We were lucky to catch up with Kaiza Molina recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kaiza, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience can be traced back to my parents who instilled in me the importance of perseverance and creativity from a young age. One early lesson I learned from my parents during my childhood happened during a seemingly simple middle school project. I was tasked with creating an insect species model for science class, and I had set my heart on crafting a colorful peacock butterfly—I even spent all day researching them! My enthusiasm was palpable, but reality struck when my dad said we only had $15 to spend, dashing my hopes for using expensive clay. Unfazed, he steered me towards a more budget-friendly option—a styrofoam ant.
Initially, I was disappointed. (A mundane ant?!) But as we began to assemble the ant, my dad’s creativity shined. He helped me transform a simple paper plate into a textured wooden habitat, where my foam ant would live. I was inspired to adapt my presentation to match delivering my report from the perspective of the ant, turning a routine assignment into an engaging narrative that captivated my classmates and teacher (and got some good laughs!).
This experience was more than just a lesson in making do; it was my first real insight into the power of perspective and ingenuity. Resilience isn’t merely about enduring limitations but creatively transcending them. This lesson of resilience, ingrained during my youth, has profoundly shaped my approach throughout my career, particularly in the challenging world of tech startups. Being a startup founder requires resilience. We must see a vision when most others don’t (even in the face of closed doors). Innovating within constraints means to see boundaries not as barriers but as prompts to think differently. This mindset fuels my commitment to empower others to transcend their circumstances and leverage their unique strengths. As my parents taught me, while many constraints are beyond our control, our response to them can define our success.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My path into the health benefits space was shaped by two experiences: my time at the rapidly growing small-business focused startup Gusto and a subsequent position at a health insurance startup, also small business focused. I saw the obstacles SMBs face in securing affordable health benefits. This firsthand insight into the high costs, complexity, and rigidity of traditional health insurance models drove me to co-found StretchDollar.
Our mission is to transform health benefits by making them accessible and affordable for small businesses. Nearly 60% of small businesses with under 10 employees don’t offer health benefits. It’s not because they don’t want to take care of their employees. It’s because health benefits is too complicated and too expensive. With StretchDollar, we’re proving it doesn’t have to be.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on my journey with StretchDollar, three qualities stand out as pivotal: self-confidence, embracing uncertainty, and maintaining a healthy personal-professional harmony.
1. Believing in myself has been the rock I’ve clung to while riding the startup rollercoaster, with its thrilling highs and challenging lows, not to mention all the twists and turns in between. Celebrating every win, big or small, reinforces your strength and diminishes the impact of challenges.
2. Being open to the unknown is crucial. Getting comfortable with uncertainty, allowing yourself to make mistakes, and practicing self-compassion are essential for success in unpredictable situations. Connect with other entrepreneurs (even if it feels awkward at first!). Finding a supportive community who understands your journey can be invaluable—they provide the empathy and encouragement needed to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
3. Lastly, it’s important to decouple your personal worth from your work and take time to recharge. Whether it’s stepping away to enjoy nature, spending time with loved ones, or indulging in self-care — don’t forget, you are human. This balance not only sustains our passion but also keeps us grounded and ready to be inspired by the world around us. So make time to stop and smell the roses!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
We have the best customers – small business owners from all over the U.S. For many, offering health benefits is a first, made possible thanks to StretchDollar. Whether they have one employee or a few dozen, our clients have one thing in common: they’ve been frustrated by the paperwork overload and headaches of traditional group health insurance.
It shouldn’t be this tough to take care of your team.
Our small business clients span all industries – Milk Shake Factory franchise, small medical offices, advertising agencies, recruiting agencies, SaaS startups, even dog grooming companies. (Shoutout to Pawsitively—we love the creative names that cross our desks!)
The common thread? They’re all small businesses, navigating a system that seems built for the big guys. StretchDollar offers a new way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stretchdollar.com/
- Instagram: @stretchdollar
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaizamolina/
- Twitter: @stretchdollarhq
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
