We’re looking forward to introducing you to Karla Talisse. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Karla, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Hot Pilates has been bringing me so much joy lately, it’s this perfect mix of discipline and release.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Karla Talisse, Founder of SoSheBuilds, a modern consulting firm that helps contractors and professional service businesses break into the world of government contracting with confidence and strategy.
I started SoSheBuilds after more than a decade in construction, development, and government contracting – from PR and project management to leading business development and marketing for multimillion-dollar firms. I saw how many incredible builders and small businesses were being left out of public work opportunities simply because the process felt intimidating or unclear. So I built a firm that makes it simple, strategic, and human.
What makes SoSheBuilds unique is our approach. We blend structure and style. We bring clarity, design, and strategy together so that business owners not only qualify for contracts but also look and operate like the agencies they want to work with.
Right now, we’re focused on helping more women- and minority-owned firms get certified, market themselves effectively, and start winning. It’s about empowerment through structure, and that’s what SoSheBuilds stands for.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, I started my first project management firm years before meeting my husband. But he was the one who saw the bigger version of me before I ever did. He looked at everything I was doing and said, “You’re just getting started.”
He’s been my biggest supporter, the one who reminds me that I’m capable of more, even when I’m already giving my all. His belief pushed me to think bigger, take risks, and step fully into my purpose.
When someone sees your potential before you’ve grown into it, it lights a fire in you. That’s what he did for me — he helped me realize that my vision wasn’t too big, it just needed the right foundation. And that’s what SoSheBuilds is all about – building what you dream of, even before the world can see it.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her: You’re not too much – you’re just early. The passion, the ideas, the drive to build something meaningful, it’s all going to make sense one day. You don’t have to shrink to fit in rooms that weren’t built for you. Keep your standards high, trust your instincts, and know that the right people and opportunities will meet you where you’re going. Everything you’re working toward is already yours, it just needs time to unfold.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. The public version of me is the real me — just a more structured version. What you see online or in business is who I truly am: driven, intentional, and passionate about helping others build. But behind the polished strategy and branding, I’m also human — I have quiet moments and I’m constantly learning.
I don’t believe in creating a “persona.” I believe in refinement — showing up as the same person in every room, just with a different level of focus depending on the space. The woman you see building SoSheBuilds is the same one who’s at home journaling ideas in sweats with her cats nearby — both versions are real, and both matter.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I built something that mattered, not just in business, but in the way I made others feel capable of more. That I showed what it looks like to create with integrity, to lead with vision, and to do it all without losing your authenticity or softness.
I want my story to remind people, especially women — that you can design a life on your own terms, build with purpose, and still stay grounded in who you are. I hope they say, “She didn’t just build companies — she built confidence, clarity, and possibility in others”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soshebuilds.com
- Instagram: soshebuilds
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soshebuilds
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
