Neha Kumar, co-founder and co-CEO of Full Glass Wine, didn't wait for the perfect moment to scale her business—she created it through strategic action, disciplined execution, and the willingness to move forward even when conditions were uncertain.
Many entrepreneurs are paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection. They wait for complete market clarity, ideal timing, or flawless execution before taking their next step. Neha Kumar's approach is radically different. In this compelling episode of the Influential Women Podcast, host Jodie O'Brien sits down with Neha to explore how she built a 200 million dollar business in just 17 months through strategic acquisitions and relentless forward momentum.
Neha's career has never followed a linear path. After working in banking, leading Create and Cultivate through a private equity exit, and teaching at UCLA, she discovered that every experience—even the ones that didn't feel "successful"—became essential to her greatest accomplishment. Her non-linear journey proves an important truth: no experience is ever wasted. Every pivot, failure, and learning becomes preparation for what comes next.
In this episode, Neha shares her philosophy on discipline versus motivation, explaining why relying on willpower alone leads to burnout while disciplined systems create sustainable growth. She opens up about major setbacks, failed transactions, and how continuing to move forward ultimately led to unexpected opportunities and outcomes far better than she could have planned.
The conversation explores powerful business concepts that extend beyond entrepreneurship:
- Why the glass balls versus rubber balls framework transforms how you prioritize decisions
- How failure becomes data, not a reflection of identity
- Why staying in motion creates momentum, even when progress feels invisible
- How six-month seasons replace the overwhelm of long-term planning
Neha also addresses the deeply personal side of ambition—aging, time, partnership, and her deliberate decision to say "yes" for one year, which sparked exponential growth across every area of her life.
This episode is essential listening for:
- Entrepreneurs and founders who are questioning whether they're ready to scale
- Leaders struggling with perfectionism and decision paralysis
- Women navigating non-linear careers and questioning their choices
- Anyone feeling stuck between where they are and where they want to be
If you've ever felt the pressure to have it all figured out or feared taking the next step, this episode will remind you that progress comes from movement, not perfection. Neha's grounded perspective offers the clarity, confidence, and permission to build boldly even when the path feels uncertain.
