“Don't let it be about control. Don't let it be about guilt. Let it be about, wow, I'm going to be able to accomplish so much more by not having to waste my time on these things that I could hire outsource for.”

In this episode of Startups in Stilettos, host Ingrid Zapata-Read sits down with fractional COO and founder of La Pausa Consulting, Adair Vilella, to unpack what it really takes to build a business that can grow with intention. From messy data and unclear systems to overwhelmed founders stuck in the day-to-day, Adair shares how she helps women entrepreneurs pause, reset, and rebuild the operational foundation needed for sustainable success.

Together, they dive into the realities of scaling—from the million-dollar “breaking point” to the challenges of balancing e-commerce and retail in a post-pandemic world. Adair also reveals why so many founders struggle with delegation, how to align marketing, PR, and sales for real results, and what your numbers are actually trying to tell you.

What We Talked About:

The Importance of Pausing [6:01]

Navigating E-commerce Post-Pandemic [11:59]

Understanding Financials and Data Visualization [18:13]

Marketing, Sales, and Operations [24:11]

The Role of a Fractional COO [30:12]

Connect with Adair:

@laupausaconsulting on Instagram

Adair Vilella on LinkedIn

La Pausa ConsultingConnect with Carlyn: ⁠⁠

@carlynbushmanconsulting⁠⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠

Carlyn Bushman⁠⁠ on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠

Carlyn Bushman Consulting⁠

Connect with Ingrid: ⁠⁠

⁠@itsingridsworld⁠ ⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠

Ingrid Zapata-Read⁠⁠ on⁠ ⁠Linkedin⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow With Community⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Adair Vilella Provides Operational Clarity for Female Founders