TRFE 230: Bringing Intentionality to the Fashion Industry with Karla Gallardo + Shilpa Shah

“The challenge is you’ll always have new challenges. It doesn’t stop. You’re never “there”. There’s always “what’s next?”   SPONSORED BY GO LIVE HQ Save 25% off their customizable, easy-to-use website templates and download their brand bio formula for free: http://bit.ly/golivetrfe   WHAT'S IN THIS EPISODE? Our stories of who we are today and the work we do in the world is so heavily influenced by our stories of years ago. That definitely rings true of the inspiration behind the fashion brand Cuyana. And, my love, I got to sit down with the founders, Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah to hear it all! We talk about… Introducing the revolutionary idea of “fewer, better things” to the fashion industry in 2013 Why “fewer, better things” is not a minimalist philosophy How they met serendipitously and became business partners Persevering despite the “no”s and no responses Why it’s important to have support outside of your business as an entrepreneur   WHO ARE KARLA GALLARDO + SHILPA SHAH? Karla Gallardo, Co-Founder and CEO of Cuyana Karla started Cuyana with the vision of creating a global design house that inspires intentional buying through pieces that are crafted with integrity. After growing up in Ecuador, Karla moved to the United States where she earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and her Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Brown University.  She previously worked at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Group and at the Apple Online Store as a Business and Strategy Analyst. The name Cuyana means “to love” in Quechua, Karla’s native language , symbolizing her love of fashion, travel, and giving back. Shilpa Shah, Co-Founder and CXO of Cuyana Shilpa was drawn to Cuyana for the opportunity to create products rich in meaning, quality, and story. Beginning her career in Interaction Design, Shilpa has over 15 years of experience designing web and mobile interfaces for Fortune 500 companies including Disney, AT&T;, and Sun Microsystems. In 2012, she graduated with her MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Shilpa is passionate about celebrating the the multifaceted spirit of modern women through creating a culture of empowerment.   LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE: www.cuyana.com Cuyana on Instagram Shilpa on Instagram Karla on Instagram