July 20, 2023

But Who’s Counting? Season 2 Episode 8: Splashing into the Startup Scene with a Traditional Business Skillset with Jane-Ellis Griggs of Summersalt

Moving from a role in a traditional business to a startup can take some adjustments, but learning how to automate, integrate and build a team from the ground up can empower those who make the switch.  

On this episode of the But Who’s Counting? podcast, host Dave Hartley sits down with Jane-Ellis Griggs, the VP of Finance and Operations at St. Louis startup turned bestselling sustainable swimwear brand Summersalt.  Jane-Ellis shares Summersalt’s origin story including a life-changing meal at Chipotle and why she made the drastic career transition from a corporate workplace to a startup. She also divulges how her background in public accounting built a foundation for setting processes and becoming a subject matter expert. The two also discussed: 

  • How Summersalt is helping to redefine beauty 
  • What it takes to build a finance and accounting team from the ground up 
  • What startups and large companies alike should consider when selecting a new platform for their tech stacks 
  • Lessons on integration and automation for lean teams 

“Rehearsing your successes and your wins and always taking a step back to really celebrate the whole trajectory of what you’re accomplishing is really important.”

Jane-Ellis Griggs

Resources to Count On 

Check out these additional resources for more insight into Dave and Jane-Ellis’ conversation:  

Listen to But Who’s Counting? by subscribing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and let us know what you think by rating and reviewing.   

To help gauge how startups and investors have been impacted by external pressures and how they plan to move forward, the Anders Startup team is inviting startup founders, entrepreneurs, investors and funding sources to take our inaugural St. Louis Startup Funding and Outlook Survey. The survey will get a pulse on the region’s ever-growing startup ecosystem and see if visions align for entrepreneurs and funding sources. 


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