Many leaders swear by a signature interview question, and Fishwife CEO Becca Millstein is no exception.
The 32-year-old cofounder and CEO of Fishwife, a trendy tinned seafood brand, told Business Insider that her favorite question to ask candidates is: What’s your superpower?
It’s another version of the traditional “What’s your greatest strength?” question, which often prompts polished, rehearsed responses. Asking about a candidate’s superpower, she said, gets right to the chase.
“It cuts to the core of: What are you actually the best at?” Millstein said. “What is going to make you invaluable at our company?”
Millstein said she likes to ask that question because it encourages candidates to identify the one thing they do exceptionally well, whether that’s collaborating or communicating. It prompts people to focus on what sets them apart.
“There are no filler jobs at a startup,” Millstein said, adding that, “everyone has so much responsibility, so much autonomy, so much boundless room for creativity.”
Millstein said the question also reveals how candidates see themselves and how self-aware they are. The CEO said she believes humility and self-awareness are two of the strongest predictors of success for founders, especially at a startup. She said investors don’t want to back entrepreneurs who aren’t aware of their own weaknesses.
“Your success is determined by your ability to spot gaps in yourself and then in your organization,” Millstein said.
When asked how she would answer the question herself, Millstein said others have told her that her superpower is her ability to do both analytical and creative work — which she referred to as tapping into the left and right sides of her brain.
“I can go high-strategy, and I can get super, super in the weeds,” Millstein said.
Millstein majored in history and briefly worked in the music industry after college before cofounding Fishwife, which has grown rapidly since launching in 2020. As interest in high-protein diets has grown, sardines and other tinned fish have become both trendy and affordable staples for many Americans.
Millstein found the inspiration for the brand while studying abroad in Spain. During the pandemic, she said she craved tinned fish as a protein-rich food with a long shelf life.
In 2024, Fishwife landed a deal on “Shark Tank” that valued the brand at around $5 million. The colorfully illustrated packages can be found at retail giants like Whole Foods and Costco, as well as smaller boutique shops.
Millstein said the best founders can think strategically, zooming out to see where the business is headed years down the line while also diving into the details. They’re willing to talk to people across the company and aren’t above doing any job themselves, she said.
“The taking-out-the-trash thing, as a CEO, is a real thing,” Millstein said.
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