In this episode of It’s Not You, But Sometimes It Is, executive coach Meg sits down with Fran Maier — Silicon Valley pioneer, co-founder of Match.com, and CEO & Founder of BabyQuip. Fran brings three decades of leadership in tech, marketplaces, and scaling female-led companies in male-dominated environments.
From building Match.com in the Wild West of the early internet to scaling BabyQuip into the world’s leading baby-gear rental marketplace, Fran opens up about sexism in tech, overcoming boardroom battles, rebuilding after failure, and the deep personal growth required to lead with authenticity. Her insights are raw, real, and immediately usable.
Key Insights You’ll Learn
♦ How Fran built BabyQuip into a profitable global marketplace with 3000+ providers
♦ What really happened behind the scenes at Match.com — and the costly lesson that changed her career
♦ The hidden biases female founders face and how to counter them with confidence
♦ Why personal growth, stillness, and self-awareness are leadership superpowers
♦ How to navigate toxic cultures, board conflicts, and co-founder misalignment
♦ How motherhood, authenticity, and vulnerability shaped Fran’s leadership
♦ The truth about fundraising as a woman in tech — and what investors really look for
♦ Fran’s hard-won lessons for younger founders, especially women in male-dominated industries
If you’re a travelling family, investor, or marketplace enthusiast, explore BabyQuip’s services and current growth opportunities. Follow Fran’s journey, support the BabyQuip mission, and stay connected with one of the most influential women in the tech and startup ecosystem.
What you’ll learn
We hope you enjoy this episode with Fran Maier.
Connect with Fran Maier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franmaier/
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg