Rejection, social anxiety, and why i’m still showing up
Q: What inspired you to build Kinnect around the theme of loneliness?
Omar: Kinnect came from a deeply personal place. Losing my grandfather to dementia and a close friend to cancer made me realize how much we take connection for granted. We assume there’s always more time—more moments to check in, more opportunities to have that meaningful conversation—but then, suddenly, there isn’t.
I didn’t want just to build another social platform; I tried to create something that helps people connect before loss. Kinnect is about preserving memories, but it’s also about improving relationships in real-time. How do we make it easier to understand the people we care about? How do we create tools that strengthen those connections—not just capture them? AI plays a role in helping us see patterns in our relationships: the tonal shifts in our conversations, the gaps in our communication, and the proximity and frequency that shape how we engage with others.
We’re not just building a memory tool. We’re building something that actively helps people improve their relationships, reducing the loneliness epidemic in a practical, scalable, and deeply human way.
Q: You’ve been meeting someone new every week this month. What has that experience been like?
Omar: It’s been… more challenging than I expected. I knew it would push me outside my comfort zone, but I didn’t anticipate how much. When you’re working on something like Kinnect—especially as a founder—you can quickly get stuck in your bubble. You’re either behind a screen or deep in your thoughts, constantly moving from one problem to another. So, intentionally putting myself in new social situations, where I have to be present, engage, and navigate all the small anxieties that come with meeting someone new—it’s been eye-opening.
What’s been surprising is how different each interaction feels. Some have been easy and natural. Others have felt like work like I’m overanalyzing everything—how I sound, how I’m coming across, whether I’m making a good impression. It’s a reminder that social anxiety doesn’t just disappear because you push through it. But what does change is your ability to recognize it, sit with it, and not let it define the moment.
I’ve been reflecting on how different these experiences feel compared to structured social environments like work or networking events. There’s no immediate context or shared purpose—just two people figuring out how to connect. And that’s where the real work happens.
Q: Has fundraising impacted your social anxiety?
Omar: 100%. Fundraising is a constant cycle of rejection; even when you know it’s part of the process, it still gets to you. When you pitch something as personal as Kinnect—something rooted in your own experiences and beliefs—every “no” can feel like a rejection of you, not just the business.
That seeps into other areas. Social situations feel more daunting because the fear of rejection is heightened. I’ve noticed myself overthinking interactions more, questioning how I come across, whether I’m saying the right thing, and whether I belong in certain rooms. Imposter syndrome kicks in hard.
I’ve had to be intentional about how I manage it. Increasing my interactions with new people is one piece—reminding myself that connection isn’t just tied to validation. Meditation, affirmations, and a gym routine have also helped. However, the most significant shift has been actively educating my friends and family on how to support me. Telling them, “Hey, I’m in a tough spot with fundraising right now, so if I seem off, that’s why. Here’s what would help.” It’s easy to assume people know how to be supportive, but they don’t unless you tell them. That’s been a game-changer.
Q: How has your journey with social anxiety and imposter syndrome shaped your approach to leading Kinnect?
Omar: It’s made me hyper-aware of how different work experiences can be for other people. I think there’s this default assumption that leadership means confidence, decisiveness, and control—but I realize that’s not the only way to lead.
I’m building Kinnect while navigating first-time experiences with social anxiety. That means I must be intentional about how I show up—not just for myself, but for my team. I know how I communicate, handle pressure, and acknowledge challenges instead of pretending I have it all figured out.
It’s also made me rethink company culture. Just like no two families are identical, no two work experiences are similar. Some people thrive in high-energy environments; others need more space. Some are natural extroverts; others get drained by too much interaction. I want Kinnect to be a place where people feel seen in that—where they don’t have to perform a certain version of “leadership” or “engagement” to be valued.
For me, leading Kinnect isn’t about projecting confidence all the time. It’s about ensuring that we create a culture where people feel safe bringing their whole selves to work as we grow. And that starts with me doing the same.
Q: What’s one takeaway you want people to get from this journey?
Omar: That connection is work—but it’s work worth doing.
Loneliness doesn’t just disappear when you add more people to your life. It disappears when you actively invest in your relationships, when you show up, even when it’s uncomfortable when you push through the anxiety and self-doubt and remind yourself why connection matters in the first place.
That’s what Kinnect is really about—helping people show up—for themselves, their families, and the relationships that matter.
