Speaking of Startups Episode 161: Ahriana Edwards, Founder and CEO of Vaila Shoes

In today’s episode we welcome Ahriana Edwards to Speaking of Start-Ups.  Ahriana is the founder of Vaila Shoes, Vaila short for available “because it’s about time ladies with extended shoe sizes have options available to them." Through her Vaila line, which is now being represented in Macy’s department stores, Ahriana focuses on footwear for the workplace and after hours. In this episode you’ll learn how Ahriana’s journey from a curious and artsy child helped shape her journey as a budding entrepreneur. Key takeaways from episode 161: How acting at an early age helped shape her entrepreneur journey How curiosity inspires not only companies, but all the aspects of bringing a company to life How university hackathons helped her learn and embrace the entrepreneurial process Why being a big fish at a smaller school helps get access to more opportunities Leveraging the relationships built at a small institution Why solving your own problems becomes a solution for others Researching adjacent industries when you can find what you’re looking for in your own Why it is so important to be super specific with the questions you ask your customers Building inventory of physical products is about knowing your customer You can’t say the right thing to the wrong person and you can’t say the wrong thing to the right person When to let go of things you’re not passionate about in your business and bringing on the right team members to help you do so Finding employees who feel your pain And much more… Since the inception of her company in 2020, Ahriana has 10x’d her sales and revenue each. Listen to find out how this young woman is taking big strides in the footwear industry and solving problems for women worldwide.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener. Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance. Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.