Startups in Stilettos

“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 he...

“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 re...

“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 wi...

“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. Sinc...

“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 i...

“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....

“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 st...

“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...

“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...

"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 visi...

“When you work for a large organization, everything is planned out, there's a million committees, a million meetings, things take years sometimes to happen. I knew one of the reasons that I really left was I felt like I had become who they wanted me to be and not who I truly am.” Welcome back to Startups in Stilettos! In this episode, we dive into the powerful story of Kristen Chimack, a business...

“I feel so deeply connected to the Entreprenista League because I think having the right people around you makes a big difference.” In this very special Startups in Stilettos minisode, Carlyn Bushman introduces her new co-host, Ingrid Zapata Read! Ingrid shares her heartfelt journey from corporate to building thriving communities for moms and founders, highlighting how curiosity and genuine connec...

“We have an opportunity to really step into that power of the purse. In five years, [women] are going to own two thirds of the wealth in this country.” This week, Carlyn sits down with Natalie Benamou, founder of HerCsuite®, a platform dedicated to elevating leaders and advance women in the second half of their careers. Carlyn and Natalie talk about the need for women founders to connect and suppo...

“You have to have a brand today. It's more than just companies who are brands—people are brands today, too. That's the only way you're going to cut through the noise." Liz Brunner, founder of Brunner Communications, is sharing her best tips for making your voice heard and building a personal brand. After 28 years in TV news, Liz Brunner knew there was something else she was meant to do, but she co...

“I think that my favorite thing about numbers is that, to me, they are a language to decode, and the most beautiful language because it's the language of truth.” In today’s episode, Carlyn and Richelle speak with Melissa Armstrong, founder of SteadyHand Accounting and Advisory. Melissa has managed more than $500 million in corporate revenue over a 21 year career, and is passionate about helping wo...

“How can I meet the needs of my therapists, my staff, my clients, my prospective clients, and then the community at large? When you look at it through the lens of social psychology, the focus is on relationships.” In this insightful conversation, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Richelle Pena sit down with Natalie Rosado, a therapist, speaker, and founder of Tampa Counseling Place. Natalie blends her expe...

"Every time we get on stage, we have the opportunity to tell our story and to really be seen for what we're doing and what we know." This episode is packed with invaluable advice on the art of public speaking. As PR director for several enterprise software companies, part of Bobbie Carlton’s job is getting executives on stage at conferences and events. But after 20 years in the business, she was t...

“We had to go back and figure it out because we did not start the business with proper strategy, let me tell you. We also did not have the right funds to start the business, we just were like okay, let's start it.” This week, Richelle Pena talks with Ari Krzyzek, co-founder and CCO of the Chicago-based digital brand consultancy, Chykalophia. With a background in design, strategy, and tech, Ari has...

“A great podcast is when you can listen to something, you chuckle and you can say 'wow, that's happened to me,' and that's where you get people's attention.” In this highly requested minisode, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Richelle Pena dive deep into the art of being a captivating podcast guest and sharing your unique story as a founder. Carlyn and Richelle reflect on their own podcasting journeys, di...

“I would say first and foremost, lean into that fear of the unknown...you are so much more capable than you think you are.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, we sit down with Samantha Gold, the innovative founder of Motette—an elevated children’s pajama brand that seamlessly blends comfort, style, and a sprinkle of magic. Join hosts Carlyn Bushman and Richelle Pena as they dive into Saman...

“You know what? I am really good at this and I think if I put my whole heart into it, I can make this something.” In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, we celebrate the transformative power of dance with Emily Esposito, founder of Anyone Can Dance, a New York City-based dance studio. After 20 years of teaching children and performing in theater, Emily pivoted in 2020, discovering her passion...

“[Applying for an award] caused me to pause in my business and reflect on the wonderful things that I’ve been able to accomplish.” Welcome back to Startups and Stilettos! In this minisode where your hosts Carlyn Bushman and Richelle Pena dive into tips and tricks for applying to this year’s Entreprenista 100 Awards. Having been both a judge and an applicant, Carlyn brings a unique perspective and...

“We don't have to do a million things, we just have to do the right things. We often feel like ‘I don't have a big budget to spend on ads and that's why I'm not successful.’ We're chasing all of these different marketing tactics… In truth, we don't actually need to be doing that much.” Lindsey Breitwieser spent nearly a decade of her career in marketing working in-house for international agencies,...

“Every single successful speaker you admire started with their first speech.” In this empowering episode of Startups and Stilettos, host Richelle Pena tackles one of the most common fears among entrepreneurs: public speaking and media appearances. From shaking during her first TV interview to confidently hosting speaking events and podcasts, Richelle shares her journey and actionable tips to help...

"Every obstacle becomes an opportunity. Every mistake becomes a lesson. And this mindset shift didn't just help our business, it transformed our marriage as well." In this special minisode, host Richelle Pena kicks off 2025 with a revealing discussion on balancing marriage and business alongside her husband, sharing insights from their newly released book, The Power Couple. Tune in as Richelle ref...