Startups in Stilettos

Julia Xu was always entrepreneurial, but she had no idea that she would one day run four businesses. However, each one started naturally after the previous one she started. Today, she runs a consulting business, a home office shop, an ecommerce shop, and an automated product sourcing platform.  In today’s episode, we talk with Julia Xu–founder of USourced, ReSourcery, Multitasky, and Julia Xu Cons...

Dr. Najwa Javed was on a girls trip when the idea for her footwear business was born. Everyone but her had foot pain and it was then that she knew she had to do something. E’MAR was born soon after. In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Najwa Javed, founder of E’MAR, a revolutionary footwear brand that blends luxury and comfort into one. She talks with us about raising capital, balancing everyt...

Diana Arango is a law graduate and self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur. She graduated from the University of The Andes with a Bachelor in Law before attending Fordham University School of Law where she completed her Masters of Laws in International Business and Trade Law. Diana then spent some time working in a variety of impressive roles, mostly within the real estate sector, before eventually st...

Elisa Molina is the founder and CEO of COVEDOZA, a go-to marketplace for women to feel empowered, validated, and confident through art. Elisa is passionate about helping female artists and people of color bolster their artistic influence while generating passive income. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the State University of New York College at Buffelo, a Bachelor’s de...

Jill Apgar is the founder of Coco Beans, a luxury bedding and sleepwear brand offering luxurious silk crib sheets and pillow cases using the world’s softest, most innovative fabrics that families can trust. The company is best known for their machine-washable, 100% silk crib sheets. Following a forced layoff from her corporate career in 2020, Jill launched her company with a desire to source the b...

When Carlyn stepped into Entrepreneurship to be closer to her four children, she thought it would be easy. After her first business came to an end, she realized her real passion was in helping other women grow their businesses, thus she created Carlyn Bushman Consulting.  In today's episode, we sit down with Carlyn Bushman, founder of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, a consulting firm that helps women g...

As a life-long teacher, Caitlin knew from a young age that her calling was helping children. So she started tutoring, then that turned into educational consulting. Once the pandemic hit, business exploded as more schools needed her consulting for remote learning. Today, she’s about to take her business nationwide.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Caitlin Meister, founding director of The Gree...

After two decades as a successful attorney, Leslee decided to branch out with a partner. Once that partner left, she was left as a business owner with no business experience. So she did what every person in her shoes would: she took a course to learn how to lead. And lead she has.   In today's episode, we sit down with Leslee Cohen, founder of AllRise, a law firm that helps small businesses with t...

As women, we do and balance A LOT. And many times, we can be left feeling unbalanced. For Karima El-Hakkaoui, she decided to revolutionize the skincare game after spending two decades growing frustrated with the way the industry handled skincare. Her desire is for women to feel healthy and well-balanced.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Karima El-Hakkaoui, founder and CEO of Six Gldn, a Korea...

Like many people, Haley Dagan lost her corporate position in the hospitality industry during the pandemic. After taking some time to reflect on what she wanted to do, she decided to dive head first into her side business because she loved marketing and making connections.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Haley Dagan, founder of The Written World, an agency of purpose-driven copywriting and co...

How many good ideas are born over brunch? We’re not sure. But if you’re Mollie Kehoe and Lynn Browne, the idea to start a business that helps link advertisers with companies came to light over avocado toast and coffee. Friends since college, Lynn and Mollie were shocked that a business like that had yet to exist, so they created it.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Lynn Browne and Mollie Keho...

After a successful corporate career, Deb Boulanger took time off to find her next steps. Three years later she realized her passion was in helping women do what she did: reinvent themselves midlife.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Deb Boulanger, founder of The Great Do-Over, a company that helps women on their quest of entrepreneurship. Deb shares with us how she realized her passion in help...

Any mother knows that having a child completely transforms your body. You may (and honestly probably will) lose muscle mass and your body composition may shift. When Alicia McKenzie found herself in that position ten years ago, she knew she had to do something to help other women going through the same thing.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Alicia McKenzie, coach, author, speaker, and founde...

One day in 2017, Carla had been looking forward to pampering herself before her vacation with her husband. However, after six hours, she had only been able to get three services. She realized there had to be a more time efficient way for women to get their beauty services done.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Carla Olivia, founder of Dash Bar, a revolutionary beauty bar that allows women to...

While each going through divorces at the same time, T.H. Irwin and her best friend were shocked at the lack of information available. They realized they didn’t want others to go through that, so they decided to start a business that would help other women going through divorce navigate it easier.  In today’s episode, we talk with T.H. Irwin, co-founder of Ex Experts and co-host of the Divorce Etc....

Dr. Najwa Javed was on a girls trip when the idea for her footwear business was born. Everyone but her had foot pain and it was then that she knew she had to do something. E’MAR was born soon after. In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Najwa Javed, founder of E’MAR, a revolutionary footwear brand that blends luxury and comfort into one. She talks with us about raising capital, balancing everyt...

Adriana had a wake up call when she found herself looking forward to maternity leave as a vacation with her second child. She was burned out, couldn’t sleep, and was anxious all the time. After talking with a business coach, she realized coaching was her calling. So she stepped out on her own.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Adriana Keefe, a human design coach who strives to help women grow...

After having her first child and experiencing first-hand the inaccessible postpartum care that plagues most mothers, Dr. Pinkey Patel set out to create an affordable, accessible solution where mothers could find OBGYN and PT reviewed information. Thus, Myri Health was born. In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Pinkey Patel, founder and CEO of Myri Health, an app that has a mission to make post...

After being diagnosed with a rare disease, Lauren Makler was left uncertain about her chances of having children. This led to a passion for changing the fertility process and making it less “icky.” Thus, Cofertility was born. In today’s episode we sit down with Lauren Makler, co-founder of Cofertility, a revolutionary fertility company aimed at making egg donation and egg freezing more accessible...

When Carlyn stepped into Entrepreneurship to be closer to her four children, she thought it would be easy. After her first business came to an end, she realized her real passion was in helping other women grow their businesses, thus she created Carlyn Bushman Consulting.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Carlyn Bushman, founder of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, a consulting firm that helps women g...

After a chance encounter with a recruiter led Lauren to one of the nation’s largest angel groups, she hit the ground running with the mission of helping Entreprenistas raise capital. Once her son was born, however, she decided to branch out on her own and created VC Worthy Business.  In today’s episode, we sit down with Lauren Kane, founder of VC Worthy Business, a company that helps female founde...

Cynthia was happily climbing the corporate ladder, or so she thought. Then one night, she realized that her professional life had squandered her personal life. She knew she had to change, so she moved cross-country with only seven suitcases to her name, got hired at a new job, quit it, and started her own business instead.   In today’s episode, we’re talking with Cynthia Ferngren, founder of CFC,...

Are you struggling with organically growing the clientele for your business? Have you shared your 15 second elevator pitch with the people around you? Focusing on building relationships with other Entreprenistas may be exactly the solution you need to help move your business in the right direction.  In today’s special episode, we sit down with Jess Milanes, founder of Smart Podcast Solutions. Jess...

After Amanda Hofman sold her first business (at 38 weeks pregnant!), she took some time off to focus solely on being a mom. When she decided to get back in the game, she thought about how to modernize the one thing every company needs–merchandise. And thus, Go To Market was born.  In this week’s episode, we talk with Amanda Hofman, co-founder of Go To Market, a print-on-demand company that designs...

Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify Julia Xu was always entrepreneurial, but she had no idea that she would one day run four businesses. However, each one started naturally after the previous one she started. Today, she runs a consulting business, a home office shop, an ecommerce shop, and an automated product sourcing platform.  In today's episode, we talk with Julia Xu–founder of U...