“Well, you know what? I'm going to put a little twist to it because whether he said yes or not, I was going to do it because it was in my gut and it was in my heart to do it.”

In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Jasmine Moseley Beal — award-winning global learning and talent development leader, founder and CEO of Virtue Key Consulting Group — to talk about betting on your vision, building with intention, and leading with courage.

From drafting her business plan in Pepto-Bismol pink on Canva during maternity leave to stepping fully into entrepreneurship after a corporate reduction in force, Jasmine shares the real story behind building a consultancy that helps organizations transform chaos into clarity through performance, talent, and leadership strategy.

What We Talked About:

Filing the LLC [6:47]

What are the Pain Points? [10:56]

Working with Jasmine [14:22]

Changing the Way You Lead [20:30]

Showing up as Yourself [29:29]

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 Jasmine:

@jasmoseley on Instagram

Jasmine M.Beal on⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Virtue Key Consulting Group

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 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.

“Here's the thing. Systems truly set you free, right? It allows you to scale a business. Once I fine -tuned my machine, you know, after those two years,I literally ran my business remotely between Florida, Massachusetts, because I just put in systems.”

In this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Sailynn Doyle, founder of Passion Purpose Posture, to unpack what it really takes for women entrepreneurs to build sustainable, scalable businesses—without burnout.

After hitting her first million in revenue while working 80-hour weeks (and breaking down in her car at 9 a.m.), Sailynn realized that revenue alone isn’t success. What changed everything? Systems.

Sailynn shares how she rebuilt her business foundation from the ground up, eventually running a multi-million-dollar company in just 16 hours a week. She walks us through her Four Core Pillars of sustainable growth—Structure, Systems, Support, and Streamlining—and explains why most founders plateau (hint: it’s not a lack of ambition).

What we talked about:

No Secret for a Million [2:47]

What Sailynn Teaches [8:20]

The Core Four Pillars [14:42]

Blending Life And Business [21:49]

Creating Different Systems [27:04]

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 Sailynn:

@sailynndoyle on Instagram

Sailynn Doyle on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Passion Purpose Posture

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 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.

“...if this goes out and this doesn't work, that's going to suck.But I wanted to actually put it out from a place of very genuine. I don't know how this is going to go. I didn't just publish this because I know what the ending was. So it was a real place of vulnerability for me.”
In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Lisa Simone Richards, founder of Pearl Spark Pages and creator of the Female Founders Journal, for a raw, honest conversation about trusting yourself before the outcome is guaranteed.
Lisa shares the full-circle story behind her journal—from a spark of inspiration in a bookstore during a season of deep self-doubt, to launching a wildly successful Kickstarter just 13 months later. After spending 20 years in PR, Lisa opens up about imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the moment she realized she could no longer push the same boulder uphill.

What we talked about:
Spark of an Idea [4:11]
Moving the Idea Forward [7:36]
Feedback for Consideration [13:50]
Kickstarter Campaign [19:09]
Connectivity is KEY [23:04]
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 Lisa:

⁠@lisasimonerichards ⁠on Instagram

Lisa Simone Richards on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Pearl Spark Pages⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠
Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

⁠⁠

@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 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.

“And not every idea should be one that you see through, but I feel like the ones that align with your goals and that you feel deeply passionate about are those that you should keep pushing forward.”
In this special episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman flip the mic and interview each other.
If you’ve ever wondered who’s behind the voices, how this podcast came to life, or why Startups in Stilettos is all about the real side of entrepreneurship — this episode is for you. Ingrid and Carlyn dive into their entrepreneurial journeys, from sales floors and tech careers to pivots, community building, and the not-so-glamorous “messy middle.” They unpack what success actually looks like, why failure and iteration are essential, and how intuition, relationships, and showing up consistently can shape a sustainable business.

What we talked about:
Behind the Scenes [3:34]
Quitting or Pivoting? [7:17]
This is YOUR Journey [11:02]
Women Founders [14:13]
Use the Entreprenista League [19:17]

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!

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠

@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 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.

“But it's also like a rising tide lifts all boats. And I mean that not only from moral support and collaboration, but it also is the gap in women starting businesses, growing businesses, but clearly staying in business.”

‍In this special episode of Startups and Stilettos, co-hosts Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman turn the mic inward to share the stories, philosophies, and messy middle moments that shaped who they are as entrepreneurs—and why this podcast exists in the first place.From nonlinear career paths and building businesses that actually make money, to progress over perfection, pricing with confidence, and why consistency beats hustle every time, this conversation is equal parts insightful, honest, and refreshingly unfiltered.

Carlyn opens up about the creation of POP Academy, the gaps she saw for women founders, and why understanding your numbers isn’t optional if you want to stay in business. Ingrid brings the curiosity, energy, and real-talk questions that make this episode feel like a conversation with your smartest business besties.

What we talked about:
Getting to Know Carlyn [2:22]
Desire in Education [6:29]
Changing With AI Technology [10:52]
Understanding the Cost [14:12]
Working With Ingrid [19:11]
‍

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 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 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 our⁠website,⁠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,⁠and⁠LinkedIn.⁠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.

“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

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠

@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 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.

“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 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 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.

‍

“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!

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠

@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 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.

“I never really wanted to be in front of the camera with my brand because I wanted to be an eyewear brand, not a black -owned eyewear brand. I didn't want to be pigeonholed into something in people's mind.”
In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman sit down with Entreprenista League member Dionne Ellison, Founder and CEO of Vuliwear, an elevated eyewear brand redefining how we think about sunglasses. Inspired by macro photography of insect eyes, Dionne transformed hidden beauty in nature into bold, Italian-made, lens-driven designs that lead with both purpose and style.

Dionne shares her deeply personal entrepreneurial journey—rooted in family creativity, influenced by years in corporate leadership, and shaped by her own cataract experience. Together, they explore what it takes to disrupt a saturated market, why Vuliwear leads with the lens instead of the frame, and how education, health, and fashion can coexist in one powerful brand.

What we talked about:
Macro Inspiration [4:17]
Focus on the Lens [9:09]
Blending it all Together [15:23]
The Biggest Challenge [19:04]
Why Invest in Good Glasses [26:40]

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!

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠

@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 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.

“You truly kept going. You learned along the way. And guess what? You asked for help. You figured things out. And I know we sound like a broken record here, but so many wins, so many plot twists. And once again, you're still here.”
In this special year-end episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read and Carlyn Bushman look back on the moments that defined this year—not the polished highlight reels, but the raw, powerful conversations that reminded us what entrepreneurship actually looks like behind the scenes.
From embracing uncomfortable seasons and redefining success, to breaking money taboos, owning your voice, navigating male-dominated rooms, and learning to read your numbers without fear—this episode is a highlight reel of six mic-drop moments from 2025 that made us pause, nod, laugh, and immediately text a friend.

What we talked about:
Jac White [1:51]
Ari Krzyzek [4:13]
Gloria Govan[6:32]
Melissa Armstrong [8:54]
The Laurens [11:03]
Natalie Rosado [13:53]

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!

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