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

Connect with Alexis on Linkedin | Website

alexis@career-rockstars.com