Faces Of The Startup Nation: Q&A With ‘Dots Connector’ Anat Weissman

Anat Weissman is the founder of ‘Connecthedots,’ a strategic marketing consulting firm that helps startups and companies build their brand’s “story.” Weissman was born in Haifa, Israel, but spent 10 years of her childhood living in Nairobi, Kenya where she learned her share of important life lessons. The mother of two kids and a dog, Weissman also works as a mentor to a number of startup accelerators in Israel, including ‘The Rally,’ a social tech accelerator.

What is your biggest inspiration? It might sound lame but my kids are my inspiration. Having them grow up in a fast-paced world, much quicker than the one I grew up in, with access to information makes it challenging to keep up and the equilibrium of who teaches and guides who has flipped in some cases.

What were your first steps into the business world? After university, I planned to be in human resources, yet found myself elsewhere. Then it was ‘hello’ to the business and marketing worlds and ‘goodbye’ to HR – thank God that happened.

If you were a selfie, what would you look like?

Who is the one person, past or present, you’d love to have dinner with? My grandmother who passed away when I was eight-years-old, over 30 years ago and until today is remembered and spoken about in our family as if she was here until 5 minutes ago. I also wouldn’t mind picking up on her perspective on life.

What is the best place that you have ever traveled to? Kenya, had the pleasure of growing up there until I was 19 – an amazing mix of cultures, faces, colors and definitely the correct pace to live in…..and Costa Rica.

Falafel or shawarma? Falafel.

What are some of your favorite weekend activities? Restaurant scouting, resting, baking, and working.

What is your homepage? Usually the current companies I work with.

What is your hidden talent? I bake, make the best Alfajores (a traditional South American dessert)– and that has been said by real Argentinians.

Who was your first celebrity crush? Patrick Swayze – I had a whole wall with his photos and until today whenever Dirty Dancing is on TV – the world has to stop so I can watch it….:-)

Patrick Swayze

Star Wars or Star Trek? Stars in general!!!

What are you totally addicted to? Dried mango ever since I lived in Kenya.

What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Becoming a mother (that does not come with a manual) and starting my own business.

If you weren’t an entrepreneur, what would you be? Unsatisfied!

Tel Aviv or New York? Tel Aviv most of the year, but give me an opportunity to go to New York and I am there.

What’s your motto? Always smile. It’s contagious.

What’s your favorite Hebrew word? ‘Yalla’ (means ‘Let’s go’) – which definitely expresses the energy that I usually live in.

Burger or green juice? Burger, medium.