Meet Raffaela Rein, CEO & Cofounder of CareerFoundry.

What's your background?

At heart I am really a strategist, organizer and hustler. I worked as a banker before moving into tech, where I started out as a data scientist. Since then I have taken on much more strategic business development roles before founding my own business and becoming CEO of CareerFoundry.

You used to work as the VP of Global Venture Development for Rocket Internet, what was that like?

It was incredibly insightful, fun and hard work. I helped build three companies for Rocket Internet in Asia when they launched in that part of the world back in 2011. Rocket Internet is certainly a great testing ground for future entrepreneurs, many very smart and talented people work there and I admire Oli (Oliver Samwer) for leading and motivating teams all over the world to give him their all.

What inspired you to become a founder?

Like many founders, I had a pressing urge to solve a big problem - in my case that’s improving the employability results of the education system.

Please walk me through your day, what does the Founder and CEO of CareerFoundry do?

CEO is probably the most undefined job title there is. Basically I am responsible for everything, but top of my list is keeping the company afloat (note: CF raised investment in Jan 2014), closing partnerships, building an outstanding team and legal matters. Strategy and vision are a huge part of my job too, but unfortunately I don’t have time to strategize and visualize every day (although these are my favourite parts of the job.)

Can you see yourself in ten years doing the same thing you do now?

Yes, but hopefully on a bigger scale. There are different challenges involved at different stages and sizes of a company. Management is already becoming more complex, nerve wrecking and exciting at the same time. I hope it will continue this way.

What is the best advice you ever received?

“Just do it!” from Readmill founder Henrik Berggren, when I was debating if and when I should quit my job. I quit the next day and have never regretted it.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned in the last year?

There is always room for increasing your levels of persistence, patience and capacity.

And what are your plans for the future?

I want to help more people find awesome jobs and help companies find outstanding talent.

Long term, I can imagine myself getting involved in policy making, international relations and to dedicate myself to further innovation in education, finance and careers.