Erica Lockheimer

Founder and CEO of HumanizeHer | Ex-VP of Engineering at LinkedIn | Podcast Host | @HumanizeHerNow

Follow LinkedIn 😎 and Instagram: erica_lockheimer

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Managing millions of dollars in digital assets requires more than just a digital wallet. 🔐

Jody Mettler, COO & President of Trust, @BitGo, explains how BitGo is revolutionizing the way institutions manage digital assets through advanced wallet infrastructure. In a self-custody setup, losing a single private key can mean losing everything. 😰

To solve this, @mikebelshe, Founder and CEO of BitGo, pioneered a way to provide a regulated safety vault through the BitGo Trust Company, by acting as a qualified custodian and managing keys on behalf of their clients.

💰 BitGo utilizes a sophisticated multi-signature approach, requiring multiple layers of independent verification before any transaction can move. This rigorous process, backed by $250 million in insurance, ensures that no single person can move assets on their own. It’s a highly secure system designed to give institutional investors the same level of protection they expect from a traditional bank. 🛡️

🎧 Join the conversation on @YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT 🎙️

Redefining Prenups as a Power Move with First | Libby Leffler - Founder & CEO, First

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Libby Leffler, the Co-Founder and CEO of First (affectionately dubbed the "TurboTax for prenups"). Libby spent two decades helping build the world’s most powerful rocket ships - from Google and Facebook to SoFi and Compass. But at the height of her corporate career, with a newborn at home, she chose to step away and finally do the thing she was scared to do. Libby built an innovative legal-tech platform that cuts out months of stress and thousands in fees to make prenups simple, cozy, and collaborative. By taking the awkwardness out of money, she is proving that a clear agreement isn't a breaking point - it’s a powerful joining point that strengthens the marriage bond. Because true transparency gives you the ultimate freedom to build your future together.

Key Takeaways From the Conversation:

💥 "Personal Stack" Identity: Libby explains how First is transforming prenuptial agreements from a taboo relationship breaking point into a collaborative, cozy, and foundational joining point. She shares fascinating user trends - including the rise of the "pet-nup," protecting digital IP, and why 50% of their prenups are initiated by women.

💥 Reality of the Founder Journey: Stepping away from the "LinkedIn highlight reel," Libby pulls back the curtain on the raw financial and emotional sacrifices of leaving corporate safety to build a startup from scratch.

💥 “Balance is Bullshit": Rejecting the traditional myth of work-life balance, Libby advocates for alignment - unapologetically owning your ambition while structuring life around your core values.

💥 Grief, Resilience, and Metamorphosis: In a deeply moving segment, Libby opens up about the sudden, tragic loss of her father at 33 weeks pregnant while simultaneously fundraising. She discusses how the rhythm of her mission-driven work served as a grounding compass during a season of profound grief.

"Reinvention is possible at every stage and every part of the journey. Push yourself into uncomfortable situations because that is where you learn the fastest." - Libby Leffler

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

How do you design a tech conference that prioritizes real, human relationships over simple business transactions?

For Chenoa Farnsworth, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups, hosting their signature "East Meets West" summit for the past 12 years has been an exercise in completely rewriting the corporate networking playbook. 📝

Interestingly, while the high-profile summit has become an industry staple, many global attendees are completely surprised to discover that Blue Startups is actually the powerhouse orchestrating it all behind the scenes. 😱

They deliberately design a highly intimate, "high-touch" environment by pulling innovators out of rigid conference rooms and taking them outdoors for hikes and experiential summit days. 🏃‍♀️ The event prioritizes real, lasting relationships over transactional pitches.

By doing this different approach they’re successfully building a deep sense of community that roots global innovation right in the heart of Hawai'i. 🤙

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation with host on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

For Chenoa Farnsworth, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups, building a thriving tech ecosystem meant completely rewriting the traditional venture capital playbook. 🤝 She leaned directly into local values to build something genuinely inclusive.

By intentionally anchoring her accelerator around ʻohana (family), Chenoa designed a supportive workspace where founders - especially female entrepreneurs - are treated as human beings first rather than just numbers on a pitch deck. 🫂

Her approach proves that long-term connection, deep collaboration, and authentic community trust are the true secret ingredients to building sustainable economic opportunities right at home.

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

@ManDoesCode1 Yes it is!!!

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

And that's a wrap on 2 days of recording 6 incredible women! 🎬

The lineup was incredible:

🦸‍♀️ Laura Burkhauser, CEO of Descript – An AI-powered video and podcast editing platform that makes editing audio and video as simple as editing a text document

🌟 Libby Leffler, CEO of First® – A consumer legal tech platform that modernizes, simplifies, and digitizes the prenuptial agreement process for modern couples

🦸‍♀️ Shelley Huff, Co-Founder of The Interval – A peer-driven community designed to support senior leaders navigating career transitions, intentional pauses, and their next chapters

🌟 Hema Raghavan, CTO of https://t.co/DJF0IhQa55 – A predictive AI platform that allows businesses to easily build and deploy powerful graph neural networks for enterprise data

🦸‍♀️ Torrey Van Winden, Professional USA Volleyball Beach Player – An elite athlete sharing insights on peak performance, resilience, and navigating the world of professional sports

🌟 Gina Bianchini, CEO of Mighty Networks – A software platform that empowers creators and brands to build digital communities, courses, and memberships all in one place

We can't wait for you to enjoy these episodes. Subscribe and follow so you don't miss out. 🎙️

Thank you to our amazing team! Truly, anything is possible when we're together. Elizabeth Wendorf-Bloesser, Becky Davis, Jazmine Orozco Lugo, Ash Blodgett, Nathalie Rodriguez, Alina Tyulyu 🫶🏼

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

How do you build a thriving tech environment without inheriting the typical “tech-bro” " vibe? 🥴

Chenoa Farnsworth, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups, would walk into mainstream tech accelerators and often felt less like entering centers of innovation and more like stepping into a frat house.

Determined to shield the Hawai’i’s local ecosystem from Silicon Valley's "tech-bro" culture, Chenoa set out to design an accelerator that explicitly values inclusivity and ensures female founders feel genuinely welcome and supported. 💪

Blue Startups centers its environment on ʻOhana - the Hawaiian concept of family. 🌺 Chenoa believes their "secret sauce" is connecting with entrepreneurs as humans, not just payouts. By building a collaborative ecosystem of trust and community care, they are redefining healthy tech culture.

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

We had the absolute honor of walking the breathtaking campus of La Pietra - Hawai'i School for Girls, nestled right on the slopes of Diamond Head. 🏔️ Led by the incredible Head of School, Jennifer Grems, this visit completely stole our hearts. 🌺

Jennifer and her team gave us a personal walkthrough of this remarkable institution, which beautifully combines a historic 1921 Tuscan-style estate with a state-of-the-art Tech Zone. This innovative sandbox features everything from:

🎙️ A green screen podcast studio
✈️ High-tech flight simulators
🖨️ Advanced 3D and laser printers
🎮 Coding and esports arenas

The girls unexpectedly came out of their classrooms to greet us with a beautiful, moving song that we will never forget. As well as inspirational bookmarks and custom HumanizeHer wooden tags! We left deeply inspired and felt the aloha spirit in full force. 🌈 🤙

La Pietra's mission is clear: You don't have to go there knowing your purpose - you go there to discover it. 💡They’re truly cultivating an environment where young women are free to experiment, collaborate, and lead lives of purpose. 

Thank you to Jennifer and the incredible team at La Pietra for intentionally designing a safe, collaborative space where young women build unwavering confidence! 💁‍♀️

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Did you know that the iconic gaming phenomenon Tetris is headquartered right in Honolulu? 🏝️🔲

Chenoa Farnsworth, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups, shares this surprising fact. Also, highlighting the unique thesis behind her accelerator.

Instead of trying to mimic Silicon Valley, Chenoa and her partners, Maya Rogers and Henk Rogers, leaned into Hawai'i's true competitive advantage as a natural business and cultural bridge between East and West.

By focusing on IP-based businesses that can scale globally, Blue Startups capitalizes on more than just geographic convenience. Chenoa emphasizes that Hawai'i’s rich cultural melting pot provides a deeply collaborative ecosystem for major international markets like the US and Japan, positioning the islands as the ultimate launchpad for global innovation. 🌐

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

What drives an investor to completely redefine a local economy from the ground up? 🏗️

For Chenoa Farnsworth, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups, the turning point came when she returned home and realized the harsh economic realities facing local families.

Driven by a deep desire to uplift her community, she channeled her expertise into angel investing - treating it not just as a financial mechanism, but as a tool for sustainable social change. ⚖️

By funding homegrown talent and pioneer networks, she has spent years shifting the region's focus toward high-growth tech and entrepreneurship. Her work is dedicated to ensuring the next generation of innovators can find high-paying, sustainable opportunities right at home in Hawai'i.

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation with host on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Ever wondered what it takes to completely shift your career path for a greater purpose? 💭

For Chenoa Farnsworth, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Blue Startups, the decision to leave a stable health policy career in Washington D.C. and return home to Hawai’i during the dot-com boom was driven by a realization that the tech sector was where real, exciting change was happening. 🤩

Seeing the harsh economic reality of locals working two or three jobs just to survive, she pivoted her entire trajectory into venture capital and entrepreneurship.

🦸‍♀️ Today, her core mission is to move Hawai’i forward by creating high-paying jobs and sustainable economic opportunities right within the community. 🤙

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT 🎙️

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

In this episode, we sit down with Chenoa Farnsworth, the venture capital powerhouse who has spent 25 years architecting the tech ecosystem in the Pacific. As the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Startups, ranked Top 20 US Accelerator, Chenoa is proving that the islands are a world-class innovation hub bridging Asia and North America - and she’s betting big on women founders to deliver the best returns.

What you’ll learn:
🤙 Tech With A Heart: How Chenoa is swapping typical "bro-tech" dynamics for 'Ohana (family) and community-driven leadership
🌏 "Bridge To Asia" Thesis: Why Hawai’i’s unique geographic and cultural positioning makes it a massive competitive advantage for global business
🤖 The AI Era & Human Trust: Why deep relationships and a "whole-person" approach will be the ultimate differentiator as software becomes commoditized
🏡 "Kamaʻāina Come Home": The growing movement to bring Hawai'i's brightest talent back home to build a sustainable, future-proof local economy

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT 🎙️

Building a Mindful Tech Ecosystem in Hawai’i with Blue Startups | Chenoa Farnsworth

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

In this episode, we are sitting down with one of the most powerful forces in venture capital building from the Pacific. Chenoa Farnsworth is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Startups - consistently ranked as one of the Top 20 accelerators in the entire United States, built in Honolulu, Hawai’i. In her 25 years in venture, Chenoa has been the architect of the tech ecosystem in Hawaii. She has invested in over 150 companies, helped lead the Hawai’i Angels network, and founded East Meets West - the premier conference that has spent the last 12 years connecting technology leaders across the Pacific.

Working alongside Tetris CEO, Maya Rogers, Chenoa is proving that the islands are a world-class hub for tech. She believes Hawaiʻi is a strategic bridge between Asia and North America - and she is betting on women founders to deliver her the best returns. This conversation will change how you think about where innovation happens and who gets to lead it, from the vanguard of redefining Hawaii not just as a destination, but as a thriving global innovation hub.

Key Takeaways:

💥 "Bridge to Asia" Thesis: Discover how Hawai’i leverages its unique geographic and cultural proximity to act as a crucial link between Western and Asian tech markets, shifting the perspective on what makes the islands a competitive place to build a global business.

💥 Tech with a Heart: Chenoa is on a mission to redefine innovation and tech culture from the ground up. Moving away from typical "bro-tech" dynamics, Chenoa infuses her leadership with Hawaii’s deeply rooted values of ’Ohana (family) and community. It’s a refreshing look at how grounding a business in family-style collaboration can drive true, impactful innovation.

💥 Future of Tech in the AI Era: Hear Chenoa’s insights on navigating the rapidly commoditized world of AI software and why human relationships, community trust, and a "whole-person" approach will become the ultimate differentiators for successful businesses moving forward.

💥 "Kamaʻāina Come Home" Initiative: Learn about the growing movement to draw Hawai’i’s best and brightest talent back to the islands to build sustainable, high-paying tech jobs that diversify the economy without sacrificing the local environment.

Listen in to discover how Chenoa and her network are bringing the human back to the center of technology, all while proving that a small island community can punch far above its weight on the global stage.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation with host on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Are underrepresented entrepreneurs the ultimate competitive advantage in climate tech? 🤔

Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and GP of Earthshot Ventures, challenges how venture capital industries view innovation. Entrepreneurs are actively designing our future. 🚀

While broader industry standards for investing in diverse talent remain low, Earthshot Ventures intentionally deployed over 40% of funding into underrepresented founders.

Finding exceptional innovators in unexpected places unlocks untapped potential, providing capital networks needed to scale global solutions. 🤝

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Is technology half of the climate solution? 💻

When Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and GP of Earthshot Ventures, started work in Hawai'i 15 years ago, islands relied on imported oil for 90% of electricity needs. Today, that number dropped below 70%. 📉

While Hawai'i serves as a critical global incubator for testing clean technologies, Dawn reveals the biggest breakthroughs isn’t hardware. True sustainability requires dual approaches. Advanced technology opens doors, but community trust, policy alignment, and local leadership drive long-term global change. 🌐

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

How do you sleep at night when you’re tackling one of the world’s crises? 😴

For Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and GP of Earthshot Ventures, the answer lies in the power of the team. As a former athlete, Dawn channels her competitive drive into building ecosystems where people can thrive and challenge each other.

She believes the real energy comes from surrounding yourself with people who are passionate, curious, and ready to build a better future together. Moving away from individual anxiety to collective action, creates a community of solutions. 🤝

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and GP of Earthshot Ventures, reminds us of the current state of our world’s sophisticated technology.

While groundbreaking technology is essential to solving the climate crisis, it cannot scale without the support, trust, and engagement of the people it serves.

While innovation serves as a catalyst for our evolution, it can never substitute for the essence of community. 🫂 When we invest in a community, we are completing the equation for a sustainable future. ✨

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Can sustainability be profitable? 💰

Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and GP of Earthshot Ventures, is proving that the long game of clean energy is more than just environmental - it’s an economic win.

While some solutions take time to scale, many are already becoming cheaper than fossil fuels. The fashion industry currently accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet the vast majority of clothing ends up as waste. 🗑️

Through innovations like SuperCircle, they’re making the circular economy profitable. Not just by reducing waste but, rewiring how global industries operate for a sustainable, thriving future. 🔄

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and GP of Earthshot Ventures, breaks down the unique moment in history we are currently navigating. 🤖 A massive surge in energy demand driven by the rise of AI and the electrification of our daily lives. 🔌

Understanding this transition is key to solving the energy paradox and building a future that sustains both our planet and our global economy.

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lockheimer @EricaLockheimer]

“The environment is the ultimate supporter of people.”

This perspective from Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Impact and General Partner of Earthshot Ventures, flips the script on how we view sustainability. ♻️

Rather than seeing the planet as something that only needs our protection, she reminds us that the natural world is actually the primary foundation supporting our communities, our health, and our future.

When we invest in the environment, we are ultimately investing in ourselves. 💟

HumanizeHer x Shangri La “Visionary Voices” brings HumanizeHer’s signature conversations to Shangri La, a Center of Cultures & Ideas and Museum of Islamic Art in Honolulu, Hawai’i, featuring three special episodes with visionary women leaders from Hawai’i.

Mahalo to VToku for their technical support and partnership with our production crew in bringing this series to life.

🎧 Join the conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.