The Founder's Operating System: Beating Burnout & Scaling SaaS With Resilience - Sonia Couto | EP 18

How do you lead a tech company through a relaunch while undergoing cancer treatment? Sonia Couto, a two-time tech founder and breast cancer survivor, shares the raw lessons on resilience, why bootstrapping beats venture capital for scaling, and how she built her own AI scheduling tool to manage chaos.

In this episode, you will discover:

- Why she never takes meetings in the morning and the exact daily routine that maximizes her productivity

- The critical mistake founders make when scaling (it’s about funding, not product)

- How a cancer diagnosis forced her to relinquish control and become a better leader

- Why she built her own custom AI scheduling tool after existing apps failed her

- The surprising truth about nutrition labels that her company, Menusano, uncovered

- Her practical advice for leading with confidence in male-dominated spaces without burning out

For founders, tech leaders, and anyone navigating high-stakes challenges in their career and health.

Connect With Sonia Couto:

Website: www.soniacouto.com

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Sonia Koto and Her Journey

01:15 Building Tech Products: The Constant Elements

02:09 Navigating Challenges in Tech and Personal Life

02:11 The Birth of Menusano: A Personal Journey

05:06 Navigating Technical Challenges in Nutrition Software

08:15 Leadership Lessons from Personal Struggles

11:16 Scaling Strategies: Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital

14:02 A Day in the Life of a Managing Director

17:15 Innovating Scheduling: Building a Custom Tool

20:02 Insights on Nutrition and Health from Menusano

23:22 Empowering Women in Tech

26:16 Resilience in the Startup World

29:15 Innovation in Tech: Transforming Traditional Practices

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