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Startups in Stilettos

Startups in Stilettos

Written by: Entreprenista Network
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About this listen

 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!Copyright © 2022 Startups in Stilettos Careers Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Personal Success
Episodes
  • Osayi Lasisi Builds Representation One Doll at a Time

    Osayi Lasisi Builds Representation One Doll at a Time
    Jan 20 2026
    “And I feel like being able to teach this at a young age, even if it's like, you know, lemonade stand basics, right? Like, what do you need and how much do you have to spend? And what is it going to take for you to go out there? And what does it mean to actually earn a profit and all of that?”In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Osayi Lasisi, founder of Pocketlings, a joy-centered toy and book company inspired by her daughter’s search for plush dolls that truly reflected her. What began as a personal frustration quickly uncovered a much larger gap in the toy industry—one that children and families experience every day. With over 13 years of marketing experience and multiple community-powered ventures under her belt, Osayi shares how she turned her daughter’s idea into a growing brand rooted in authenticity, cultural representation, and emotional connection. Together, they dive into building product-based businesses without constant hustle, leveraging partnerships and community for growth, navigating manufacturing and tariffs, and validating ideas—especially when those ideas come from kids. What we talked about:Finding the Right People [4:52]Community Powered Growth [9:39]Getting Started with a Business [14:02]Partnerships are Everything [17:36]Dolls in Daycare [22:08] Join hundreds of ambitious, purpose-driven founders at The PGA National Resort for a life-changing weekend of inspiration, motivation, and transformation for the 2026 Founders Weekend! Connect with Osayi:@pocketlings on Instagram Osayi Lasisi on LinkedIn Pocketlings Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠ @carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠ Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠ ⁠⁠ Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠ @itsingridsworld ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠ Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on ⁠Linkedin⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠ Members of our Entreprenista League get access to live Office Hours with top founders that have been on our show! Join the Entreprenista League today! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! 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! 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 | Spotify | iHeart Radio 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. 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.
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    33 mins
  • KJ Blattenbauer Makes Female Founders Pitchworthy

    KJ Blattenbauer Makes Female Founders Pitchworthy
    Jan 13 2026
    “No one can fund your business. No one can come to your store. No one can purchase your service. If they don't know you exist, if they don't know about it, if they don't know how it can help you, PR does all of those things.”‍What if visibility isn’t about being louder—but being more relevant? In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with PR powerhouse KJ Blattenbauer, founder of Hearsay PR, to break down what it really takes to go from “best-kept secret” to in-demand authority. With nearly 30 years in public relations, KJ shares why founders, especially women, stay hidden, how perfectionism blocks momentum, and why clarity always beats polish. From crafting pitch-worthy stories editors actually open to building visibility without burnout, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can use right now. Plus, KJ gives a sneak peek into her upcoming book Pitchworthy and the mindset shift every entrepreneur needs to stop waiting and start showing up.What we talked about: When Should You Think About PR [7:19] How to Stay Ahead [10:51] Your Golden Ticket to Publicity [15:07] Share the Press! [19:42] Public Relations is FREE [23:28] ‍ Join hundreds of ambitious, purpose-driven founders at The PGA National Resort for a life-changing weekend of inspiration, motivation, and transformation for the 2026 Founders Weekend! Connect with KJ: @kjblattenbauer on Instagram KJ Blattenbauer on LinkedIn Grab your copy of Pitchworthy for less than $1!‍Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠ @carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠ Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠ ⁠⁠ Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠ @itsingridsworld ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠ Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on ⁠Linkedin⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠Members of our Entreprenista League get access to live Office Hours with top founders that have been on our show! Join the ⁠Entreprenista League ⁠today! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! Get Featured on Startups in Stilettos. Want 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! Grow Your Startup with Startups in Stilettos Thanks 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 | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠iHeart Radio⁠ ‍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. 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. ‍
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    39 mins
  • Tracy Beavers Helps Founders Get Visible without the Burnout

    Tracy Beavers Helps Founders Get Visible without the Burnout
    Jan 6 2026
    “That's that visibility that I teach for that with that consistent content has to drive to your list or here again, it's just noise. It's just content. That's all it's doing. So visibility without strategy is just noise.”In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Tracy Beavers, CEO and Founder of Tracy Beavers Coaching and longtime visibility strategist, to unpack sustainable, real-world marketing strategies for founders who are already juggling a lot.With more than 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs grow through organic marketing, Tracy shares how she built a multi–six-figure business while working full-time in corporate, raising kids, and protecting her sanity. Her approach? Systems, consistency, and visibility with intention—not noise. What we talked about:Getting into Coaching [4:58]Cleaning the Calendar [10:00]Finding Your Platform [14:48]THE Email List [19:36]Being a Better Coach [24:13] Join hundreds of ambitious, purpose-driven founders at The PGA National Resort for a life-changing weekend of inspiration, motivation, and transformation for the 2026 Founders Weekend! Her FREE Facebook group Connect with Tracy on Facebook Sign up for the waitlist of Business Visibility Made Easy! Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠ @carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠ Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠ ⁠⁠ Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠ @itsingridsworld ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠ Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on ⁠Linkedin⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠ Members of our Entreprenista League get access to live Office Hours with top founders that have been on our show! Join the Entreprenista League today! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! 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! 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 | Spotify | iHeart Radio 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. 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.
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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