“Leena Mo, CEO” Uses Storytelling to Foster Young Entrepreneurs

In a heartwarming quest to explain her complicated job to her young children, Deena Shakir, an investor at Lux Capital, turned to creativity. Shakir, known for her investments in innovative health tech companies like Alife Health and Maven Clinic, decided to directly tackle the subject by writing a book that not only explains the startup process but does so through an engaging story accessible to kids.

“Leena Mo, CEO,” Shakir’s debut picture book, follows the title character, Leena Mo, as she turns a simple robot designed to plow snow into a thriving business, ultimately becoming a CEO through determination and community support. After many agents passed on the manuscript, Shakir’s persistence finally paid off with a deal from Simon & Schuster in the spring of 2022.

As the book hits shelves, Shakir is considering expanding the universe of Leena Mo to include more about the investor’s role in entrepreneurship. Beyond the mechanics of business, Shakir hopes that children reading about Leena Mo—who is American Iraqi and Muslim girl—will see themselves excelling in entrepreneurship and technology. Her portrayal aims to dismantle stereotypes and foster a more inclusive understanding of who can be a leader in innovation.