Startups in Stilettos

Startups in Stilettos

Have you recently started a business, or are you considering taking the leap to start? Do you find yourself alone or overwhelmed in the whirlwind of early challenges in your Entreprenista journey? Well, you’re in the right place - Startups in Stilettos is for you. Learn what it takes to grow your startup, from your peers in the startup world, and those who are in your shoes (or stilettos, if you will) We’re meeting you where you are to get you through your biggest challenges and toward your biggest goals. From the team behind the Entreprenista podcast, tune in to Startups in Stilettos as you take steps to build your startup from the ground up. So what can you expect from Startups in Stilettos? Each week, we’ll interview a startup founder in our community to uncover their early challenges, learn from the solutions they’ve found, make new connections, and strategize for the future growth of their business. You’ll walk away with practical tips and resources to help you along your journey and a new community member to connect with through the Entreprenista League!

Episodes

October 14, 2025 39 mins
“...so I had this conversation with the GPT And within like 10 minutes, there were tears streaming down my face because it reflected back to me like what I already knew to be true, which was that I wasn't weaving my spirituality into the work that we were doing. And that's a huge part of who I am as a person.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Carlyn Bushman sits down with Lauren Capwell and Lauren Shaw, founders of...
Mark as Played
“I’ve had to prove myself ten times harder just to be taken seriously, but I never let that stop me. If anything, it pushed me to build something that speaks for itself.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Gloria Govan. From navigating male-dominated industries to balancing life as a mom of five and founder of multiple ventures, Gloria shares her unf...
Mark as Played
“Remember, passing the mic isn't a one time thing. It's something you do on purpose over and over. It's how you grow and how you can help others grow too.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read unpacks what it really means to “pass the mic.” More than a buzzword, it’s a practice of creating opportunities, amplifying voices, and building trust within your network. Whether you’re just starting out or grow...
Mark as Played
“I was like, I am racing the future while I'm polluting your future. Like I was so, like that just started ringing in my mind and it just became louder and louder until I was like, "I need to figure out how to do this.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata Read sit down with Gabriela Fiorentino, founder of Nest Earth, a membership community helping parents create healthier, non-toxic hom...
Mark as Played
“You already know what you're building. You already know how you want people to feel when they experience your work or buy your product. You just have to get quiet enough to hear it and brave enough to follow it.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata Read gets personal about the lessons she wishes someone had told her at the start of her entrepreneurial journey. From the power of building your email ...
Mark as Played
September 9, 2025 36 mins
“I sat there and I'm like, how do I, how do I manage this? Because it's like, I'm raising a generation of two men. This is not what he needs to see. This is what women do. And that was so, and it was just powerful for me to take it in. Again, things don't happen to us, they happen for us.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, we sit down with Sharon Ringier, founder of The Possible Woman Collective and publisher of Possible...
Mark as Played
“I really had to think about this and decide what I could offer that would be unique and really help have me stand out in the crowd. And I think one of the things is, is not that many people come forward with their story.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, hosts Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with Jessie Jaskulsky, founder of Surrogacy Simplified, a concierge and consulting firm guiding intended parents ...
Mark as Played
“You shouldn't just look for mentors who are five years, 10 years ahead of you. There's a lot of value in having people who are in it with you right now because we're always learning and there's things that someone else might know that you don't know.” Forget everything you thought you knew about finding a mentor. On this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn and Ingrid are flipping the script on traditional mentorship. We o...
Mark as Played
“Everyone wants the magic wand solution for this, and I always have to disappoint people a little bit. It's just kind of hard work sometimes, that's a good thing, everything worthwhile is, and it helps you to be able to build relationships very intentionally in the right way.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn and Ingrid sit down with Emily Hall, founder of Rhetorik Agency, to explore the power of long-term think...
Mark as Played
“I didn't go into this saying I am starting a business. I said we need a community, that's not hard. I know how to throw events and bring people together, I'll just do it. I can solve that problem.” In this episode Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn and Richelle sit down with Amanda Smith, the founder and CEO of Dallas Girl Gang, a thriving 50,000+ member global community for women in career, business, and life. Amanda shares her jo...
Mark as Played
"When our minds and our bodies are in alignment, when our thoughts and our actions are congruent and they're happening parallel, then we're actually living in a space where we're living slower lives, where we're not hurting people as much, where we're not as in threat as much, where we're more flexible and nuanced." In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn and Ingrid sit down with Dominique Harrison, founder of The Raci...
Mark as Played
“When you're dealing with a challenging person, it's not necessarily that they have something against you, there might be something going on in their business, in their life, or maybe they just don't understand, especially when it comes to community.” Ever found yourself saying "Sure, I can do that!" only to realize later it was a major time-suck and distraction from your true zone of genius? On this episode of Startups and Stil...
Mark as Played
“Just start somewhere and I promise you, like when you open it out to the universe and you put it out there, the right people and the right connections will come into your path.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn and Ingrid sit down with Traci Channer, founder of The Decided Collection, a pajama brand for tween girls designed to boost confidence and self-acceptance. Traci shares her journey from corporate burnou...
Mark as Played
“You could have the best product, book, service, whatever it is, but if you don't talk about it or anything, how will people know to buy it?” Are you tired of obsessing over LinkedIn impressions and likes? In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Ingrid Zapata Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with Natasha Walstra, founder of NearPoint Strategies and a social selling coach, to discuss why real business growth happens off t...
Mark as Played
“We have to practice on just a simple daily basis, waking up in the morning, and just starting to tune in. What is the message that my body is giving me today? How do I feel?” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn and Ingrid sit down with Emily Aarons, business strategist, energy healer, and creator of The Energetic Advantage. Emily shares her unique approach to blending energy work with practical business strategy, ...
Mark as Played
“I am passionate about helping women make money. I've always worked for great women leaders and female founded companies. So that was when I decided to make the pivot and really focus on women small business service-preneur companies.” This Week on Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn and Ingrid meet with sales strategist Jac White, founder of Honeybees Group and host of the Girls Make Bank Podcast. Since 2020, 47% of new businesses ha...
Mark as Played
“I want each one to feel special while they are traveling with me. Others say to me, 'Oh, you're supposed to do a lot of group tours. That's going to bring you a lot of profits.' I'm saying leave this aside because it's not about profit. This is about people.” When 2020 brought global travel to a halt, Siham Lahmine saw an unexpected opportunity: to bet on herself. Leaving behind a stable career in education (and a seven-year ro...
Mark as Played
“Community forms when people see themselves in your story, your mission, or your message.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Ingrid shares the cornerstone of her business success, community. From building real relationships to creating a support system that persists through both wins and setbacks, Ingrid shares how authentic connection is the true magic behind growing a thriving business. You'll learn why community i...
Mark as Played
“I had to do a lot of mindset work around starting to trust myself, building my confidence, telling myself that I could do this and there was nothing more empowering for me than actually launching and continuing to grow.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid sits down with Courtney Boylan, founder of Le Lolo, a stylish postpartum essentials brand designed to remind new moms of their strength and beauty. After navigatin...
Mark as Played
“Understand your mission. What are you trying to solve? That is the biggest thing. It's not about your idea, it's really about the problem.” Nomiki Petrolla is the founder of Theanna, a social network focused on action opportunity and collaboration for all women tech founders, from idea to scale. Tune in and hear what Nomiki has to say about having a high tolerance for risk, her six-step framework for clients, and maintaining wo...
Mark as Played

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