

Startups in Stilettos
Entreprenista Network
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!
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
Mentioned books

Jan 3, 2023 • 29min
Golden Hour Glow with Karima El-Hakkaoui of Six Gldn
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 Korean skincare brand that is rooted in the ancient principles of beauty and wellness. She talks about the thoughtful branding and packaging for Six Gldn, the unique business tools she uses, what Six Gldn will be doing next year, and so much more. “So what we are is this oasis of balance for anything that deals with stress, nutrition and skin. Right now, we just have our first launch, which is the skincare and what it does is it brings all skin back into balance. You can be oily dry, it can be anything but it brings it back to balance and the reason why is balanced skin is healthy, radiant skin.” - Karima El-HakkaouiThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Karima shares why she decided to start Six Gldn (1:40)
Karima talks about the branding and packaging for Six Gldn (6:32)
Karima explains her unique tools that she uses in her business (12:30)
How Karima got Six Gldn into retail (14:52)
Karima shares the challenges she’s faced (17:30)
Stephanie and Karima talk about how to make introductions to venture capitalists (19:26)
Karima talks about what Six Gldn will be doing in the next year (23:19)
Our Favorite Quotes:
“One of the biggest issues with us is not knowing what we don't know, you know, we don't know what we don't know.” - Karima El-Hakkaoui
“The reason we're called Six Gldn is because when the sun is six degrees above the horizon, it's golden hour and how does your skin look at golden hour? It's stunning. It's radiant, glowing and healthy.” - Karima El-Hakkaoui
“On my wrist, I have the word jump in my own handwriting tattooed. That's kind of my theory for everything is I'm going to jump in and then figure it out on the way like the way through.” - Karima El-Hakkaoui
Connect with Karima El-Hakkaoui:
SixGldn.com
Six Gldn on Instagram
Six Gldn on TikTok
Six Gldn on Facebook
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Dec 27, 2022 • 38min
Building Connections with Haley Dagan of The Written World
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 content creation for small businesses. She shares why she values connection over followers, who her ideal clients are, what she's most proud of, and so much more. “The part of marketing that I always loved was the connections through words. And that's why I started The Written World. And it was something for me that was just like another creative outlet.” - Haley DaganThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Haley talks about the decision to go full-time with The Written World after losing her corporate job (3:14)
Haley explains what The Written World is (6:46)
Haley shares how she found her first clients by being strategic (9:27)
Haley describes her ideal client and what services The Written World offers (17:30)
Haley talks about what she’s most proud of in her business (24:29)
Stephanie and Haley talk about when to step back once your business grows (27:39)
Resources Mentioned:
Clickup
Asana
Airtable
Loom
Slack
Google Drive
One Drive
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Yeah, I mean, at first, I really took the time to just think like, ‘what is it that I want to do? Is this the path I want to continue on? Is there something better for me out there?’” - Haley Dagan
“My philosophy to getting clients has remained the same: connections come first, and as you build those connections the business comes, too.” - Haley Dagan
“Especially coming from someone who just always imagined their career in corporate America, even being able to say that I have my own agency, I think is something that I'm super proud of.” - Haley Dagan
Connect with Haley Dagan:
TheWrittenWorldAgency.com
The Written World on Instagram
The Written World on Twitter
The Written World on Facebook
The Written World on LinkedIn
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Dec 20, 2022 • 34min
Starting a Business with Your Best Friend with Mollie Kehoe and Lynn Browne of BrandVerge
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 Kehoe, co-founders of BrandVerge, a platform that makes it easy for brands and companies to connect with advertising programs. Lynn and Mollie share how they knew how much capital to raise, how to maintain a healthy relationship when in business with your best friend, who their ideal clients are, and so much more. “We have a platform in house that makes it easy for brands and media companies like Entreprenista to connect with each other and work on impactful advertising programs together.” - Mollie Kehoe This week on Startups in Stilettos:
Mollie and Lynn share how BrandVerge came to be (1:47)
Mollie talks about how much capital they needed to raise (6:40)
What the secret to maintaining friendship while being business partners is (14:18)
What Mollie and Lynn are most proud of (17:26)
Mollie shares who their dream clients are (21:39)
Mollie, Lynn, and Stephanie talk about how to know when your business is ready for the next step (25:03)
What is next for BrandVerge in 2023 (30:13)
Resources Mentioned:
Asana
Slack
Microsoft
Fellow
HubSpot
Salesforce
Boostr
Our Favorite Quotes:
“The first step was literally looking at each other and saying, ‘This is a genius idea, someone should do it, why not us?’ I think that when starting a business, the first step is always the hardest, which is just deciding to go after it.” - Lynn Browne
“When we're not at work, we don't really talk about work. And I think people always ask like ‘How? That must be so hard,’ but we were friends first. So it's very easy for us to keep things separate.” - Mollie Kehoe
“Yes, it's very important the work that we do, but we're also complete human beings. So having grace around certain things, or having just an understanding of what's going on in people's lives just helps make the co-founder relationship just go a lot smoother, because it's not everything all work all the time.” - Lynn Browne
Connect with BrandVerge:
GoBrandVerge.com
BrandVerge on Instagram
BrandVerge on Twitter
BrandVerge on LinkedIn
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.

Dec 13, 2022 • 32min
Test Before You Invest with Deb Boulanger of The Great Do-Over
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 helping women launch businesses, the challenges she sees founders face, how to set your prices, and so much more. “The message was, ‘you need to teach other women how to reinvent themselves, just like you've reinvented yourself.’” - Deb BoulangerThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Deb shares her background in Corporate America and when she knew it was time to go out on her own (2:38)
Deb explains what The Great Do-Over and The Launch Lab are (9:12)
Deb talks about the challenges she sees business owners face when they transition from corporate to entrepreneurship (13:24)
Why Deb steers clear of automated social media tools (16:35)
Deb shares how to price your services [this is a must listen] (19:34)
Stephanie and Deb talk about how to make social media work for you (24:42)
Deb tells us what we can expect to see from her in the coming year (28:53)
Resources Mentioned:
LeadPages
TheGreatDoOver.com/Pricing
Instagram
Our Favorite Quotes:
“So I'm an accidental entrepreneur. It was never in my experience. It was never in my DNA.” - Deb Boulanger
“I still love launching things. I love the marketing. I love understanding what are the hidden needs in the market that no one is serving or no one is serving well, and how do we create a service offering around that.” - Deb Boulanger
“So your network rallies around you, they're cheering you on, they're sending you people, and you can hit success really quickly, that first year, but then that warm network dries up. And if you don't have the systems and processes in place to really drive growth, then you start struggling and then it gets scary.” - Deb Boulanger
“Double your prices and see what happens because most women entrepreneurs are underpricing their services, because they undervalue their impact. And I can't tell you how many stories I have about my clients in the Six Figure Accelerator who have increased their prices by 50%, or sometimes 100%. And it's had no negative impact on their sales.” - Deb Boulanger
Connect with Deb Boulanger:
Deb on LinkedIn
Deb on Instagram
Deb on Facebook
TheGreatDoOver.com
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.

Dec 6, 2022 • 26min
Balance is Bullsh*t with Alicia McKenzie of Lift Like A Mother
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 founder of Lift Like A Mother, a platform that provides people with information regarding all things wellness. Alicia shares how she became an Entreprenista, her new book, how to take care of yourself, and so much more. "I've always loved coaching people, I've always loved helping people thrive and optimize their life and be the best version of themselves. So it really just naturally evolved into a coaching business that provides people with realistic tools, tips, and makes things accessible and actually doable.” - Alicia McKenzieThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Alicia talks about how her business came to fruition (2:20)
Alicia shares how she moved forward after selling her gym (5:19)
All about Alicia’s book Balance is Bullshit (6:29)
Alicia talks about her coaching clients (12:48)
Alicia shares a tip for taking care of yourself (17:17)
Alicia asks Stephanie about the pain points in Entreprenista League (19:04)
What Alicia is looking forward to this coming year (23:04)
Resources Mentioned:
Google Calendar
Shower Notes
Our Favorite Quotes:
“It was a total accident. I was an athlete. So I never went into this thinking ‘I'm going to start a business. I'm going to do all these things.’ They just kind of evolved and matured as the years just kept rolling by.” - Alicia McKenzie
“It's kind of like sending your baby off to college. You grew it and then you sold it and now you have very little say in what happens.” - Alicia McKenzie
“It's really my coaching process in a book form.” - Alicia McKenzie
“A ‘yes’ to someone else tends to be a ‘no’ to yourself.” - Stephanie Cartin
Connect with Alicia McKenzie:
Balance is Bullshit
LiftLikeAMother.com
Lift Like A Mother on Instagram
Lift Like A Mother on Twitter
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Nov 29, 2022 • 34min
Beauty Services in a Dash with Carla Olivia of Dash Bar
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 get multiple services done simultaneously so they are able to get back to their lives quicker. Carla talks about the process of starting Dash Bar, she gives marketing tips for Entreprenistas who have brick and mortar stores, she talks about the packages Dash Bar offers, and so much more. “We offer the highest level of quality services that impact women the most, that are efficient in the way that they're performed, but also maximize their investment.” - Carla OliviaThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Carla shares about the origin and process of starting Dash Bar (3:11)
Carla talks about what the full experience of Dash Bar includes (7:10)
Carla gives marketing tips (11:32)
What has surprised Carla the most since starting Dash Bar (16:59)
Carla and Stephanie talk about how marketing has helped Entreprenista League grow (20:49)
Carla talks about the events and packages Dash Bar has (23:35)
Carla explains when she will expand Dash Bar (29:50)
Resources Mentioned:
Canva
Fanocracy
Our Favorite Quotes:
“So I started to do research in the market to figure out what type of beauty services were out there, what kind of furniture was out there that could allow for multiple services to be performed simultaneously, and what types of services could be combined.” - Carla Olivia
“What has surprised me the most is my resiliency. Either that or I'm a glutton for punishment. I haven't figured that quite out yet.” - Carla Olivia
“I think behind all the challenges, you have to allow yourself like those small wins, and really kind of pat yourself on the back and give yourself the opportunity to say to yourself, you know, I did a good job.” - Carla Olivia
Connect with Carla Olivia:
www.TheDashBar.com
Dash Bar on Instagram
Carla on Instagram
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Nov 22, 2022 • 34min
How to Thrive During and After Divorce with T.H. Irwin of Ex Experts
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. podcast. She shares what it’s like to start a business with your best friend, the challenges they’ve faced, what the business model for Ex Experts is, and so much more. “I want to be synonymous with any touchpoint of divorce, someone at work, whatever, ‘you have to go to Ex Experts, they’re going to help you get your shit together.’ That’s the ultimate goal.” – T.H. IrwinThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
T.H. talks about starting a business with her best friend after each going through divorces (2:35)
T.H. discusses the challenges and mistakes she faced when starting Ex Experts (5:18)
T.H. explains the business model for Ex Experts (15:38)
T.H. shares what she’s most proud of with Ex Experts (18:48)
T.H. and Stephanie share tips for working with your best friend in business (21:43)
T.H. talks about what she’s looking forward to (29:11)
T.H. and Stephanie talk about how to market your business (30:28)
Resources Mentioned:
FloDesk
AirMeet
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Our mission is to move forward, thrive, feel it, deal with it, but still move forward.” – T.H. Irwin
“We started Ex Experts, because we got a divorce. At the same time, me and my best friend, and there was nothing out there.” – T.H. Irwin
“Because we have 30 years of friendship, we’ve been through all of these personal life-altering experiences. And now we’re gonna go into business together in our 50s. Like, is this a good idea?” – T.H. Irwin
Connect with T.H. Irwin:
ExExperts.com
Divorce Etc. Podcast
Ex Experts on TikTok
Ex Experts on Instagram
Ex Experts on Facebook
Ex Experts on YouTube
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show!Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Nov 15, 2022 • 37min
Wear the Heels with Dr. Najwa Javed of E’MAR
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 everything, being an introverted Entreprenista, and so much more. ““So I decided that I was just going to use my medical expertise, and figure that like, okay, if you’re in a high heel, what should your foot do? What is your posture doing? Where are your pain points? How can I fix it?” – Dr. Najwa JavedThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Dr. Najwa talks about her background and where her idea for E’MAR came from (4:02)
Dr. Najwa talks about raising capital (9:56)
Dr. Najwa shares how she balances being a mom and running a business while being a doctor (15:15)
Dr. Najwa talks about her team (18:26)
Dr. Najwa shares how she got E’MAR in front of retailers (20:42)
Stephanie and Dr. Najwa talk about being introverted Entreprenistas (25:12)
Resources Mentioned:
Shopify
Google Suite
Dropbox
Notion
Canva
Photoshop
Adobe Suite
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Everybody was in pain except me. And they were like, ‘this is ridiculous. How come you don’t have any pain?’ And I was like, ‘oh, it’s because like, I know how to buy heels from my feet.’ So they were like, ‘you have to teach us, you have to teach us, you have to teach everybody.’ It started like that. Just teaching somebody how to buy heels, how to wear heels.” – Dr. Najwa Javed
“My company has been built on this ability to actually test my products on patients, which is just so amazing.” – Dr. Najwa Javed
“So a no is always a yes to me. Because you can make it better.” – Dr. Najwa Javed
Connect with Dr. Najwa Javed :
E’MAR on Instagram
ShopEMAR.com
Dr. Najwa on Instagram
E’MAR at Nordstrom
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Nov 8, 2022 • 27min
Grow Your Business Without the Burn Out with Adriana Keefe
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 their businesses without burning out. Today, she talks about human design, her biggest lessons, what services she offers, and so much more. “You start to question why you became an entrepreneur, you’re like ‘this obviously isn’t for me.’ In reality. It has nothing to do with them giving you bad advice or you being bad at what you do. It’s simply that they don’t know how you’re energetically wired to do things. Unless there’s someone who works in something like human design and can understand that they can’t give you the exact tools that you need.” – Adriana KeefeThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Why Adriana decided to leave the corporate world to start her own business (2:28)
Adriana explains what human design is and how she put it to use in her life (5:01)
Adriana shares what some of her biggest lessons have been (8:24)
Adriana talks about what services she offers, who her ideal clients are, and her pricing structure (16:14)
Adriana shares what a human design chart reading with her looks like (18:32)
Adriana and Stephanie talk about how to stay consistent on social media (19:17)
Resources Mentioned:
Airtable
Google Drive
Canva
QuickBooks
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Over time, I started to kind of come out of the closet, if you will, about my spirituality and what I believed in, and then people really resonated with that.” – Adriana Keefe
“But I don’t have to push myself as hard. I am not burned out. Things just fall into place. And the decisions are like, ‘this was what was supposed to be said.'” – Adriana Keefe
“I don’t think you’ll ever meet someone who’s really successful that does not have a business coach or a life coach or both. But you need that second set of eyes and ears, you need that person to lean on.” – Adriana Keefe
Connect with Adriana Keefe:
AdrianaKeefe.com
Adriana Keefe on Instagram
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.

Nov 1, 2022 • 30min
Maternal Healthcare for ALL Moms with Dr. Pinkey Patel of Myri Health
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 postpartum care information accessible and affordable for mothers everywhere. Dr. Pinkey Patel shares what goes into creating an app, the importance of community building, her favorite time management tip, and so much more. “You can’t have a thriving society without having a thriving mother.” – Dr. Pinkey PatelThis week on Startups in Stilettos:
Dr. Pinkey Patel shares what her background is and what led up to the start of Myri Health (1:48)
Dr. Pinkey Patel talks about what goes into developing an app and choosing who to work with (5:02)
Dr. Pinkey Patel talks about when she decided to raise capital (8:34)
Dr. Pinkey Patel shares the marketing strategy for Myri Health (12:51)
A simple but effective time management tip (16:48)
What Dr. Pinkey Patel is most proud of (19:01)
Dr. Pinkey Patel shares what you can expect to see on her social media (26:53)
Resources Mentioned:
Notion
Horo App
Slack
Hootsuite
Loom
Our Favorite Quotes:
“Here half of the population, more than half of us, don’t even know that physical therapy should be a standard of care. And so that knowledge combined with my experience with having my daughter led me to this journey that I never ever expected it to be at.” – Dr. Pinkey Patel
“Honestly, to impact more mothers, we needed to expand the team beyond myself, like there’s only so much you can do yourself.” – Dr. Pinkey Patel
“I say that science is in the DNA of Myri, it will remain that way. Because of my background. There’s a lot of information out there that’s not validated in science.” – Dr. Pinkey Patel
Connect with Dr. Pinkey Patel:
Dr. Pinkey Patel on LinkedIn
Dr. Pinkey Patel on Instagram
Dr. Pinkey Patel on Twitter
Myri on Instagram
Myri on Twitter
Myri on Facebook
Myri on LinkedIn
Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts:
Stephanie Cartin on Instagram
Stephanie Cartin on LinkedIn
Jessica Abo on Instagram
Jessica Abo on LinkedIn
Learn more about Jessica Abo here
Get Featured on Startups in StilettosWant a chance to be featured on Startups in Stilettos? We’re currently accepting applications from our Entreprenista League members to be featured on the show! Think of the Entreprenista League as your team members in what can be a lonely startup founder’s journey. You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded female startup founders who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website, social channels – and, of course, the Startups in Stilettos podcast – and so much MORE!Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Grow Your Startup with Startups in StilettosThanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Startups in Stilettos, powered by the Entreprenista PodcastNetwork. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts|TuneIn|GooglePlay|Stitcher|Spotify|iHeart RadioBe sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more startup founders, like you, and have a chance to win a one-on-one mentor and strategy session with Stephanie Cartin.Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And for even more exclusive content and information – and to get access to the 8 Secrets to Success in Your Business video course and worksheet – visit our website.


