Nissue #13: Christina Brodbeck, Founding Partner at Rivet Ventures.
Christina and I first met when we both were working at Max Levchin’s (cool website, bro) incubator back in 2005. I was hanging out at Yelp and we actually didn’t spend too much time together since she left to work on putting TV on the web or something ridiculous like that… I suppose being on the early team at YouTube wasn’t a bad career choice in retrospect.
Over the years, Christina has introduced me to some great companies and founders that she’s invested in, and together we even came up with our own set of branding principles. I still miss those days where we were on stage together, ah to be young again.
Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Christina: Wandering around on long walks without a specific destination or return time in mind. While walking, I love discovering new places - looking into shop windows and people watching.
Nish: What was your worst job ever?
Christina: Honestly, I never really had a bad job. Each one was interesting in its own way. Not bad, but working at a mall bookstore was probably the least fulfilling. When I took the job I imagined being surrounded by customers who loved books and talking about books non-stop. But, in reality, it was just a lot of cash register transactions.
Nish: What was your first job ever?
Christina: Technically my first job was babysitting a ton of neighborhood kids and pet sitting. One family would tell another family, and soon you are watching all of the kids in the neighborhood. There was this one funny dog that I watched that climbed trees! Outside of that, though, working at Kohl's department store was probably my first job.
Nish: What was your best job ever?
Christina: Working at YouTube as a designer was pretty great! It was a real family-like environment, and it made going to work each day a total blast. To this day, in my mind Youtube isn't what I see online when I go to play a video...it's still a group of really cool people all in one room working together and having fun. Sure, we worked our butts off, but it never really felt like work because of the great people.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Christina: Procrastination. I'm really good at it.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Christina: People who get short with and pushy with those in the service industry (i.e. a waiter, for example).
Nish: What’s some advice you’d give to yourself at 23?
Christina: Be present. Don't spend your time living in the future (in your head)...savor the moment that you are actually in.
Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?
Christina: Nail art.
Nish: You have dinner reservations for 4 at Noma, excluding family and close friends, who are the three people (alive, dead or imaginary) you’d invite?
Christina: David Sedaris, FDR, and Miranda July.
Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?
Christina: Closer To Fine by the Indigo Girls.
Nish: What is your motto?
Christina: Every day is a snow day.
Nish: What is something you're really excited about right now?
Christina: That it's almost summer! That means more beach time, sunshine, roller skating, and rollerblading!
End Interview.
