Lulu Garcia Navarro

And media at the time called it feminist Tinder.

And media at the time called it feminist Tinder.

I mean, it's interesting because there's always been this narrative around you, right? This was the girl boss era when you started. You were one of its best known figures, a woman in her 20s leading the successful company. And I'm curious how the term girl boss sat with you at the time. And if you look back on it any differently now.

I mean, it's interesting because there's always been this narrative around you, right? This was the girl boss era when you started. You were one of its best known figures, a woman in her 20s leading the successful company. And I'm curious how the term girl boss sat with you at the time. And if you look back on it any differently now.

I think that the culture now looks at Sheryl Sandberg, the lean-in era, and that moment with a lot more skepticism, right? And there is this idea of what is performative and what is actually the structural challenges that women face to get ahead. Are people taking advantage of zeitgeist or are they actually trying to change fundamental underlying things that make it difficult?

I think that the culture now looks at Sheryl Sandberg, the lean-in era, and that moment with a lot more skepticism, right? And there is this idea of what is performative and what is actually the structural challenges that women face to get ahead. Are people taking advantage of zeitgeist or are they actually trying to change fundamental underlying things that make it difficult?

Beyond the broader cultural moment, how you felt you were received as a young woman within the tech industry, especially after your lawsuit against Tinder for sexual harassment and discrimination. This is before Me Too. This is before a lot of things. How did that impact you professionally?

Beyond the broader cultural moment, how you felt you were received as a young woman within the tech industry, especially after your lawsuit against Tinder for sexual harassment and discrimination. This is before Me Too. This is before a lot of things. How did that impact you professionally?

As you mentioned, you did find an investor and a mentor in Andrei Andreev, who was the head of Badoo. And he was a co-creator of Bumble. And then you faced another workplace scandal after Bumble launched involving him. In 2019, Forbes published an investigation into him and the culture there. And he was accused of creating a toxic and sexist work environment at their London headquarters.

As you mentioned, you did find an investor and a mentor in Andrei Andreev, who was the head of Badoo. And he was a co-creator of Bumble. And then you faced another workplace scandal after Bumble launched involving him. In 2019, Forbes published an investigation into him and the culture there. And he was accused of creating a toxic and sexist work environment at their London headquarters.

Now, he denied the allegations, but ended up selling his majority stake not long after the article was published. I don't want to get into the particulars, which have been, I think, pretty well chewed over. I think I bring it up because it is striking to me that you had to deal with a second high-profile case of alleged male bad behavior in your professional life.

Now, he denied the allegations, but ended up selling his majority stake not long after the article was published. I don't want to get into the particulars, which have been, I think, pretty well chewed over. I think I bring it up because it is striking to me that you had to deal with a second high-profile case of alleged male bad behavior in your professional life.

At the same time, you were building a company whose brand was about empowering women. I mean, what do you make of that now?

At the same time, you were building a company whose brand was about empowering women. I mean, what do you make of that now?

There was a range of allegations from different times. The article came out in 2019. Right.

There was a range of allegations from different times. The article came out in 2019. Right.

The other thing about that period is that it also seems like a moment of tech optimism. All these apps were coming out. They were backed by incomprehensible amounts of money. They promised to solve so many of the world's problems. Did you believe that back then? Did you sort of feel like this was an incredible opportunity to really tackle things in a new way? Yeah, I did.

The other thing about that period is that it also seems like a moment of tech optimism. All these apps were coming out. They were backed by incomprehensible amounts of money. They promised to solve so many of the world's problems. Did you believe that back then? Did you sort of feel like this was an incredible opportunity to really tackle things in a new way? Yeah, I did.

The next era of Bumble, you had a lot of growth during the pandemic when everyone was stuck on their apps. It was a huge moment. You go public in 2021, ring the bell, baby on your hip. And the very next year, user growth starts to slow down. What do you think was happening then?

The next era of Bumble, you had a lot of growth during the pandemic when everyone was stuck on their apps. It was a huge moment. You go public in 2021, ring the bell, baby on your hip. And the very next year, user growth starts to slow down. What do you think was happening then?