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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!
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  • 25 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 36 min
  • English

Episodes 25

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  • April 28 · 43 min

    Christina Lenkowski Turns Podcast Appearances Into Paying Clients

    "I had so many people that were like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Could you just do it? And it took me a while to kind of come to terms with that. And I decided, OK, I am going to do this, but I'm going to do it my way.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Christina Lenkowski, founder of Publicity by Christina, to unpack how a single shift in strategy—podcast guesting—completely transformed her business. After more than a decade in traditional PR, Christina realized that being a guest on podcasts was driving more visibility, credibility, and revenue than any other tactic she’d tried. That insight led her to pivot her entire business model and build a thriving agency that has now secured over 1,000 top-rated podcast bookings for clients. Christina shares her journey from freelancing in tourism PR to navigating the “course bubble,” and ultimately finding her lane by trusting her instincts and leaning into what actually worked. She opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship—experimenting, pivoting, setting boundaries, and learning to tune out the noise of outside opinions in favor of your own intuition. What We Talked About: Transforming Business Through Podcasting [3:00] Setting Boundaries and Trusting Your Gut [9:08] Building Relationships and Networking [15:02] Evolving Offers and Client Needs [20:52] Pitching Strategies and Best Practices [26:57] Connect with Christina: @publicityxchristina on InstagramChristina Lenkowski on LinkedIn Publicity x Christina Hey Bitch, Let’s PitchTake the podcast publicity quiz 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.

  • April 21 · 36 min

    Megan Long Coaches Operators to Lead Founder-Led Companies With Confidence

    “So that was really the light bulb moment of, I can't be the only other operator out there feeling this alone and isolated, trying to figure it out every single day.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Megan Long, founder of Second First, to spotlight the often-overlooked role of the second-in-command. After spending a decade as a COO navigating high-stakes challenges including a tornado, a global pandemic, and leading an eight-figure business through crisis, Megan realized a critical gap: operators and integrators had no dedicated support system. Now, she’s on a mission to change that. Megan shares how she built a coaching and community platform specifically for COOs, operators, and right-hand leaders inside founder-led companies. From navigating the complexities of the visionary–operator relationship to building systems that actually scale, this conversation dives into the real dynamics behind successful businesses. What We Talked About: Building a Supportive Community for Operators [7:12] Coaching and Mastermind Memberships [12:06] Understanding the Role of Second in Command [17:53] Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges [24:13] Actionable Insights for Operators [30:09] Connect with Megan: @meganlonglife on Instagram Megan Long on LinkedIn Second First 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.

  • April 14 · 37 min

    Gwendolyn Young Teaches Founders to Delegate Without Losing Control

    “AI cannot read the room. Right.They don't know what mood or mode that your executive is working within right now or what element.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, we dive into one of the most valuable—and limited—resources every founder faces: time. Carlyn Bushman sits down with operations expert Gwendolyn, founder of Your Virtual Admin Expert, to unpack what it really takes to lead at your highest level without burning out in the process. From her years supporting C-suite executives to building her own business, Gwendolyn shares how even top leaders get stuck in the weeds—not because they lack vision, but because they lack the right support systems. Together, they explore the true meaning of delegation, and why clarity, communication, and trust are the real game changers. What We Talked About:The Importance of Executive Support [2:41] Delegation vs. Abdication [9:38] AI in Executive Support [12:53] The Delegation Advantage [16:22] First Steps for Founders [31:20] Connect with Gwendolyn: Gwendolyn Young on LinkedIn Gwendolyn Young Entreprenista Connect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠ @carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠ Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠ Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠ Want to learn more about joining us at Founders Weekend or joining the Entreprenista League? Schedule a call with the Entreprenista team ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Members 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.

  • April 7 · 40 min

    Heidy De La Cruz Coaches Latina Founders to Launch Podcasts That Pay

    “Just get started, right? Progress over perfection. What I teach all the time, what I coach, what I consult on, progress over perfection.” On this episode of Startups in Stilettos, hosts Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with award-winning podcaster and coach Heidy De La Cruz to unpack the real journey behind building a podcast that’s not just a passion project—but a powerful business tool. Heidi shares how she turned a simple desire to tell stories into her two-time award-winning show, The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants, and how those deeply human conversations have created a lasting impact for listeners around the world. What We Talked About: The Birth of a Podcast Idea [2:16] Creating a Safe Space for Guests [10:26] Navigating Personal Challenges [18:56] Helping Others Launch Podcasts [23:01] Final Takeaways and Advice [34:57] Connect with Heidy:@heidy.delacruz13 on Instagram Heidy de la Cruz on LinkedInListen to Heidy’s award-winning episode 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 Want to learn more about joining us at Founders Weekend or joining the Entreprenista League? Schedule a call with the Entreprenista team ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Members 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.

  • March 31 · 42 min

    Adair Vilella Provides Operational Clarity for Female Founders

    “Don't let it be about control. Don't let it be about guilt. Let it be about, wow, I'm going to be able to accomplish so much more by not having to waste my time on these things that I could hire outsource for.” In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with fractional COO and founder of La Pausa Consulting, Adair Vilella, to unpack what it really takes to build a business that can grow with intention. From messy data and unclear systems to overwhelmed founders stuck in the day-to-day, Adair shares how she helps women entrepreneurs pause, reset, and rebuild the operational foundation needed for sustainable success. Together, they dive into the realities of scaling—from the million-dollar “breaking point” to the challenges of balancing e-commerce and retail in a post-pandemic world. Adair also reveals why so many founders struggle with delegation, how to align marketing, PR, and sales for real results, and what your numbers are actually trying to tell you. What We Talked About: The Importance of Pausing [6:01] Navigating E-commerce Post-Pandemic [11:59] Understanding Financials and Data Visualization [18:13] Marketing, Sales, and Operations [24:11] The Role of a Fractional COO [30:12] Connect with Adair: @laupausaconsulting on Instagram Adair Vilella on LinkedIn La Pausa ConsultingConnect 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 Want to learn more about joining us at Founders Weekend or joining the Entreprenista League? Schedule a call with the Entreprenista team ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Members 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.

Showing 21–25 of 25 episodes