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“And I feel like being able to teach this at a young age, even if it's like, you know, lemonade stand basics, right? Like, what do you need and how much do you have to spend? And what is it going to take for you to go out there? And what does it mean to actually earn a profit and all of that?”In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with Osayi Lasisi, founder of Pocketlings, a joy-centered toy and book company inspired by her daughter’s search for plush dolls that truly reflected her. What began as a personal frustration quickly uncovered a much larger gap in the toy industry—one that children and families experience every day.
With over 13 years of marketing experience and multiple community-powered ventures under her belt, Osayi shares how she turned her daughter’s idea into a growing brand rooted in authenticity, cultural representation, and emotional connection. Together, they dive into building product-based businesses without constant hustle, leveraging partnerships and community for growth, navigating manufacturing and tariffs, and validating ideas—especially when those ideas come from kids.
What we talked about:
Finding the Right People [4:52]
Community Powered Growth [9:39]
Getting Started with a Business [14:02]
Partnerships are Everything [17:36]
Dolls in Daycare [22:08]
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Connect with Osayi:
@pocketlings on Instagram
Osayi Lasisi on LinkedIn
Connect with Carlyn:
@carlynbushmanconsulting on Instagram
Carlyn Bushman on LinkedIn Carlyn Bushman Consulting
Connect with Ingrid:
@itsingridsworld on Instagram
Ingrid Zapata-Read on Linkedin
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Guests
Osayi Lasisi
Hosts
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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