Voice of a Leader, Podcast Episode #3: Stephan Roche

By Alanna Fairey

It’s that time of the month again –– we are proud to launch episode three of Voice of a Leader! This month, we are joined by Stephan Roche, CEO of SemperVirens Venture Capital, a leading venture capital firm investing in B2B tech startups. 

Stephan forged his own path, diverging from the expectations of his family. After earning a degree from Princeton and an MBA from Harvard, he chose not to pursue traditional routes in investment banking or consulting. Instead, he joined Procter & Gamble, leading the iconic Folgers Coffee campaign with their iconic slogan, “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.” 

Stephan later transitioned to FinTech, becoming CMO at Classmates. His career then took a transformative turn when he was invited to serve as CEO of a family office for one of the wealthiest American families. Under his leadership, the organization grew from 50 to 500 employees, successfully navigating social and economic challenges.

During this time, Roche built relationships with best-selling authors, renowned scientists, athletes, and billionaires. However, he also encountered the darker side of wealth: witnessing ethical compromises, abuse of power, and the prioritization of wealth as a key aspect of identity. These experiences left a lasting impact on his career and personal outlook.

When it comes to Imposter Syndrome, Stephan believes that it is another way of talking about the importance of learning. Breaking this down, Stephan says that when we feel like an Imposter, it means that we’re in a position where we do not know something. Instead of being threatened by this, we can learn how to work through this and seek guidance.

“In putting myself in those positions, it requires me to reach out to other people, to learn. It requires me to dig in,” Stephan tells our host, Lanisa Farnsworth. “It requires me to feel the anxiety of not knowing everything that I need to know to succeed, but the opposite of imposter syndrome is boredom. And if you think of it that way, I think what it gives you is a real different set of perspectives on which to have a conversation about.” 

When so many of us feel Imposter Syndrome creeping in, our immediate response is to shame ourselves for feeling the way that we do. Stephan’s story will challenge listeners to turn those feelings of Imposter Syndrome into something positive. 

“Let’s talk about not being an imposter, but being somebody who is in a position where you're learning and growing, you're becoming,” Stephan says. “And in becoming, you're achieving something in terms of your life.”

To learn more from Stephan’s story, you can listen to the full episode here!

Alanna Fairey is a Client Engagement Specialist at Brand of a Leader. She has a diverse background in fashion communications, branding, and writing. Connect with Alanna here.