I publish a weekly column for founders, investors, operators, and technologists - people building companies, products, capital stacks, reputations, and systems. My goal: sharpen your thinking so you can make better decisions when it matters most.

Paid subscribers get every post, access to my full archive of essays and podcasts, private Q&As, and early invites to live sessions and experiments. You’ll also join a growing network of high-agency builders who trade ideas, frameworks, and war stories.

What you’ll get:

  • Clarity and mental models you can actually use

  • Insights on founder psychology and personal edge

  • Deep dives on markets, capital, and incentives

  • The architecture of meaningful work

Free subscribers get previews of these essays and occasional full posts. Paid subscribers get the full experience, plus the Saturday “Field Notes” digest — the most useful ideas, conversations, and tools I’ve come across that week.

Posting schedule: One to two essays a week, plus a monthly Q&A, quarterly builder memos, other ideas.

PTO policy: I take a few weeks off each year to recharge and come back sharper. During those weeks, posts will be lighter — but the thinking doesn’t stop.

What You’ll Find

  • Clarity and mental models

  • Founder psychology and personal edge

  • Markets, capital, and incentives

  • The architecture of meaningful work

Who’s Behind It

I’m Joan Westenberg. I’m a writer (Wired, TIME, The Next Web etc) an angel investor, former CMO and award winning creative director. I’m the founder of Studio Self, where I’m building The Index and Signalvs.

I also wrote Permissionless.