Ep.85-Bootstraps and Breakthroughs: Lessons from Isabel De Sousa

From Bikini Dreams to Saks Shelves: Isabel De Sousa’s Journey with Akalia

What if you stopped waiting for everything to be perfect… and just started?

That’s exactly what Isabel De Sousa did.

This week on The Seed: Building Your Business, I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Isabel, founder of the luxury fashion brand Akalia—a line that’s gone from college side hustle to being featured in high-end boutiques and major retailers like Saks. But like most great success stories, the journey didn’t come with a straight path or flawless blueprint. It came with grit, vision, and a whole lot of learning on the go.

Isabel started selling swimwear in college, while most of her classmates were focused on parties and finals. She was busy Googling how to open an LLC as an international student, figuring out shipping logistics, and navigating the confusing maze of small business startup life. Sound familiar?

Over the years, she pivoted through industries—from banking to marketing to retail—all while carrying the seed of something bigger inside her. And eventually, she brought Akalia to life.

In our conversation, Isabel shared so many real takeaways that I want you to walk away with. So if you’re building something of your own—whether you’re just getting started or deep in the grind—here are a few of her biggest lessons you can apply right now:

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1. Execution Beats Perfection

If you’re holding off on launching until your website is perfect, your logo is flawless, or your product photos look like a Vogue spread—stop. As Isabel says, “Start with what you have. Fancy will come later.” Get your product in people’s hands. Get feedback. Make adjustments. Just start.

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2. Focus on the Product First

You don’t need PR, influencers, or a massive marketing budget to begin. Focus on making your product or service really good. When the quality and value are clear, the rest gets easier. Save the fancy tools and expensive packaging until you know you’ve created something people actually want.

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3. Know Your Numbers

Isabel learned from her time in banking that a business only works if your money does. Use tools like the Profit First method to allocate funds, manage cash flow, and make sure you’re paying yourself, too. You don’t need a finance degree—just discipline and a plan.

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4. Block Out the Noise

There will always be people questioning your vision or telling you you’re doing too much. Isabel’s advice? “Reduce the noise and focus.” Not everyone is meant to understand your dream—and that’s okay. Keep showing up anyway.

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5. There’s No Such Thing as Overnight Success

The world will see your highlight reel, but you’ll live the long nights, the rejections, the moments you want to quit. That’s normal. That’s entrepreneurship. The more we share the whole story, the more we give each other permission to keep going.

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Bonus Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Pivot

Isabel lost a major contract with Macy’s when she raised her prices to reflect higher quality—but that shift is what opened the door to Saks and her current success. Sometimes letting go of what used to work is exactly what creates space for the next level.

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If you’re building a business and wondering if you’re doing it “right,” I invite you to listen to this episode. You’ll hear from a woman who didn’t wait until she had it all figured out—she moved forward with clarity, courage, and a whole lot of belief in what could be.

🎧 Listen now to The Seed: Building Your Business – Growing Your Business with Isabel Desousa
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