Uplift Mentorship Expert Session: Service as Strategy: How Customer Experience Becomes Your Competitive Edge with Christina Perla, Makelab

​Service as Strategy: How Customer Experience Becomes Your Competitive Edge with Christina Perla, Co-Founder & CEO of MAKELAB

Join us for a conversation with Christina, Co-Founder & CEO of MAKELAB, the Brooklyn and San Francisco based on-demand 3D printing and additive manufacturing company she built with her partner Manny after taking over a small print shop in 2017. A Pratt-trained industrial designer, Christina has grown MAKELAB into a trusted partner for clients like Peloton, Estée Lauder, and Roc Nation by turning a technical, often intimidating industry into one built on relationships and trust.

​In this session, Christina will share how she and Manny built a company around customer experience from day one, from the early scrappy days to hiring practices that prioritize relationship skills alongside technical ones. She'll get into what great service actually looks like in practice, how to handle it when things go sideways, and whether investing in customer experience pays off as you scale. Founders at any stage, especially those just starting out, will walk away with practical ideas for building loyalty long before they have a big team or budget.

​Makelab is an additive manufacturing company built on excellence. We produce high-quality parts, prototypes, and production runs for teams in robotics, hardware, medical, transportation, and other precision-focused sectors. We run a lean, process-driven operation and ship nationwide.

​A live learning session with a subject matter expert in entrepreneurship, technology, or business leadership. Includes open Q&A. Sessions are recorded for cohort members who cannot attend live.