Jina Kim: What It Takes to Be the 4th Employee of a Unicorn Startup

Introduction

Jina Kim shares her experience of being the 4th employee at Carta, a unicorn startup, and what it takes to find success in the startup world.

Leaving Wall Street for Startup Life

Jina was leaving work at Lehman Brothers when she was approached by John, one of the founders of eShares (now Carta), and offered a job. Despite the risk of leaving a secure job, Jina saw the opportunity to work on a big and interesting problem.

Trust and Responsibility at a Startup

As the 4th employee at Carta, Jina was given a lot of responsibility, even handling payroll. But she appreciated the trust her CEO, Henry, had in her and enjoyed working with such a dedicated team.

Importance of Stock Options

Jina highlights the importance of paying attention to your stock options at a startup and taking advantage of them while you can. She encourages believing in the company and taking the risk, even if it means sacrificing some salary.

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

Jina recognizes the luck in finding a successful startup job but also acknowledges the skills and effort it takes to make it in the startup world. She now uses her experience to help other startups and pursue her own venture.