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

How to 'Pass the Mic' and Pay it Forward to Fellow Founders

September 30, 2025 • 9 mins
“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...
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Gabriela Fiorentino Turns 2am Mom Guilt into a Thriving Eco Community

September 23, 2025 • 36 mins
“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...
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3 Things I'd Do Differently if I Started By Business Today

September 16, 2025 • 10 mins
“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 ...
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Sharon Ringier on Building Your Own Table

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...
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Jessie Jaskulsky on How Personal Loss Sparked a Surrogacy Revolution

September 2, 2025 • 30 mins
“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 ...
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How to Find and Work With the Best Mentor for You

August 26, 2025 • 19 mins
“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...
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Emily Hall on Turning Every Talk into Real Business Growth

August 19, 2025 • 35 mins
“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...
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Amanda Smith’s Strategies on Growing a Thriving Community for Women

August 12, 2025 • 30 mins
“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...
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Domenique Harrison Guides Founders Toward Racial Equity and Healing

August 5, 2025 • 37 mins
"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...
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Real Strategies for Managing Challenging Clients With Confidence

July 29, 2025 • 31 mins
“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...
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Traci Channer’s Lessons on Building a Mission-Driven Pajama Business

July 22, 2025 • 34 mins
“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...
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Natasha Walstra Shares LinkedIn Secrets Every Founder Needs to Know

July 15, 2025 • 36 mins
“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...
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Emily Aarons on How to Manifest More by Aligning Your Energy and Taking Action

July 8, 2025 • 41 mins
“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, ...
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Jac White’s Strategies for Selling With Confidence and Authenticity

July 1, 2025 • 37 mins
“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...
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How Siham Lahmine Built a Travel Business Rooted in Culture and Connection

June 24, 2025 • 34 mins
“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...
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Ingrid's Biggest Secrets on Turning Community into Real Connections and Growth

June 17, 2025 • 13 mins
“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...
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Courtney Boylan is Turning Postpartum Struggles Into Beautiful, Functional Solutions With Le Lolo

June 10, 2025 • 32 mins
“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...
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Nomiki Petrolla’s Strategies for Scaling Startups and Empowering Women in Tech

June 3, 2025 • 28 mins
“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...
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Shulamit Ber Levtov Shares Practical Tips to Protect Your Mental Health as a Founder

May 27, 2025 • 32 mins
“If you're having a hard time as a business owner, as an entrepreneur, I invite you to maybe, in this moment, placing a hand palm down over your heart space, and maybe the other hand on top of it, maybe you might like to take a breath, and you might like to say to yourself: ‘This is a natural part of running a business, and there's nothing wrong with me. There's nothing wrong with me.’ And that's where I start.” When Shulamit Be...
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Beth Nydick on Turning Media Appearances Into Impact and Profit

May 20, 2025 • 38 mins
"If you have something to say and something to sell, you're ready for media.” In this episode, we sit down with Entreprenista League member Beth Nydick, a media powerhouse with experience at NBC, MTV, and even creating a cocktail for Oprah Magazine. Beth is a sought-after speaker, author, and podcast monetization strategist who’s on a mission to help founders see their own boldness, step into visibility, and turn every mic momen...
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