Insights

Susan Cook is a seasoned startup operator and former CEO of Zaloni, a venture-backed enterprise data management company. She is currently the CEO of DAS42, a leading data and analytics consulting firm.

“I have such a passion for helping startups because I have sat in that very, very lonely seat of being a CEO in a startup,” she shares, “You get really buried in building it, saving it, and crisis management every day.”

When Susan first came across CED, she didn’t initially realize the depth of resources available. But after connecting with Kelly Rowell, CED’s CEO, over breakfast, a partnership was born. “We had instant mutual respect, admiration, and love,” Susan recalls. Through CED, Susan has become a key advocate for founders, especially those navigating critical decision-making moments.

One of her biggest contributions is through Mentor Match, a CED initiative where board members meet monthly with startup founders to provide guidance on pressing business challenges. These sessions offer invaluable advice on issues like hiring, fundraising, and product diversification.

“It’s incredibly rewarding,” Susan explains. “For an hour of my time, I can offer wisdom they’re craving–whether it’s hiring strategies or navigating the VC landscape.”

“The Triangle is one of the most entrepreneur-centric cultures I’ve ever engaged with,” Susan says. Unlike Silicon Valley’s high-risk, high-reward model, where VCs invest in 100 startups expecting 80 to fail, the culture in North Carolina is focused on sustainable success. “Here, it’s really about the human. We want them to succeed. Sure, we have huge success stories like Pendo and Red Hat, but base hits count too.”

Susan’s journey exemplifies what makes CED so impactful: a community of operators, investors, and founders committed to lifting each other up. “It gives me absolute joy,” she says. “There’s a flywheel effect—people doing good for other people. That’s what drives innovation.”

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