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“So the more dialed in to your story, the easier it is gonna be to find your people.”
On this episode of Startups and Stilettos, Carlyn Bushman and Ingrid Zapata-Read sit down with Katie Miller, founder of Portia and Cleo, a marketing studio specializing in women-led and community-based businesses. Katie shares how her background in theater, storytelling, real estate, motherhood, and community advocacy ultimately shaped her approach to marketing—and why authentic stories can create the trust that turns audiences into customers.
Katie opens up about the evolution of her business, including the emotional process of rebranding from KM Marketing Services to Portia and Cleo, and how Shakespeare inspired the new name. She also explains why she believes entrepreneurs often overlook one of their biggest assets: the story behind why they started.
What We Talked About:
From Theater to Marketing [6:34]
Why Community Is a Growth Strategy [12:34]
A Client's Brand Breakthrough [20:13]
Growing Beyond the Side Hustle [26:30]
Three Prompts to Find Your Story [30:04]
Connect with Katie:
@katiem_portiaandcleo on Instagram
Katie Miller on LinkedIn
Connect with Ingrid:
@itsingridsworld on Instagram
Ingrid Zapata-Read on Linkedin
Connect with Carlyn:
@carlynbushmanconsulting on Instagram
Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn
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Guests
Katie Miller
Hosts
Carlyn Bushman
Carlyn Bushman is a seasoned business consultant, entrepreneur, and advocate for female founders. She founded POP Business Academy to empower women entrepreneurs with tools for building sustainable, profitable businesses. As CEO of Carlyn Bushman Consulting, she specializes in helping product- and service-based business owners navigate financials, marketing, and growth strategies. With extensive corporate experience, Carlyn, a mom in a blended family and lifelong learner, has been featured on Good Morning America and in Times Square. She's here to help you make money and stay in business.
Ingrid Zapata Read
Grow With Community
Ingrid Zapata Read is a community strategist and founder of Grow With Community. She helps businesses get closer to the people they serve and build stronger, more intentional relationships around their mission.
After building a global community for moms of over 200,000 members, and through her experience in sales, startups, and customer experience, Ingrid brings a people-first perspective to growth across industries. She’s known for her thoughtful, practical approach and believes community building should be a part of every business strategy.
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