Startups in Stilettos

“If you deleted your logo, your fonts, you colors tomorrow would anyone still be able to explain what you do and why you do it and if not you don't have a brand yet. You have a look.”

On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Emily Dean, founder of Bolt & Bloom, to talk about the evolution of a brand, the transition from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, and why great branding goes far beyond logos, fonts, and colors.

After more than 15 years working in entertainment and corporate marketing—including campaigns for brands and properties like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Yellowstone, the MTV VMAs, and Fortune 500 companies—Emily made the leap into entrepreneurship. She shares what it was like to leave behind a corporate identity, redefine success on her own terms, and ultimately realize that her previous experience wasn’t something she needed to leave behind—it was part of what made her uniquely qualified to serve women founders.

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What We Talked About:

05:24 Building a New Founder Identity [5:24]

12:52 Infusing Personality into Your Brand [12:52]

22:54 Refresh or Rebrand? [22:54]

28:29 Brand Diagnostic and Reset [28:29]

31:15 One Action to Strengthen Your Brand [31:15]

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Connect with Emily:

@mledean on Instagram

Emily Dean on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

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Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

“So the more dialed in to your story, the easier it is gonna be to find your people.”

On this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Katie Miller, founder of Portia and Cleo, a marketing studio specializing in women-led and community-based businesses. Katie shares how her background in theater, storytelling, real estate, motherhood, and community advocacy ultimately shaped her approach to marketing—and why authentic stories can create the trust that turns audiences into customers.

Katie opens up about the evolution of her business, including the emotional process of rebranding from KM Marketing Services to Portia and Cleo, and how Shakespeare inspired the new name. She also explains why she believes entrepreneurs often overlook one of their biggest assets: the story behind why they started.

What We Talked About:

From Theater to Marketing [6:34]

Why Community Is a Growth Strategy [12:34]

A Client's Brand Breakthrough [20:13]

Growing Beyond the Side Hustle [26:30]

Three Prompts to Find Your Story [30:04]

Connect with Katie:

@katiem_portiaandcleo on Instagram

Katie Miller on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

“Cause anyone can speak and I think everyone should speak.You know go out there and find opportunities”

On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Marta Spirk, professional singer turned TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and strategic speaking advisor for women entrepreneurs. Marta shares how her lifelong experience on stage—from singing and interpreting to speaking—ultimately led her to help women entrepreneurs find their voice, build their confidence, and become more visible.

Marta breaks down what separates a good presentation from a truly powerful thought-leadership talk, explaining why your goal shouldn't simply be to inform an audience, but to make them think differently and take action. She shares the key elements of an effective signature talk, including storytelling, vulnerability, specificity, audience connection, and a clear message that naturally leads people to want to learn more about you and your business.

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What We Talked About:

From Singing to Speaking [1:52]

Showing Up Online with Confidence [7:12]

How to Build a Signature Talk [12:04]

Finding Your Signature Story [20:28]

How to Own the Stage [28:36]

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Connect with Marta:

@martaspirk on Instagram

Marta Spirk on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

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Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

‍

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

‍

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

“It was a gamechanger for me. It really opened the doors for what was coming next, and next was just my ambition to go on my own and build my own brand.”

On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with luxury real estate entrepreneur Natalie Sterling to explore her inspiring journey from building engineering to becoming a rising force in South Florida’s luxury real estate market. After moving from Cuba to Spain and eventually to the United States, Natalie built a career grounded in technical expertise, discipline, and an entrepreneurial drive to create opportunities without limits.

Natalie shares how her engineering and architecture background became a competitive advantage in real estate, allowing her to help clients see the potential in a property, understand renovations and construction, and make more informed decisions. She also opens up about the mentors who shaped her career, the importance of building relationships and referrals, and what it really takes to establish a personal brand in the luxury market.

What We Talked About:

From Cuba to Spain: An Engineering Foundation [2:15]

Mentorship and Building a Personal Brand [11:43]

Building a Team and Support System [18:22]

Advice for Aspiring Real Estate Agents [26:17]

Growing a South Florida Real Estate Brand [30:34]

Connect with Natalie:

@Nataliesterlingrealestate on Instagram

Natalie Sterling on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Natalie Sterling Real Estate

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

“It became both important and a point of pride for me to then be able and do it in the other direction once I really did feel like I had the expertise.”

On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Jaclyn Ionin, trademark and business attorney and founder of Ionin Law, for an essential conversation about protecting the brands we work so hard to build.

Jaclyn shares her unconventional journey from advertising, fashion, music, and entertainment into trademark law, including the unexpected connections and opportunities that helped shape her career. She opens up about why she chose to gain deep expertise before launching her own practice, the challenges of building a boutique law firm, and how entrepreneurship allowed her to show up more authentically and strategically for her clients.

What We Talked About:

From Advertising to Trademark Law [2:26]

Mentorship and Community [13:42]

Clearance Searches and Risk [20:25]

Choosing a Strong Brand Name [25:09]

Protecting Your Brand Now [37:41]

Connect with Jaclyn:

@ioninlaw on Instagram

Jaclyn Ionin on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

Resources:

“We have to be building towards creating profitability in the business. Not just revenue, but profit, and really understanding what that is and how to get there.”

On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Sydney Dozier, founder and CEO of Renaissance Marketing Group, host of the Renaissance Podcast, and creator of the Renaissance Women’s Summit. Sydney shares the incredible story of starting her agency at just 22 years old with no industry connections, a $500 budget, and a determination to prove herself—and growing it into an agency that has worked with more than 1,000 brands.

Sydney opens up about going door-to-door to land her first clients, working for free to build experience, overcoming the insecurity of not having a college degree, and learning how to turn social media visibility into real business results. She also shares the lessons she's learned about client retention, communication, processes, founder-led marketing, and why trust is one of the most valuable currencies in business.

What We Talked About:

Moving to Nashville With No Connections [3:06]

Using Data and Results to Prove Value [9:02]

SOPs, Trust, and Predictable Systems [16:00]

Transparency as a Business Strategy [22:11]

How the Summit Has Grown Across Cities [28:41]

Commit to Personal Growth, Not Just Business Growth [35:10]

Connect with Sydney:

@renaissancesydney on Instagram

Sydney Dozier on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

“I want to teach women to read an ingredient list and actually simply understand, not every ingredient, but what they need to be looking for.”

On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Danielle Ruess, founder of Ionian Skincare, to discuss how a personal skincare crisis led her from a successful corporate marketing career to building a science-backed skincare brand focused on education, transparency, and healthy aging.

Danielle shares the story of struggling with an unexplained skin condition in her 40s, discovering the importance of the skin barrier, and developing her own formulations after traditional solutions failed. She also opens up about launching a product-based business, bootstrapping a skincare company, finding mentors through the Entreprenista community, and navigating the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship.

What We Talked About:

A Personal Skin Health Turning Point [1:44]

From Corporate Career to Founder [7:40]

How to Read Skincare Ingredients [17:46]

What Happens to Skin as We Age [24:31]

Advice for Beauty Founders [36:52]

Connect with Danielle:

@eonian_skincare on Instagram

Danielle Ruesson ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

“Business spend a lot of money and a lot of time on marketing and sales, but once the client actually signs the contract its kind of like “okay we got them in the door, now what?”

In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Erica Wood, founder of Client Journey Advisors, to explore why so many service-based businesses focus on winning new clients while overlooking the systems that keep them.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in client success and leadership, Erica shares how intentional onboarding, thoughtful client touchpoints, and strategic offboarding can increase retention, boost referrals, and create loyal customers who keep coming back. She also introduces her signature Compass Clarity Method, a framework designed to help founders move from constantly reacting to proactively building a seamless client journey.

What We Talked About:

Challenges Faced Client Management [3:27]

The Role of Offboarding in Client Retention [9:30]

Mapping the Client Journey [15:27]

The Role of AI in Client Success [21:59]

The Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship [30:31]

Connect with Erica:

@clientjourney_erica on Instagram

Erica Wood on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

Resources: 

The Most Expensive Line Item in Your Business Isn’t on Your P&L

“So that's what gets me up in the morning. I love working with people and seeing them transform.”

In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Carlyn Bushman sits down with Joy Errico, founder of Maven Row Communications and former Fortune 200 communications executive, to discuss the leap from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship and why executive presence has never been more important.

After more than 25 years leading communications for iconic brands like Staples, Macy's, Bic, and Rite Aid, Joy shares how she built a business helping founders and executives align their image, messaging, and delivery to create authentic, confidence-driven personal brands. She explains why expertise alone isn't enough, how first impressions shape credibility, and why investing in yourself may be the highest-return investment you'll ever make.

What We Talked About:

From Corporate Leadership to Entrepreneurship [2:14]

Building a Business Around Purpose [6:42]

Personal Branding in the Age of AI [15:01]

Why Founders Must Invest in Themselves [25:16]

Growing Maven Row Communications [31:55]

Connect with Joy:

@joyerrico20 on Instagram

Joy Errico on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.

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“Every person regardless of their role operates as an individual leader. And when you eventually get to leadership, what do you want people to know you for?”

In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman sits down with Lori Lalonde, founder of Her Executive Ascent and former Microsoft executive, to discuss her journey from nearly 30 years in corporate leadership to building a business dedicated to helping senior women break through the barriers holding them back.

Lori shares the pivotal moment she walked away from corporate, the leadership patterns she repeatedly saw keeping women from advancing, and why high performers often end up doing the work that earns someone else a promotion. Together, they explore practical strategies for setting boundaries, communicating with confidence, navigating workplace politics, and building a leadership brand before you need it.

What We Talked About:

Leaving Corporate [2:16]

Why Women Get Overlooked [6:15]

Leadership, Boundaries & Practice [14:04]

AI Readiness and Governance [20:36]

Build Your Leadership Brand [31:33]

Connect with Lori:

on Instagram

Lori Lalonde on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠⁠@itsingridsworld⁠⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠

 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

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 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 Podcast Network. 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.