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Stacey started her career on Broadway before founding fashion startup Kania Couture Inc., whose designs were showcased at New York Fashion Week, World Mastercard fashion week, and project Las Vegas. Today, Stacey Martin is the founder of Canadian luxe loungewear company Stacey Martin Lifestyle, at the intersection of sustainability, comfort and style.
Stacey joined us to share the greatest lessons she’s learned as a serial entrepreneur: from overcoming failure and channelling your purpose, to finding the right people for guidance, and raising money during a pandemic (with the power of crowdfunding).
You’d love to have a mentor but worry about wasting time with the wrong person
You’re struggling to raise capital for your business
You’ve considered crowdfunding but don’t know where to start
You feel overwhelmed by the big projects your business needs to thrive
[4:00] Can’t sit still: how Stacey spent her life in competitive sports and the arts
[6:00] Encouraging her to live her dream, Stacey’s mom helped her double down on her gifts
[8:11] That time Stacey auditioned for Broadway’s The Lion King and Saturday Night Fever
[8:40] “You got the job and you’re moving to New York City.”
[9:35] From Ottawa to New York City (at 17-years-old)
[10:23] Fashion: a happy accident
[14:44] The entrepreneur who saw—and invested in—Stacey’s vision
[16:00] A great business coach has done what you want to do
[16:54] All of the “should’s”
[20:05] Find your passion (but don’t stress yourself out about it)
[24:39] What did you love as a child?
[26:00] A billion dollar startup and the mentor who built it
[27:15] Find the person who’s already done it
[28:00] Stop asking questions to the wrong people
[29:32] You art is not your business
[29:51] Here’s what it was like to raise capital, and pitch every day, during the pandemic
[32:56] This is how Stacey did her pitches (and what she would change)
[36:10] Reduce overwhelm in your life and your business
[38:32] Want to sell your ideas? Be yourself
[39:40] You’re self-made (yes, really)
[43:38] Stacey’s effortless brand experience
This podcast is available in blog format. If reading is your thing:
Invest Ottawa and the Power of Why Podcast teamed up to produce this special series in celebration of International Women’s Week and the women leading in Ottawa.
Naomi Haile
An intrapreneur, consultant, and interviewer.
Naomi Haile is curious about people, their paths and what drives them. In 2017, she launched the Power of Why Podcast. Her guests have taken the non-linear path in business, venture capital and other creative professions to share their story. Each episode explores people’s philosophy on life and work.
As we all navigate our lives and careers, Naomi hopes that everyone she connects with – guests and listeners – can shape products, companies, and communities of impact.
Naomi is a consultant at QuakeLab. She is starting graduate school at Columbia University.