Over the first 20 episodes of I Want Her Shoes, Anna spoke with Miami women who run companies, shape culture, and rethink how work and life fit together. Each guest brought a pair of shoes tied to a moment like a career milestone, personal pivot, or family memory.
The Manolo Blahnik Hangisi appeared often (Melissa Pegus, Ella Muradyan, and Courtney Spritzer each chose it), while three guests (Diana Contreras, Rhonda Singer, and Virginia Laird Rojo) picked the hot pink Palm Angels slip-ons from my own closet. Those patterns became a thread through the series: style as signal, memory, and method.
Episode 1: Chef Nicole Votano – Culinary Entrepreneur
Nicole built food ventures while raising a family. She described how she schedules her day with the same precision she uses for a menu: prep early, plate cleanly, and leave room for surprises. She turned down partnerships that didnโt align with her priorities and said that โnoโ is not a missed chance, but itโs a guardrail.
Her shoes: a pair she can sprint in when a delivery goes wrong and still wear to a client tasting. The footwear choice mirrors her philosophy: invest in pieces that support the life you actually live.
Episode 2: Fatima Rosa – Founder, The Brow and Beauty Bar
Fatima built a business around brows, but the core is community work. As Chair of United Wayโs Small Business Committee, she funnels resources and mentorship to owners who might not otherwise have access. She frames giving as a growth strategy: when the ecosystem is healthy, individual companies benefit.
Her shoes represent accessibility-something stylish, but approachable in a studio setting.
Episode 3: Melissa Pegus – Managing Partner, 645 Ventures
Melissa talked about moments on stage with founders: the pressure, the pride, and the outfit choices that anchor confidence. She said clothes can store memory. For example putting on a certain pair of heels can trigger the mindset she had during a pivotal pitch.
She brought the Manolo Blahnik Hangisi, linking it to a milestone event. The shoe is a cue card: it reminds her of what she delivered and what she can deliver again.
Episode 5: Sherrell Dorsey – Entrepreneur
Sherrell pushes for transparency in fashion. She traces the supply chain of her wardrobe like a data journalist. Instead of โbuy lessโ as a vague mantra, she suggested a clear practice: track what you purchase, repair what you can, and ask suppliers questions they arenโt used to getting.
Her chosen shoes were durable and traceable. She knew the maker and the material path.
Episode 7: Cynthia Ortiz – Founder, Casa Lily
Cynthia walked through the realities of producing footwear overseas – minimum order quantities, factory audits, shipping delays – and how she built ethical checks into each stage. She admitted missteps, then outlined how she updated her process rather than scrap it.
Her wave-heel design became a symbol of forward momentum: form that reflects function.
Episode 8: Svetlana Gafurova – Director of Luxury Sales, Bottega Veneta
Svetlana tracks what luxury clients now expect: honesty about materials, informed staff, and experiences that feel personal. She grew up making her own clothes, so she reads garments differently. On the sales floor, that background lets her decode the difference between marketing terms and real craft.
Her shoes fit long days on polished floors-elegant, but practical for movement.
Episode 9: Ella Muradyan – Financial Crimes Specialist
Ella broke down her 50/25/25 budgeting rule: 50% needs, 25% savings/debt payoff, 25% joy. She insisted that planning for discretionary spending is what keeps budgets sustainable. If a Hermรจs scarf fits in the โjoyโ category and you plan for it, it isnโt indulgence-itโs alignment.
She also brought the Hangisi. For her, it marked a celebration after a tough quarter.
Episode 11: Nicole Vasquez – Entrepreneur
Nicole sees community building as an operating system. She shared how she maps her network, follows up, and puts people together with clear asks and offers. On the style front, she uses a signature piece-often a blazer or bold shoe-to help her anchor in rooms where impostor syndrome could creep in.
Episode 12: Courtney Spritzer – Co-Founder, Entreprenista
Courtney talked through marketing trends and AI tools, but the standout moment was her announcement of the Entreprenista 100. She treats color as strategy: hot pink isnโt just preference; itโs a recognizable brand signal.
Her Hangisi pair is more than a shoe-it’s a reminder to show up as the brandโs best advocate.Takeaway: Consistent visual cues create memory in the audience. Use them deliberately.
Episode 13: Diana Contreras – Artist & Muralist
Diana paints walls across Miami with portraits that reflect heritage and current life. She spoke about balancing motherhood with field work and the logistics of painting outdoors.
When she picked the Palm Angels slip-ons, she said they mirrored her move toward bolder public pieces.
Episode 14: Meg Daly – Founder, The Underline
Meg broke both arms, couldnโt drive, and started walking under the Metrorail. That led to The Underline: a 10-mile park project now used by commuters, runners, and families. She described how community input shaped features, from lighting to programming.
Her footwear choice emphasized comfort for long site walks.
Episode 15: Rhonda Singer – Wealth Advisor
Rhonda guides clients through transitions-divorce, retirement, inheritance-and addressed how clothes can help people re-anchor identity. She often suggests doing a closet edit during major life changes to identify what still fits the person you are.
She chose the Palm Angels slip-ons as a signal of choosing boldness after a quieter chapter.
Episode 17: Virginia Laird Rojo – Founder, VLR Consulting
Virginia leads with empathy but holds a high bar for accountability. She told me she swapped a neutral palette for red pieces after launching her firm-an external cue to match an internal shift toward visibility.
She also selected the Palm Angels slip-ons for their mix of edge and practicality.
Episode 18: Katherine Doble – Founder & CEO
Katherine uses AI to streamline outreach but keeps relationship-building human. One story stood out: inheriting Chanel pumps from a family member and wearing them during a key client meeting.
The shoes carried history, and that weight translated to her posture and voice.
Episode 19: Sarah Dunn – CFO & Cat Rescuer
Sarah manages corporate finances and rescues cats. She sees both as systems: budget lines and adoption lists require similar tracking. She spoke about letting her wardrobe shift with her role-fewer stiff suits, more pieces that allow quick stops at shelters after work.
Episode 20: Asha – Author
Asha wrote about motherhood and identity. She said the draft that finally worked was the one where she stopped hiding the โmess.โ That vulnerability translated to the page and to her presence. Her shoes? A comfortable pair worn during late-night writing sessions-a reminder that progress often happens offstage.Takeaway: Imperfection is usable material. Voice strengthens when you stop polishing away the truth.
Summary
Shoes marked turning points for these women: funding rounds, new ventures, fresh starts, community wins. Whether itโs a Manolo, a Palm Angels slip-on, or sneakers youโve repaired three times, the pair you pick can remind you where youโre going-and why.If these stories resonated, share the post or reach out.
