Although many of Getty’s classmates hailed from disparate backgrounds and various industries, she noticed the strong sense of community that gives the Trojan Network its reputation.
“There’s a social element to [Marshall] and I think an understanding and awareness that people actually are the driving force behind one’s success. Collaboration and teamwork is so ingrained at Marshall,” Getty said. “Everyone there has their own unique career experience … I think there’s a real deep respect for diverse perspectives that Marshall students bring and this contributes a tremendous value to the overall MBA experience.”
Following her time at USC Marshall, Getty moved from an associate marketing manager position at Mattel to Soul Cycle, where she leveraged her entrepreneurial spirit to launch the company's first studio in Northern California. After moving to the United Kingdom, Getty continued pursuing her passion for health and wellness by becoming the director of marketing at Barry’s Bootcamp.
From toys to exercise, Getty’s career had already taken a few turns, and it was about to take another one.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Getty observed the heavy burden placed on UK and U.S. hospitals, straining their doctors, nurses, and infrastructure to the breaking point. She saw that there was room for reform.
“I could see that preventative care was the future, and it was what I had been doing in the health and wellness space,” Getty said. “If you can prevent a lot of disease and conditions, then the burden on the healthcare system can be alleviated.”
Eventually, she teamed up with two graduates from Said Business School at the University of Oxford to launch THENA Capital. To learn more about the healthcare industry, Getty reached out to the Marshall community and the Trojan Network. Through these connections, the group connected with healthcare partners, including one of the most well-respected clinics in the United States.
“One of my classmates [from USC Marshall] … she was (and still is) running the Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange at Mayo Clinic,” Getty recalled. “We hopped on a call, she remembered me … we’ve had a lot of touch points with the Mayo Clinic as a result.”
THENA Capital’s mission isn’t strictly centered on women’s health. Because all three founders are women, however, Getty says the fund receives a great deal of attention from women-led startups, a role Getty relishes.
“The more women that get into business, the more women that are in venture capital, the more likely funding is going to go to female founders and into women’s health,” Getty said. “It doesn’t make sense to me that women are underserved being half the population. I think if there’s no intention to focus on that area, we’re doing humanity a disservice.”
As Getty looks back on her journey to THENA and venture capital, she can’t believe how far she’s come. Tapping into her own experiences, she urges young people to push themselves out of their comfort zones. After all, they never know where it may lead them.
“Looking back, I think if I knew how much I had to learn and how hard it’s been, I don’t know if I would’ve started [THENA]. I think ignorance can be bliss,” Getty said. “If you really have that great idea or something that is driving you to go start, do it … because you miss a hundred percent of the things you don’t try.”
