Whether it’s a social change movement or a consumer-facing product, storytelling matters. It is critical to position a brand in a way that generates the short- and long-term desired impact. In Zilch: The Power of Zero in Business, Ms. Lublin wrote about brands as needing to lay claim to one of these differentiators: “first, only, faster, better, cheaper.”

Being a leader is hard. And with your team, the media, your investors, etc. always watching you, as a leader you don’t really have the luxury of a bad day. Sometimes, it’s nice to be able to share with an outsider who understands. Ms. Lublin enjoys being that quiet cheerleader and source of emotional support.

Too many options? No options and feeling stuck? Before committing to a direction, before pitching an investor, before investing in a build…it can be helpful to noodle with someone who asks direct questions, sees around the corners, and thinks about practical application.

For both for-profits and not-for-profits, raising money is essential to ensure that an organization can operate and make the investments it must in order to carry out its mission. Without funding, startups fail. Having raised hundreds of millions of dollars over her career, Ms. Lublin understands investors’ needs and priorities, how to ensure that an offering will gain traction, etc. She is generous with her network as well as her past experience.