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Vlada Bortnik, co-founder & CEO of Marco Polo, the video messaging app, shares what it really means to build technology that helps people feel close, not just connected.

Vlada’s journey—from growing up in Ukraine to working at Microsoft to creating one of the most intentional, human-centered apps in tech—reminds us that business can be both purposeful and profitable. She shares how she and her husband built Marco Polo while raising two young kids, how they’ve kept their company values at the center of every decision, and what it looks like to “work joyfully” for the long game.

If you’ve ever felt like technology is pulling you away from what matters most, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Connect with Vlada on LinkedIn and download the Marco Polo app at marcopolo.me.

(BTW if you join Marco Polo and want to try the paid version, use my affiliate link to try 2 months free!)

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