harms

Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Experience is your unfair advantage—if you trust it.
Cecilia shows how instinct and lived experience can be sharper than any playbook. Founders, trust your gut—and don’t let others underestimate what you’ve built (or survived)..

2️⃣ Not all startups scale the same.
If you’re building in a high-stakes or complex industry, the traditional advice won’t cut it. Founders need customized support, the right timing, and people who actually get it..

3️⃣ You don’t need Silicon Valley to make a global impact.
Building a business in a smaller market? Good. Cecilia proves that real innovation happens when founders connect locally and build with purpose—wherever they are.

Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome to Hello Chaos
01:29 – Meet Cecilia Zapata-Harms and the founding of InnovaSphere
05:09 – What makes InnovaSphere different from traditional startup support
08:10 – The complexity of life sciences (and why founders go it alone)
13:01 – Wearing two hats: founder + CEO
14:38 – Female founder challenges in life sciences
17:13 – Ditching the rules and trusting your gut
22:25 – The most rewarding part of building something new
24:50 – Cecilia’s early “oh shit” startup story
26:28 – When it’s time to cut the cord (and why that’s okay)
30:29 – Founders vs sustainers: hiring at different stages
34:18 – Seeing five years ahead—and staying patient
39:30 – What founders really need (spoiler: strategy + vent sessions)
42:05 – South Carolina’s untapped life science potential
45:13 – No fear? No problem. Cecilia’s global vision
49:00 – One word to describe the journey: Emergence
50:20 – Next chapter: Knowledge (and owning bookshops!)
53:01 – Hidden talents, surprises, and floating—not swimming
57:27 – Best advice: get mentors, get coaches, and learn to present
1:02:24 – Go-to reads for clarity and courage
1:04:45 – Where to connect with Cecilia and InnovaSphere

🔗 Learn more
Website: https://www.innovaspheresc.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/palmetto-innovasphere-inc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliazapata/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cecz_26/

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network. We encourage you to join our community HERE and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and more great content.

Connect With Us:

• LinkedIn 
• Instagram 
• YouTube