Swati Vauthrin on 'She Leads with Carly': Building Recess and Leading with Resilience
Recess cofounder Swati Vauthrin recently joined venture capitalist Carly Malatskey on the "She Leads with Carly" podcast for a candid conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build something meaningful.
In the episode, "People Are Not Rooting For You. Act Like It.", Swati reflects on her personal and professional journey — from an early fascination with computers, to leadership roles in big tech, to co-founding Recess with a mission to better support modern parents.
What the Episode Covers
Throughout the conversation, Swati and Carly dive into topics that resonate deeply with founders, parents, and anyone navigating growth in high-pressure environments, including:
- Breaking into and growing within STEM as a woman, and how curiosity and persistence shaped Swati's career early on.
- Lessons from leadership roles at companies like ESPN, BuzzFeed, and Instagram, including what it takes to build strong teams and healthy cultures.
- Knowing when to make a career shift, even when the next step doesn't feel fully mapped out.
- The realities of being a working mother in tech, and the importance of boundaries, self-trust, and redefining success.
- The decision to leave big tech and build Recess, including navigating fundraising, early skepticism, and the less glamorous moments of startup life.
The Big Takeaway
One of the core messages of the episode is simple but powerful: don't assume people are rooting for you — act with confidence, clarity, and conviction anyway.
Rather than waiting for validation, Swati encourages founders and leaders to expect resistance, use it as fuel, and stay focused on the problem they're solving. It's not about pessimism — it's about resilience, preparation, and self-belief.
Why You Should Listen
This episode is especially relevant if you're:
- building a company from the ground up,
- balancing parenthood with ambition,
- or working in spaces where you're often the only one like you in the room.
Swati's perspective offers an honest look at leadership and entrepreneurship, grounded in lived experience and shaped by the realities many parents and founders face every day.