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I Want Her Shoes Podcast | Episode 91 From Starting Over to Owning It Adriana Montes on immigration, money, ambition, and building a life on your own terms What happens when you build an impressive life—and discover that achievement alone isn't necessarily the thing you're hungry for anymore? This week on I Want Her Shoes Podcast, host Anna Anisin sits down with Melissa Kiguwa, founder of Future Intelligence, writer, entrepreneur, former journalist, and host of The Idealists, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about ambition, emotional regulation, identity, spirituality, and what it really means to flourish. Melissa's career has never followed a straight line. She's moved through journalism, radio and television, Hollywood, entrepreneurship, luxury fashion and jewelry, writing, and interviewing extraordinary women. Today, her work with Future Intelligence explores an entirely different kind of development: what happens when we give our inner lives the same attention and training we've spent years giving our careers. Anna and Melissa unpack something many high-achieving women rarely talk about: you can be incredibly high-functioning and still be overwhelmed. They explore the difference between resilience and simply becoming very good at overriding yourself, why emotional regulation matters, and what happens when you finally achieve the thing you were convinced would make you feel complete. The conversation also moves into identity and reinvention. Melissa shares how a life spent moving between cultures, industries, and versions of herself shaped her adaptability—and raises a bigger question: How do we know when we're genuinely evolving versus changing ourselves to survive the environment we're in? They talk about intuition versus fear, science and spirituality, purpose and self-transcendence, relationships, technology, and what becomes uniquely valuable about being human as AI grows increasingly capable. They also explore whether greater emotional awareness changes who we're attracted to, what we're willing to tolerate, and how we show up in love. And, of course, they eventually make their way into the closet. Melissa and Anna talk about the pressure women feel to look successful, fashion as both armor and self-expression, how personal style changes as identity evolves, and the shoes that carry the stories of who we've been. Key Moments Why an impressive life can still leave us feeling like there's more life available The difference between resilience and becoming disconnected from yourself How highly successful women can function while emotionally dysregulated Why getting what you wanted doesn't always create the feeling you expected Learning to distinguish intuition from fear What becomes more valuable about being human as AI becomes more powerful How emotional growth can change our relationships, attraction, and boundaries Fashion as armor, identity, and eventually genuine self-expression Maybe the next chapter of ambition isn't always about becoming more. Maybe it's learning how to be fully present inside the life you've already created—to feel it, inhabit it, and know yourself well enough to recognize what is true before the rest of the world tells you what you should want. Because intelligence isn't only about knowing more. Sometimes, the intelligence we need most is knowing ourselves. Listen to the full episode of I Want Her Shoes Podcast with Melissa Kiguwa. Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/  Melissa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissakiguwa/  Melissa’s Website: https://www.futureintelligence.app/  Melissa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakiguwa/  EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Melissa's career has never followed a straight line. She's moved through journalism, radio and television, Hollywood, entrepreneurship, luxury fashion and jewelry, writing, and interviewing extraordinary women. Today, her work with Future Intelligence explores an entirely different kind of development: what happens when we give our inner lives the same attention and training we've spent years giving our careers. Anna and Melissa unpack something many high-achieving women rarely talk about: you can be incredibly high-functioning and still be overwhelmed. They explore the difference between resilience and simply becoming very good at overriding yourself, why emotional regulation matters, and what happens when you finally achieve the thing you were convinced would make you feel complete. The conversation also moves into identity and reinvention. Melissa shares how a life spent moving between cultures, industries, and versions of herself shaped her adaptability and raises a bigger question: How do we know when we're genuinely evolving versus changing ourselves to survive the environment we're in? They talk about intuition versus fear, science and spirituality, purpose and self-transcendence, relationships, technology, and what becomes uniquely valuable about being human as AI grows increasingly capable. They also explore whether greater emotional awareness changes who we're attracted to, what we're willing to tolerate, and how we show up in love. And, of course, they eventually make their way into the closet. Melissa and Anna talk about the pressure women feel to look successful, fashion as both armor and self-expression, how personal style changes as identity evolves, and the shoes that carry the stories of who we've been. Key Moments Why an impressive life can still leave us feeling like there's more life available The difference between resilience and becoming disconnected from yourself How highly successful women can function while emotionally dysregulated Why getting what you wanted doesn't always create the feeling you expected Learning to distinguish intuition from fear What becomes more valuable about being human as AI becomes more powerful How emotional growth can change our relationships, attraction, and boundaries Fashion as armor, identity, and eventually genuine self-expression Maybe the next chapter of ambition isn't always about becoming more. Maybe it's learning how to be fully present inside the life you've already created to feel it, inhabit it, and know yourself well enough to recognize what is true before the rest of the world tells you what you should want. Because intelligence isn't only about knowing more. Sometimes, the intelligence we need most is knowing ourselves. Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/  Melissa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissakiguwa/  Melissa’s Website: https://www.futureintelligence.app/  Melissa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakiguwa/  EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Anna and Maya go well beyond Selling Sunset. They talk about what years of walking through other people’s homes have taught Maya about money, relationships, identity, and human behavior and why selling a home can be much more emotional than people expect. Maya shares what sellers stop noticing about their own homes, what wealthy buyers actually care about, where homeowners can waste money, what can genuinely add value, and what women should understand about real estate as they build financial independence. They also get into the psychology of negotiation and why staying calm can be one of the most powerful tools in a high-stakes deal. And then there’s reinvention. Anna and Maya talk about what it means to start again when people already think they know who you are, the difference between fame and credibility, and turning visibility into leverage for a real business rather than making fame the career itself. Of course, this is still I Want Her Shoes. The conversation eventually turns to luxury, personal style, how Miami has influenced Maya’s wardrobe, the relationship between the way we dress ourselves and dress our homes, and the shoes in Maya’s closet that tell a story of their own. Key Moments Why a beautiful house isn’t necessarily what makes somewhere feel like home What real estate has taught Maya about people, relationships, and major life transitions The things sellers obsess over that buyers simply don’t care about What women should understand about real estate and financial independence What wealthy buyers actually look for in a home Maya’s approach to negotiation and knowing when to walk away Turning Selling Sunset visibility into a real business rather than simply chasing fame Starting over, building a new identity in Miami, and deciding what success looks like now At its heart, this conversation isn’t really about houses. It’s about what we choose to build, what we’re willing to leave behind, and how our definition of home changes as we do. Because sometimes starting over means changing the address. Sometimes it means changing the plan. And sometimes the most beautiful thing you can build is a life that finally feels like yours. Listen to the full episode of I Want Her Shoes Podcast with Maya Vander.  Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Club Beta: https://iwanthershoes.com/community?utm_source=podcast  IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/  Maya’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/themayavander/   Maya’s Website: https://www.realestateagents.com/fl/miami/maya-vander EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this deeply personal episode of I Want Her Shoes, Sammy returns to the closet for an honest conversation with Anna about the grief we experience and the losses we don't always give ourselves permission to grieve. Anna opens up about losing her grandmother, losing her beloved pets Bonnie and Ozzie only months apart, and grieving the end of her marriage while navigating divorce. Together, Anna and Sammy explore the particularly complicated experience of grieving something that you can simultaneously know was right to lose. You can mourn a marriage without wanting the marriage back. You can miss pieces of a former life while still choosing the life ahead of you. And sometimes what you're grieving isn't only a person or relationship it's the future you once imagined. They also talk about the strange everyday reality of loss: how life keeps moving even when you're grieving. Kids still need breakfast. Meetings still happen. Emails still arrive. You can laugh, work, go to dinner, experience something wonderful—and still be carrying sadness alongside it. The conversation moves through losing animals and why pet grief can be so profound, motherhood and the pressure to keep functioning, the discomfort people sometimes have around another person's pain, and what actually helps when someone we love is grieving. And ultimately, they arrive at a bigger question: Does grief ever really disappear or does life simply become bigger around it? Key Moments The many losses we experience that we don't always recognize as grief Grieving someone or something that is still technically there Mourning a marriage while knowing that ending it was the right decision Anna on losing her grandmother and the things we still wish we could say Losing Bonnie and Ozzie and why the death of a pet can leave such an enormous absence How motherhood and responsibility coexist with grief Why grief and growth can happen at the same time What actually helps when someone you love is grieving Perhaps healing isn't reaching a point where the loss no longer hurts. Maybe it's learning how to carry what mattered without allowing the loss to become the only thing we carry. There can be grief and gratitude. Grief and relief. Grief and joy. And even grief and the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. Moving forward doesn't necessarily mean leaving everything behind. Sometimes it means deciding what deserves to come with us.  To pick up a draggable item, press the space bar. While dragging, use the arrow keys to move the item. Press space again to drop the item in its new position, or press escape to cancel. Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates:  IWHS Club Beta: https://iwanthershoes.com/community?utm_source=podcast  IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ Anna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/  Sammy’s IG: https://instagram.com/sammidawgs EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Somewhere between the podcast conversations, dinners, brunches, WhatsApp messages, new friendships, introductions, and women showing up for one another, something unexpected happened. The audience started becoming a community. In this special solo episode, Anna steps out from behind the interview questions to share what she’s been quietly building: I Want Her Shoes Club, a new digital and IRL home for ambitious, accomplished, curious women who want meaningful connection alongside all the beautiful things that make life fun. Anna takes listeners inside the early version of the platform and shares the thinking behind it from member connections and curated events to trusted experts, recommendations, fashion, style, and eventually a much smarter relationship with our own closets. But the vision isn't to create another social network designed to keep women scrolling. It's almost the opposite. Anna has spent years working in AI and building technology communities, and now she's applying that experience to something intentionally human: using technology to help the right women find one another and then get off their phones and into the same room. Miami is only the beginning. The bigger vision includes city communities, intimate dinners and experiences, trusted recommendations, experts, fashion and wardrobe tools, and a network that can travel with its members wherever life takes them. And because the Club is still being built, Anna isn't simply inviting women to join it. She's inviting them to help shape what it becomes. 👠 Key MomentsHow I Want Her Shoes evolved from a podcast into a real communityWhy the shoes were never really about fashion they've always been about the journeyWhat Anna learned from bringing women together for intimate dinners and brunchesWhy connection not networking is the productThe vision behind I Want Her Shoes ClubWhy AI should facilitate human connection rather than replace itWhat's coming around events, experts, style, recommendations, and our closetsWhy Anna wants the earliest members to help build the community alongside herAnna doesn't want to build another place where women perform how successful, polished, or fabulous their lives are. She wants to build a place where women can actually know each other. Where you can talk about the promotion and the divorce. The company you're building and the terrible date you went on. The investment you're considering and the shoes you're considering. A place to share what we've learned, celebrate one another's wins, open doors for each other and occasionally tell another woman, “Girl, absolutely do not buy those.”  Because the shoes were never really about fashion. They've always been about the journey. And this is what's coming next.  Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet, it’s definitely worth the view! https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Club Beta: https://iwanthershoes.com/community?utm_source=podcast IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/Anna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/  EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anna and Alexis unpack why financial independence has to be part of the conversation about women’s empowerment, how self-limiting beliefs can quietly become career ceilings, and why confidence is often something we develop after taking the leap—not before it. They also talk about learning to ask for more, advocating for yourself in rooms where decisions are being made, and the difference between mentorship and having someone who will actually say your name when you’re not in the room. The conversation also explores Alexis’s experience building Business of Her, the importance of women creating opportunities for other women, and why collaboration can be far more powerful than competition. And, of course, they get personal about ambition, evolving identity, personal style, and what it feels like to dress—and live—as the woman you’re still becoming. Because power isn’t something we suddenly earn when we reach a certain title, salary, or age. It’s something we can start building now. 👠 Key Moments Why Alexis believes women need to redefine their relationship with powerThe lessons about money, negotiation, and self-advocacy women should learn much earlierHow to build confidence before you actually feel readyWhy financial agency is an essential part of women’s empowermentRecognizing self-limiting beliefs before they become career ceilingsThe difference between mentorship, sponsorship, and having someone advocate for youWhy collaboration between women can create more opportunity than competitionHow style and identity evolve as we step into bigger versions of ourselvesWhat if women didn’t wait until their 30s, 40s, or 50s to learn how to negotiate, advocate for themselves, build wealth, and take up space? 🎧 Listen to the full episode of I Want Her Shoes Podcast for a conversation about money, confidence, ambition, community, and learning to stop waiting for permission. Because sometimes the most important step toward becoming powerful is realizing you were allowed to begin before you felt ready. 📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/  Alexis’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-meruelo-499446113/  Alexis’s Book: https://alexismeruelo.com/bookLadies, I’d love for you to join us inside I Want Her Shoes Club, our private, application-only community for stylish, ambitious women. Local dinners, vetted stylists, member offers and real conversations.Apply here 👠 EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Laura has spent her career looking at entrepreneurship from almost every angle. Before launching Ascendo, she founded Endeavor Miami, the first U.S. affiliate of the global entrepreneurship organization, where the portfolio grew to 23 companies generating more than $250 million in revenue. Earlier in her career, Laura held leadership positions at Visa and developed deep experience across fintech, payments, M&A, and private equity. Today, she brings all of those perspectives together as an investor. In this conversation, Anna and Laura explore what makes an exceptional founder, why overlooked markets can create extraordinary investment opportunities, where venture capital may be looking in the wrong places, and how AI is changing the investment landscape. They also talk about Laura’s own evolution from corporate executive to ecosystem builder to venture capitalist and what years of working across countries, industries, and boardrooms have taught her about leadership, reinvention, and success. Because sometimes the greatest opportunities aren't where everyone is already looking. They're where very few people have thought to look yet. 👠 Key Moments What connects the many chapters of Laura’s career as an executive, founder, operator, investor, and board memberWhat Laura saw in Miami’s entrepreneurial ecosystem before the city became a major startup and technology hubThe qualities she looks for when deciding whether a founder is truly exceptionalWhat investors can learn about a founder that will never appear in a pitch deckWhy Laura sees inclusive innovation as an investment advantage, not simply a social objectiveHow overlooked founders, consumers, and markets can create asymmetric investment opportunitiesWhy investment capital still hasn't caught up with the enormous economic influence of womenHow Laura evaluates AI companies in a market where almost every startup has an AI storyWhere she believes AI opportunities may still be underestimatedWhat venture capital may be overfunding—and overlookingWhy Laura’s experience as an operator changes the way she works with foundersWhat working at Visa taught her about building companies that can truly scaleLessons about leadership from working across the U.S., Mexico, Latin America, global corporations, startups, and venture capitalHow to recognize when it's time to leave a successful chapter and reinvent yourselfThis episode is ultimately about seeing possibility before it becomes obvious. Great founders don't all look the same. Great ideas don't come from one demographic, one geography, or one network. And some of the most compelling investment opportunities may exist precisely because everyone else is looking somewhere else. Laura’s own career is also a reminder that reinvention doesn't mean leaving your experience behind. Every chapter can become part of the toolkit you bring into the next one. 🎧 Listen now for a conversation about venture capital, AI, entrepreneurship, Miami, women and wealth, leadership, reinvention—and what it really takes to recognize an opportunity before the rest of the world does. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Laura’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-i-mayd%C3%B3n-22018a/ Ascendo VC: https://ascendo.vc/  EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over nearly two decades, Joanna has helped build and scale some of the most recognizable brands across technology, health, wellness, travel, and consumer products. She’s served as CMO of Spring Health, Skyscanner, ClassPass, and Reforge, worked across nine startups, led teams of more than 280 people, and helped scale global businesses reaching more than 110 million people each month. But after years of helping other founders build extraordinary companies, Joanna is entering a new chapter: building something of her own. In this conversation, Anna and Joanna explore what separates great marketing from a brand that becomes part of culture, what decades of operating have taught Joanna about leadership, how AI is reshaping marketing, and why curiosity may be one of the most important qualities we can carry into the next chapter of our lives. They also dive into Joanna’s newest venture, NEON PALM, and what it feels like to move from advising founders to becoming one herself. Because the most interesting careers rarely follow a straight line. And as Joanna says, beautiful things are never built alone. 👠 Key Moments What nine startups taught Joanna about building, scaling, and starting overWhy Joanna considers herself an operator first—and a marketer secondThe difference between great marketing and building a brand that becomes part of cultureHow to keep brands human while operating at massive scaleWhy creating cultural conversations matters more than simply creating contentWhat companies are still getting wrong about growth marketingHow AI will transform marketing—and where human creativity will become even more valuableWhy more AI-generated content doesn’t necessarily mean more meaningful contentThe story behind Joanna’s new venture, NEON PALMWhat becoming a founder has taught her after years of advising other foundersThis episode is a conversation about building, reinvention, and staying curious—even after you’ve already achieved extraordinary things. Because success doesn’t mean arriving at one final destination. Sometimes the most exciting thing you can do is decide to build again. 🎧 Listen now for a conversation about brands, AI, leadership, style, entrepreneurship, and why the best things we create are rarely created alone. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Joanna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannalord Joanna’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalord/ Neon Palm: https://neonpalm.co/  EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One of the summer’s biggest stories was the announcement and subsequent cancellation of John Galliano: Horizons, the major Spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition that would have celebrated Galliano’s extraordinary and complicated career. Naturally, Anna and Ella have opinions. Was canceling the exhibition the right decision? Can we separate the art from the artist? And what would a Galliano-inspired Met Gala have looked like if it had actually happened? But Galliano is far from the only designer on trial. Ella arrives with a confession of her own: she finally caved and bought her first pair of Matthieu Blazy Chanel shoes. So, is Blazy making Chanel exciting again and could we be witnessing the beginning of a new era for the house? And while we’re asking important questions... why is everything suddenly “chic”? Chic restaurants. Chic sneakers. Chic vacations. Chic interiors. Chic water bottles. Has social media officially ruined the word? After years of quiet luxury and understated minimalism, fashion also seems to be having fun again. Anna and Ella debate the bedazzling of everything, the return of maximalism and statement dressing, archival fashion, luxury prices, what they’re actually buying for fall and whether we’re finally witnessing the return of something fashion has been missing: Personality. 👠 Key Moments Has the word “chic” officially lost all meaning? The bedazzling of everything—and whether maximalism is officially back Is quiet luxury finally losing its grip? The canceled John Galliano: Horizons Met exhibition and the complicated question of separating art from artist What a Galliano-inspired Met Gala would have looked like Ella’s confession: buying her first Matthieu Blazy Chanel shoes Is Blazy ushering in a new golden era at Chanel? Archival fashion, creative-director shakeups, and what feels exciting in fashion right now Are today’s luxury prices actually worth it? What Anna and Ella are buying for fall and what everyone should stop buying This episode is ultimately about something bigger than trends. After years of understated dressing, neutral palettes, and the idea that looking expensive meant barely looking styled at all, fashion seems ready to have fun again. Maybe we don’t need another uniform. Maybe we need more personality, more experimentation, more fabulous shoes and fewer rules about what qualifies as chic. 🎧 Listen now for Anna and Ella’s summer fashion debrief and find out what officially made the Fashion Crimes list. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/ Ella’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ella_murad/ EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Together, Cynthia and Simon have built more than a remarkable venue.They've created a space where ideas are exchanged, relationships are formed, artists are celebrated, and community comes to life. In this conversation, Anna explores what it takes to build meaningful experiences, lead as partners in business and life, and create environments that people remember long after they've left. Because great hospitality isn't just about service. It's about creating a sense of belonging. 👠 Key Moments: How Cynthia and Simon built a business—and a life—together The vision behind The Moore Miami Why hospitality is really about human connection Lessons from decades of entrepreneurship and leadership What makes unforgettable spaces unforgettable The future of luxury, culture, and experiential hospitality How AI may change hospitality—and what should always remain human The role of style, architecture, and design in shaping experience Building a lasting legacy through community The stories behind the shoes they brought to the podcast This episode is a celebration of creativity, partnership, and the people who understand that the most meaningful experiences aren't manufactured—they're thoughtfully designed. 🎧 Listen now and discover why the greatest luxury isn't a beautiful space—it's how that space makes you feel. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Cynthia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_okeefe Simon’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-sorpresi-3504a922/ The Moore: mooremiami.com EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

But Melodie's entrepreneurial story began long before Max Retail. She skipped college, built a career in real estate as a teenager, lost everything during the housing crash, sold designer clothing out of a Sprinter van, opened her own boutique, and ultimately created the business she wished had existed when she was a retailer herself. In this conversation, Anna and Melodie discuss resilience, reinvention, entrepreneurship, fashion, and why the best businesses are often born from the problems that keep us awake at night. Because success isn't about never failing. It's about having the courage to keep building 👠 Key Moments Why Melodie chose entrepreneurship over a traditional path Lessons from losing everything during the housing crash Selling designer fashion out of a Sprinter van—and what it taught her Building a boutique before launching a technology company The inspiration behind Max Retail How resale is changing the future of fashion Why solving your own problem can lead to your best business idea Leadership lessons from building and scaling a company The realities of starting over—and why reinvention is a strength How Melodie's relationship with fashion has evolved over the years This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn't about having all the answers. It's about staying curious, embracing change, and betting on yourself—even when the outcome is uncertain. Because sometimes the greatest opportunities are waiting on the other side of the biggest setbacks. 🎧 Listen now and discover why the most successful founders aren't the ones who never fail—they're the ones who keep moving forward. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/ Melodie’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodie-van-der-baan/ Melodie’s Website: https://substack.com/@maxretail EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Originally from Paris and now based in Miami, Elsa believes a well-designed wardrobe isn't about owning more clothes—it's about creating systems that save time, reduce stress, and help you show up with confidence, wherever life takes you. In this conversation, Anna and Elsa explore how personal style influences confidence, why decision fatigue often starts in our closets, and how thoughtful wardrobe planning can become a powerful productivity tool. Because getting dressed shouldn't drain your energy. It should help you reclaim it. 👠 Key Moments Why Elsa calls herself a wardrobe strategist—not just a stylist How decision fatigue affects the way we get dressed The biggest wardrobe mistakes busy professionals make Lessons from growing up in Paris and building a business in Miami Why buying more clothes rarely solves the problem The essentials every woman should invest in—and where to save Building wardrobe systems for busy, multi-home lifestyles The connection between personal style and confidence How to create a timeless wardrobe instead of chasing trends Elsa's philosophy on luxury, simplicity, and intentional living What's inside Elsa's own closet—and what it says about her The story behind the shoes she chose for this episode This episode is a reminder that personal style isn't about having the biggest wardrobe. It's about creating one that works for your life. Because true luxury isn't having more. It's having less to think about. 🎧 Listen now and discover why the most valuable thing hanging in your closet might not be the designer label—it's the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly who you are and how you want to show up. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/ Elsa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/elsab_styling/ Elsa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsaboutaric/ Elsa’s Website: https://www.elsabstyling.com/ EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Throughout her career, Leigh-Ann has worked at the intersection of technology, economic development, government, and social impact, helping leaders and organizations rethink what's possible. But beyond the impressive résumé is a simple belief: innovation begins with curiosity, courage, and the willingness to challenge the status quo. In this conversation, Anna and Leighann explore what it means to lead through uncertainty, embrace reinvention, and build a future rooted in purpose—not just progress. Because innovation isn't just about creating new technology. It's about creating new possibilities. 👠 Key Moments  Why innovation is a leadership mindset—not just a business strategy The habits and questions that fuel creativity and breakthrough thinking Lessons from working across startups, government, philanthropy, and technology How over $100 million in social investment has helped create lasting opportunity Why the best leaders learn to embrace uncertainty instead of fearing it The opportunities—and responsibilities—that come with the rise of AI What public and private sector leaders can learn from one another Why reinvention is an essential part of every successful career Advice for women waiting for the "perfect" moment to pursue a bold idea The personal values and daily rituals that keep Leighann grounded How style has evolved alongside her leadership journey What her closet reveals that her LinkedIn profile never could This episode is a reminder that innovation isn't reserved for a select few. It's available to anyone willing to stay curious, ask better questions, and take the first step toward building something that doesn't yet exist. Because the future isn't something we wait for. It's something we create. 🎧 Listen now and discover why the most innovative leaders aren't just changing industries—they're changing the way we think, lead, and imagine what's possible. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/ Leigh-Ann’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/leighann.buchanan/ Leigh-Ann’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighannbuchanan/ Leigh-Ann’s Website: https://www.leighannbuchanan.com/ EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From entrepreneurship and leadership to healing, reinvention, confidence, and personal growth, these women reveal how a simple pair of shoes can become a symbol of resilience, purpose, identity, and the road they’ve traveled. 👠 Featured Guests Svetlana Gafurova — Fashion’s Luxury Frontiers Katherine Doble — Dressed to Engage Dr. Mindy DeSeta — Let’s Talk About Sex, Power & Healing Adriana Cowdin — Stubborn As F❤️ck Sandra Abi-Rashed — Power Shoes & Purpose Moves Angela Solk — Power, Platforms & Playing to Win Amy Salinger — The Method Behind Great Style Gabriella Arancio — Performance, Pressure & The Power of Discipline 👠 Key Moments The personal stories behind some of the most memorable shoes featured on the podcast How style often reflects identity, confidence, and personal evolution The moments, milestones, and memories attached to what we wear Stories of resilience, reinvention, leadership, and purpose Why the most meaningful shoes aren’t always the most glamorous How fashion becomes a reflection of the lives we build The connection between personal style and personal growth Lessons learned from women who have walked very different paths This episode is a reminder that shoes are never really just shoes. They’re a snapshot of where we’ve been. A reflection of who we are. And sometimes, a reminder of everything it took to get here. 🎧 Listen now and discover the stories behind some of the most unforgettable shoes ever featured on I Want Her Shoes. Because every pair tells a story. And every woman has one worth sharing. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/ THE FUTURE OF AGENTIC AI IN Finance and Banking, NYC on Dec 11 https://ailovesdata.com/newyork/ Save 25%:  IWANTHERSHOES EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For years, Marisa competed at the highest levels of sport, where discipline, focus, and resilience were non-negotiable. But as her career evolved, so did her understanding of performance. Today, she helps high achievers create what she calls a Personal Operating System — a framework for managing energy, focus, relationships, and leadership in a way that supports long-term success. In this conversation, Anna and Marisa dive into the realities of burnout, the hidden costs of achievement, and why so many successful women are redefining what success actually looks like. Because high performance isn’t about doing more. It’s about operating better. 👠 Key Moments  What competing as a professional golfer taught Marisa about pressure, discipline, and resilience Why most people misunderstand what high performance actually means The concept of a Personal Operating System and how it changes the way leaders operate Why energy management matters more than time management The hidden burnout epidemic among high achievers How successful leaders create clarity in the midst of chaos Why relationships are one of the most overlooked drivers of performance The difference between excellence and perfectionism How Marisa’s definition of success has evolved over time Navigating identity shifts and major life transitions Why women are increasingly seeking alignment, freedom, and fulfillment — not just achievement The habits and routines that support sustainable success This episode is a powerful reminder that success should not require sacrificing yourself. Because the goal isn’t just to achieve more. It’s to build a life that allows you to enjoy what you’ve achieved. 🎧 Listen now and discover why the next level of leadership may have less to do with pushing harder — and everything to do with operating more intentionally. Adding a chic twist to each episode, the 'I Want Her Shoes Podcast' is recorded in Anna’s stunning personal closet, strategically located near the vibrant Miami Design District. This unique setting not only provides a visually captivating backdrop but also embodies the spirit of fashion and innovation that the area is known for.  📺 Watch the episodes on YouTube to get a glimpse of this one-of-a-kind Miami closet—it’s definitely worth the view!  https://www.youtube.com/@IWantHerShoesPodcast Follow us for more updates: IWHS Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoespodcast/ IWHS Pod Website: https://iwanthershoes.com/ Anna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwanthershoes/ Marisa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/marisamessana Marisa’s LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-messana/ EPISODE CREDITS: Writer and Host: Anna Anisin Produced, edited, and mixed by the Formulatedby Team Follow us on IG Watch on Youtube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.