Meet Lisa Oberst

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Oberst a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from wanting to better myself and create something I’m excited about and proud of. Doing things as well as possible has never been a question for me. It’s just a given. Perhaps it’s about proving myself and showing the world what I’m capable of. But it’s also simply that I wouldn’t be satisfied until I can be truly proud of what I offer. And in order to get to that point, hard work is necessary and I will do whatever it takes to get there.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Lisa, founder of Womads, and I’m on a mission to prove that women shouldn’t have to choose between comfort and style!
Womads is a brand of French-inspired leather shoes and bags, handmade in Colombia. I’m French-American, grew up in Belgium, studied in the US, and lived in Latin America. In 2023, I launched my first model—chic, versatile, ultra-comfortable leather peep toe shoes perfect for dynamic and active women.
I’m an avid traveler and love being out and about discovering the world while trying all sorts of activities. When I’m dancing, biking, going out, or exploring, I want comfortable accessories that are stylish but don’t get in my way. That’s what I’m most excited about with Womads—we’re empowering women to move freely, travel confidently, and live their best lives!
What makes it special? Our shoes are so flexible and lightweight you can pack your entire vacation shoe wardrobe in a carry-on. Plus, our natural rubber soles support a reforestation project in Colombia, and we give 1% of profits to charities supporting Colombian women.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Embracing Risk & Adventure I’m not scared to take the plunge and take risks—I need adventure, I need excitement! That mindset is essential when launching a business. My advice? If you’re waiting for the “perfect moment” or complete certainty, you’ll be waiting forever. Trust yourself and jump in.
2. Digital Marketing Skills Before going full-time with Womads, I was the Director of Retention at a marketing agency. I spent ten years developing marketing, sales, and team management skills—and honestly, those skills are the backbone of what I’m doing now. My advice: learn digital marketing and communication. Even if you have the best product in the world, you need to know how to reach people and tell your story.
3. Trusting My Vision & Cultural Curiosity I don’t have a background in fashion or product development, but as a woman, I knew there was a gap in the market. Not enough brands are truly trying to make our lives easier with fashion that supports us. I wanted to better serve women who deserve options that are both stylish AND comfortable. My multicultural background—growing up between Belgium, the US, and Latin America—has been invaluable. My business spans three cultures: French-inspired design, handmade in Colombia, brought to women in the US. That cross-cultural perspective is everything.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I’m overwhelmed, I step away from my computer. I’ve learned that I can try to push through, but if I’m overwhelmed, nothing good will come of it. Instead, I step away and do something entirely different for a bit—and I always come back with a totally different mindset.
Typically, I’ll go for a swim in the ocean, hop on my bike, or do some yoga… something that clears my head and gets me out of my own way.
Then I’ll take a step back and make a list of my priorities. I recalibrate to make sure I’m working on the right thing, and I take it one step at a time.
Talking to someone I trust is also huge. When I’m overwhelmed, the first person to notice is usually my boyfriend, and he helps me break down what’s going on. Working on my business alone can be a lot, to say the least! I’ve built up a small network of entrepreneur friends who are going through similar challenges, and it’s so validating to chat through the tough stuff with people who get it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://WOMADS.CO
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womads.co/
• Linkedin: https://www.instagram.com/womads.co/