CBV Alumni Board Feature: Sophie Shrand + Science with Sophie
What propelled you into the entrepreneurial space? And what do you enjoy most about being a founder?
I became an entrepreneur to solve what I call The Frizzle Problem: in the history of children's television, there has never been a real, live, human woman science role model. As a scientist, educator, and performer myself, I decided to be the role model I wish I had had growing up. The most rewarding part of founding Science with Sophie is the notes, videos, pictures, and messages from girls and their families around the world who watch the show, do the experiments, and know that they are scientists - they can see it, and they can be it. Worth a quick add that the notes I get from boys are also incredibly important - all genders benefit from strong female role models.
Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.
Oooh baby am I constantly learning as an entrepreneur. My degrees are in Neuroscience and Theatre, with comedy training from The Second City - none of those are a business diploma. Not only have I learned how to be an entrepreneur (in no small part thanks to Camelback), I also learned along the way that the scientist's inquiry process, the engineer's design cycle, and the artist's empathetic mindset all have a lot in common with entrepreneurship. Now I proudly call myself all of those things, and continue to learn from the interweaving of them all.
Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out?
Martha Hernandez, my 2018 Camelback Fellowship cohort buddy and a dear friend, is constantly and consistently lifting up others as she climbs. She is always making connections and setting up the chess pieces for people she knows, and her transparency in sharing her experiences, ideas, advice, and genuine friendship are gifts that keep on giving. Love you, Martha!
How are you and/or your team adapting to the challenges of the coronavirus crisis? What are you most proud of overcoming in recent months?
I am so proud to be launching Science With Sophie: SEASON quaranTHREE! Written in Boston, directed from Chicago, and filmed in my living room in New York City, Season QuaranThree brings you new topics, new characters, and new experiments that, as always, can be done from home - sometimes even from your couch!
We had BIG PLANS for 2020 - didn't we all? And then the world nosedived into Unprecedented Times™. Like everyone, we were (and still are) scared, heartbroken, and confused. But we were (and still are) in awe of all the families who improvised and found solutions to make the most of life in quarantine. By observing their resiliency, we realized, "HEY! There’s gotta be some science here!" So we wiped down every surface, set up Zoom and FaceTimes with the writing and production teams, took real-time crash courses in cinematography, laughed a lot, cried a LOT, and made a whole new quarantine-friendly season of SWS. We're gonna shake things up for Season QuaranThree. I’m talking surprise episode drops, collaborations, experimental #content and actual experiments, livestreams, GIFs, and all kinds of goodies along the quaran-way. Subscribe on YouTube to be in on the fun.
What are you looking forward to as a Founder in 2021?
Hugging people again. For obvious reasons.
Also looking forward to learning more on the job about how to produce television safely during COVID so that we can continue to share our message with the world. Even now - especially now - everyone needs to know that girls are brave, curious, smart, funny scientists, every day. We at SWS are here to help, and Season QuaranThree is our answer to the call!
You can learn more here about Sophie Shrand and Science with Sophie.
Find out more about all of the CBV Fellows by clicking below: