Resources:
“Hearing their stories about their first Kate Spade bag and they would bring them to the events which was so much fun to see again.”
What does it take to build two iconic fashion brands alongside your best friend and navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship? On this episode of the Entreprenista Podcast, we sit down with Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, to explore her remarkable journey through fashion, friendship, resilience, and reinvention.
Elyce shares how she and her best friend, Kate Spade, bootstrapped Kate Spade from an apartment into a globally recognized lifestyle brand, why building a business around strong relationships and a scrappy mindset made all the difference, and how she found the strength to carry Frances Valentine forward after Katy’s passing. She also opens up about launching her New York Times bestselling memoir, We Might Just Make It After All, and how sharing her story has helped her connect with women navigating their own experiences of friendship, loss, and entrepreneurship.
What We Talked About:
Rebuilding After Loss: The Birth of Francis Valentine [6:33]
Financing the Dream: Bootstrapping and Beyond [14:50]
The Power of Storytelling in Business [24:33]
Navigating Trade Shows and Networking [30:46]
Embracing Life in Your 60s [36:23]
The Importance of Hard Work and Resilience [41:41]
Connect with Elyce:
@elyce_arons on Instagram
Elyce Arons on LinkedIn
Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Be sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.
Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.
Guests
Elyce Arons
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin
Co-founder of Socialfly and Entreprenista.
Stephanie Cartin is the co-founder and CEO of Entreprenista, an all-in-one platform – which includes a private community & business membership called The Entreprenista League that's made up of over 2,000 women founders at all stages of business, a weekly newsletter received by 60,000 readers, two podcasts, in-person educational & networking events, and an award program – that women founders at all stages can turn to for everything they need to grow.
Stephanie is also the co-founder of Socialfly (acquired by Truform Media Group in 2024), Markid, and Pearl Influential Capital. She has won countless awards, including the SmartCEO Brava award, which recognizes the top women CEOs in New York, and a Stevie Award for Women-Run Workplace of the Year. She has also appeared in Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Refinery29, and more.
Join 2,000+ supportive, ambitious founders in the
Highlights
The Latest
Heather Lillico Helps Burnt-Out Founders Rewire Their Nervous Systems
The former nutritionist burnt out building her nutrition business, and the tools that brought her back to calm now anchor her coaching for women founders.
Elyce Arons, Frances Valentine: Building Two Iconic Brands and Finding Joy in Chapter Two
Automate Your Site with a 1-Month Free Trial
Kartra