Ep 31—Ladies Who Rock Series—Special Guest Noramay Cadena from Supply Change Capital

Today on Take the Stage, and our special series Ladies Who Rock, we shine the spotlight on Noramay Cadena, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Supply Change Capital, gets candid about her journey from the San Fernando Valley to MIT, from Boeing to building a venture fund—without the traditional playbook. Her story is one of grit, reinvention, and creating access for others.

Episode Highlights:

[02:00] That Tap-on-the-Shoulder Moment Noramay reflects on a high school guest speaker whose story helped her finally see what was possible for her—and why representation is still her guiding light today.

[06:25] Rejecting the Life She Knew Raised by working-class parents and a teen mom herself, Noramay shares what fueled her drive: not knowing what she wanted, but knowing exactly what she didn’t.

[08:40] The Leap to MIT—with a Baby in Tow She opens up about the leap of faith it took to leave California for Massachusetts, with no real roadmap—just a deep fear of staying the same.

[11:08] Muscle Memory for Hard Things From working campus jobs to support her family to interning abroad, Noramay recounts how she powered through undergrad by staying hyper-focused on the present moment.

[16:50] From Boeing to Bold Moves After a successful 12-year career in aerospace, she realized she had been following her mentor’s path—and it was time to carve her own.

[22:55] Breaking into VC Cold No VC background, no network—just conviction. Noramay talks about launching her first venture firm the hard way and everything she learned from that process.

[30:05] Why She Said Yes to the Risky Path She breaks down why she initially chose to co-found a firm instead of joining an established one—and how that shaped her approach to venture capital.

[31:55] The Birth of Supply Change Capital Noramay and her partner came together over shared values to launch a firm focused on food, culture, and climate—and why they’re building infrastructure no one sees but everyone needs.

[34:55] What Fuels Her Focus Her mom’s voice. The reality of food insecurity. And a desire to solve urgent, human-centered problems. These are the voices that drive Noramay’s investment lens.

[37:10] What Kinds of Startups They're Backing She breaks down the difference between “wedge in food” and “first in food” companies—and explains why this $10T market is ripe for innovation.

[41:55] Why Engineers Are Moving into Food From aerospace to agriculture, Noramay explains why STEM-trained professionals are finding new purpose in food systems and agtech.

[48:35] Rethinking “Nontraditional” Noramay shares why skillset and mindset matter more than pedigree—and the very real (and perceived) risks firms take when they overlook that.

[53:45] What Her 16-Year-Old Self Would Say Now If she could see her now? "F yeah." A goosebump moment about betting on yourself—even when no one else does.

Connect with Noramay on LinkedIn

Supply Change Capital on LinkedIn | Website

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