Ivana Tay launched a 6-figure business in 1-year
Katheline Jean-Pierre, Apple Top 200 Business Podcast Host and Founder of the Top 5% Method® is interviewing Ivana Tay the Founder and CEO of Playfield
5 Career Acceleration Lessons from Ivana Tay, Founder of Playfield, the Entrepreneur Who Landed Chewy.com in One Year
What a pet product founder's journey teaches us about fast-tracking professional growth
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Ivana from Playfield, who achieved something remarkable: landing a partnership with Chewy.com just one year after starting her business. Her journey offers powerful insights that apply far beyond entrepreneurship—they're career acceleration principles we can all use.
Lesson 1: "We Are Not Too Small for Anybody"
When Ivana decided to approach Chewy.com, she didn't let the size of her business stop her. Her mindset? "We are not too small for anybody."
Career Application: Stop disqualifying yourself from opportunities because you think you're "not ready yet" or "not experienced enough." The worst they can say is no—but they might just say yes.
Lesson 2: Follow the System, Don't Try to Hack It
Here's what's fascinating: Ivana didn't try to find a "back door" or network her way in. She simply filled out Chewy's online application form like everyone else.
Career Application: Sometimes the direct path is the best path. That job application, that LinkedIn message, that speaking opportunity form—just fill it out. Don't overcomplicate what can be simple.
Lesson 3: Speed Beats Perfection
Ivana applied to Google's internship program "20 minutes before it closed." She didn't spend weeks perfecting her Chewy application. She acted quickly.
Career Application: Done is better than perfect. That application sitting in your drafts, that networking email you're "still polishing"—send it. Speed creates opportunities that perfectionism kills.
Lesson 4: Quality Speaks Louder Than Marketing
When Chewy responded in just three days (Friday submission, Monday response), it wasn't because of clever marketing tactics. It was because the product and story were genuinely compelling.
Career Application: Focus more energy on becoming genuinely excellent at what you do than on "personal branding." Quality work markets itself.
Lesson 5: Build Your Informal Advisory Network
While Ivana doesn't have formal mentors, she maintains regular "catch-up calls with people several steps ahead" of her. She connects with both funded entrepreneurs and bootstrapped founders.
Career Application: Create your own informal advisory network. Schedule quarterly coffee chats with people whose careers you admire. Make it reciprocal—offer value, not just questions.
The Real Accelerator: Action Bias
The common thread through all these lessons? Action bias. Ivana doesn't overthink—she acts. She doesn't wait for perfect conditions—she moves forward with what she has.
In career coaching, we often see people stuck in analysis paralysis. They're waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect qualifications, the perfect opportunity. Meanwhile, people like Ivana are filling out forms, making calls, and creating their own momentum.
Your Next Step
What opportunity have you been talking yourself out of because you think you're "not ready"? What application have you been perfecting instead of submitting?
Take a page from Ivana's playbook: Stop thinking you're too small for anybody. Fill out the form. Send the message. Make the call.
Your career acceleration is one tiny step away.
ENROLL to launch your side business now.
