For decades, venture capital has been built around financial returns and rapid growth—but what if the true measure of success was the strength of the community behind it?
In this episode, Kt McBratney, General Partner and Head of Community at Renew Venture Capital, shares how they are challenging the traditional VC model and proving that impact and investment can go hand in hand.
Kt’s career has been anything but traditional. From journalism to marketing to launching startups, they have navigated multiple industries by embracing curiosity, leading with empathy, and building networks that empower people. Now, they’re bringing that same mindset to venture capital—reshaping how firms operate, prioritizing inclusive investing, and ensuring that founders get the support they need beyond just funding. They also host Founded on Purpose, a podcast that spotlights entrepreneurs proving that business can be a tool for change.
Find out why the best businesses are shifting toward trust, inclusion, and collaboration for long-term success. Kt breaks down how investors, founders, and leaders can embed community into their work, and why the best businesses are the ones that put people first.
Key Takeaways:
- Why VC Needs a Human-Centered Approach – Learn how prioritizing relationships leads to better business outcomes.
- Building a Career Outside the Traditional Mold – Discover how Kt’s non-linear career journey shaped her approach to leadership and investing.
- The Role of Community in Innovation – Understand why fostering networks and relationships is key to driving sustainable success.
- Purpose-Driven Leadership – Explore how you can integrate impact, authenticity, and inclusion into your own leadership journey.
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[00:27] The Importance of Communication in Relationships
[01:07] Revolutionizing Venture Capital with Kt McBratney
[02:58] Kt McBratney's Nonlinear Journey
[04:39] The Role of General Partner and Head of Community
[06:51] Leadership and Management: A Personal Perspective
[10:56] Founders and Leadership in Modern Times
[12:55] Personal Branding and Authenticity
[16:01] Resilience and Confidence in Entrepreneurship
[17:52] Celebrating Wins and Rewards
[19:10] About the Founded on Purpose Podcast
[20:26] The Importance of Team Dynamics
[20:41] Balancing Founder and Investor Mindsets
[21:39] Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Imposter Syndrome
[23:16] The Power of Taking Breaks and Reflection
[25:24] Daily Habits and Finding Rhythm
[28:34] Building and Maintaining Relationships
[31:17] Innovating in Venture Capital
[33:50] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: All about love by Bell HooksQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: The most sophisticated people I know - inside they are all children. - Jim HensonQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: CuriousQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Focusing on being in my flow instead of swimming upstream. So instead of fighting the current, how can I let it carry me? To be more effective without having to struggle as much.Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: I really just want to leave a legacy of opportunity and optimism wherever I go. And I want people to know that they can embrace them, their cells and their dreams. And so I'm really excited to be doing that through my consultancy.Q: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: The Muppet show theme song -
Quotes
Leadership and management are not the same thing. We think about them being synonymous and a lot of times they do go hand in hand. I love being a leader, but I don't always like being a manager, and that's okay.
Kt McBratney
I think a lot of resilience that some folks have is by necessity, right? —when the odds are stacked against you, you find a way through. I wouldn’t have called myself confident early on, but over time, I’ve learned that comfort in who you are is its own kind of confidence.
Kt McBratney
For so long, leadership has been viewed like a parental hierarchy—people want to impress, seek approval, or avoid punishment. But real leadership isn’t about authority; it’s about showing up in different ways that create impact and bring people together.
Kt McBratney
For a while, personal branding became so big that it often felt disconnected from who people really were. But to me, it’s always been about authenticity—knowing your values and choosing what parts of yourself you want to share. It’s about having agency over your own narrative. I’ve found that the best approach isn’t forcing a strategy but following where my energy naturally flows.
Kt McBratney
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About
Kt McBratney is obsessed with disrupting the status bro, using business as a tool to put more good into the world and change harmful systems. As a General Partner and Head of Community at Renew Venture Capital, she brings her perspective as an excited founder, a marketer & operator, and a non-binary person in the world of VC to her work — creating connection and value across founders, funders and everyone interested in building for profit AND purpose. It's part of the team that recently coined Purpose Rounds, a new category of regulation crowdfunding specifically for female or overlooked founders, as well as social impact companies. Kt is also the host of the Founded on Purpose podcast.