> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Stephanie Cartin of Entreprenista on Building a Community by Listening First - URL: https://www.foundedbywomen.org/women-who-lead/stephanie-cartin-of-entreprenista-on-building-a-community-by-listening-first/ - Published: 2026-10-07T03:12:04.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-07T03:12:04.000Z - Author: Editorial team - Tags: Women Who Lead When Stephanie Cartin and her co-founder Courtney Spitzer launched their social media agency Socialfly, they had no playbook. What they had was a habit of asking questions, admitting what they didn't know, and joining a networking group on day one. That habit became the foundation of Entreprenista, a community of more than 4,500 women founders. Today, Stephanie is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of [Entreprenista](https://www.entreprenista.com/?ref=foundedbywomen.org), a seven-figure brand with a community network and a media engine behind it. What began as the Entreprenista Podcast in 2018 grew into the Entreprenista League and the Entreprenista 100 Awards, each one built in response to what members told her they needed: relationships, resources, and visibility. In this conversation with Founded by Women, Stephanie explains why vulnerability is one of a founder's most underused advantages, why you should listen before you build, and how a business can become a community people want to be part of. In a time when trust is harder to earn, her advice is simple and practical. > Know a founder (or are one) doing incredible work? **Founded by Women Awards** are open for entries. If you're building something bold, leading with purpose, or driving change in your industry, we'd love for you to enter. 👉 [foundedbywomen.org/awards](https://www.foundedbywomen.org/awards/) --- ### Q: What led you and Courtney to build Entreprenista into a community of over 4,500 women founders, and how has that grown out of your earlier work co-founding Socialfly? Entreprenista grew out of what we experienced firsthand building our first business, Socialfly, a social media marketing agency. When my co-founder, Courtney Spitzer, and I started the company, we were learning everything as we went, and one of the things we found most valuable early on was community. We joined a networking group on our very first day as founders, and it showed us how powerful it could be to have people around you who understood what you were building, could open a door, share a lesson, or simply remind you that you weren't doing it alone. As our business grew, we kept meeting incredible women who were looking for that same kind of support. We launched the Entreprenista Podcast in 2018 because there was such a clear demand for honest conversations about what it actually takes to build a business. That eventually evolved into the [Entreprenista League,](https://www.entreprenista.com/tel-start?ref=foundedbywomen.org) because we realized women didn't just want to hear other founders' stories; they wanted relationships, resources, visibility, and a community they could actually be part of. Today, our approach to growth is still rooted in the power of community. We pay close attention to what our members need and then build the solutions, programming, and opportunities that fill those gaps. We've found that when you listen and approach real business challenges with real empathy, support and lived experience, growth tends to follow. ### Q: You've spoken about vulnerability as one of the most powerful, underused advantages a founder has. Can you share an example of when that showed up for you? Vulnerability has been part of my entrepreneurial journey from the very beginning, even before I had the language for it. When Courtney and I started Socialfly, we didn't have all the answers. We were figuring things out in real time, and instead of pretending we knew everything, we became very comfortable asking questions, seeking advice, and telling people when we needed help. That openness is actually what led us to some of the relationships that became incredibly important to our businesses. We learned that people want to help when you give them an opportunity to. You don't have to show up as the person who has everything figured out. Sometimes saying, "I don't know how to do this—what would you do?" creates a much deeper connection than trying to prove that you already know the answer. That lesson has stayed with me. I think founders sometimes believe vulnerability makes them look less capable, when in reality, it can be one of the fastest ways to build trust and connect with others who have similar experiences. You can be ambitious and confident while still being honest about where you need support. I always encourage founders to ask questions. I guarantee someone else has the same questions and if you don’t ask, you are doing yourself and someone else a disservice. When you learn, you can share the information and pay it forward. ### Q: What's one piece of advice you'd give other women looking to build a community-driven business rather than just a product or service? Start by listening instead of building. One of the biggest mistakes I see founders make is deciding what their community needs before actually asking them. Our approach with Entreprenista has always been to listen closely to our members, identify the gaps, and then work backward to figure out how we can uniquely fill them. Your community should help shape what you create next. If you consistently solve problems they actually have and create opportunities that genuinely make their businesses or lives better, they will become your greatest advocates. And don't underestimate the power of giving people the visibility opportunities they deserve. Our [Entreprenista 100 Awards](https://www.entreprenista.com/100?ref=foundedbywomen.org) are a great example. We created the awards to recognize incredible women-led businesses, but the visibility and connections they create also strengthen the broader community. Ultimately, a community-driven business should offer consistent support, meaningful opportunities, and value every day. That’s what creates a community people genuinely want to be part of, and having that kind of support can make all the difference when you’re building a company. If you’re a founder just starting out, I encourage you to find a community like the Entreprenista League, where you can connect with people who understand the journey and will support you every step of the way. > Are you a woman leader with an inspiring story? Founded by Women elevates the voices of women making an impact. > Breaking barriers or paving the way for others? We'd love to feature you. Get in touch! 👉 [hi@foundedbywomen.org](mailto:hi@foundedbywomen.org)