2024

Isabella Espinosa

Founder and Creative Director, BAOBAB Swim

“if we don’t fight gender inequality, we’re going to be perpetuating cycles of violence and poverty.”

What do you feel, in your opinion, are the qualities of a Power Woman?

I’ll say that a Power Woman is someone capable of uplifting her community, someone that’s able to create change and make a positive impact that transcends her life. I’ll say that as what a Power Woman means to me.

Because of the polarizing society that we live in, the threat to democracy is actually taking place globally. If not in our democracy itself, what actions can we take to bring the various fractious situations together?

I’ll say first of all I think we have to prioritize an open and diverse dialogue, because we have to understand that all perspectives and all points of view are valid. So instead of diminishing someone else’s point of view, or someone else that thinks differently, we should strive to understand that their point of view comes from their upbringing, their core values, their perspective that is shaped by their unique life experiences, their cultural background. So I’ll say that a democracy is specifically built on different thoughts and ideas. So that is the only way to foster a constructive dialogue and a constructive conversation that we will value moving forward as an inclusive society. We don’t take in the different and the opponents’ opinion, then we will stick to one’s own ideas and we will not be able to create a constructive dialogue, which is the ground foundation for democracy. So I’ll say just leaning into understanding that everyone’s point of view is valid.

I would say also, trying to convince the other person that having another point of view with empathy. Understanding where their perspective and point of view are coming from, and that their perspective is built up from their life experience, their community, their core values. So we need to take that into the conversation so we can really build up a community and a society in which everyone can take place.

Why is the pursuit for gender equality most pressing, and is it in your opinion, most pressing?

Of course. Of course it is because, first of all, inequality of all kinds is the fundamental cause behind all of these pressing issues. Gender equality, specifically, fills disparities in innovation, economic opportunities, political representation. So if we don’t fight gender inequality, we’re going to be perpetuating cycles of violence and poverty. So, fighting for gender equality actually creates this ripple effect in which you are solving those pressing issues by fighting the gender inequality issue. So, of course, this is a very pressing issue, and it’s actually the root and the main cause that leads to the other pressing issues nowadays.

What do you think is the number one action in society that we can take towards empowering women and gender equality. Like affirmative action, what do you feel is important on the best way to take that next step forward?

For me, the answer would be education. Not only education for women, to give them, obviously, the skills necessary to go out and compete in this nowadays market, but also education for men as well, so they can know and understand that gender inequality leads us as a nation previously to poverty and violence. So in order to foster real positive and meaningful social change, which is what we ultimately want as men, women, and society as a whole, we need to fight gender inequality first. That way, we can, through education, join forces together, men and women, and create change through collective action. So the first step is to focus on education for women, and for men as well, regarding this pressing issue.

Do you have a personal story where you have experienced some kind of inequality related to gender, or a personal anecdote or experience. Is this something you feel you could share or bring to the table?

I think that I must say that in many cases, I have been lucky to never face a disadvantage due to my gender. While I have witnessed gender violence in various sectors of life, I believe that my journey is a testament to how family values and lessons make you understand that being a woman is actually an advantage and a strength, not a limitation. So that mindset, and if you have the family values, really give you the mindset to pursue your dreams without any hesitation. And also for me, working in the fashion industry, you can see how this industry fosters and embraces really different and diverse women’s voices. So for me, I am really thankful for having the blessing of tapping into my female gut and having that advantage in the industry where I work and in the community that I have created across Baobab. We have also had the opportunity of creating, currently, Baobab Pass, a team with 68 people, and 64 of them are women. They’re all in leading role positions, they’re all directors. We have a few men who give us support in the warehouse. But for me, that can really serve as a testament to how this industry really keeps moving forward to fight the gender inequality issue that is present among us, but not as hard on the fashion industry.

Studies have shown that a female presence in a boardroom increases the bottom line because of the approach women have. What do you feel, in continuing the support and enhancing the growth and presence of women in high positions in that space, how do you feel we can create a more healthier environment?

I will say education is the answer here again, because how can we viralize this study that you mention? How can we spread this study and educate people—decision makers, employees, about the study that you have just mentioned? How can we create a global campaign, a marketing strategy, a really powerful storytelling moment to advertise the needs and the benefits for a company to have women in the board of directors, decision-making positions, and basically, throughout these entire organizations. How can we use social media as a tool for change to tap into this new era and the limitless possibilities so we can spread the word around the world? So basically, for me it would be how can we further educate about these very important studies that are now science, and how can we show men and women from different backgrounds, through different companies around the world, the benefits from creating more friendly environments for women to develop inside those organizations?

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?

Oh my god, that is actually the quote that I wrote to the photoshoot questions. It was a quote that my grandma used to repeat to me several, several times when I was a child, and it’s “faith isn’t blind. It’s visionary.” And for me that really sums up all, because if you believe in what you do, and you have faith in what you believe, nothing will ever interfere in your path, so every time I’m having a difficult time, or every time I’m really trying to understand if things are going to work through or not, I think about that quote that says, “faith isn’t blind, it’s visionary.” I just put all of my effort, all of my focus, all of my manifestation toward the goal that I want to achieve, and I leave all the other work to the universe. I just understand that things are going to work out the way they’re supposed to, and I’m not gonna fight them, I’m just going to flow and understand that faith isn’t blind, it’s visionary.

What do you feel was the journey that you had that brought you to where you are today? What was the impact that made that happen?

Yes, I think that answer is going to be a little bit funny, because I think that the tipping point that got me here was actually becoming a lawyer. I believe that is super counterintuitive. But a lot of people always ask me if now that I know that I’m a founder and CEO of a fashion company, if I would have chosen a different career—perhaps something in design, or business? But I do believe that each journey is unique, and I would have never chosen a different career, because I truly believe that law school instilled in me an awareness for the need to disrupt. And years of critical thinking were the perfect backdrop, the perfect scenario of understanding fashion as a tool for change. So I wanted to feel something that answered a single question: How can we make a difference? And, actually approaching the industry from outside, really allows me to believe that something else and something different can be done. And for that, my goal from the very beginning was how to revolutionize the fashion industry. How can you see fashion as a tool for change? And we have come up with a solution and the idea of challenging a community to create a business from something that was previously considered to be waste.

So, since we aim to be the first zero-waste brand in the world, we are now providing deadstock textiles and scraps that are left from our cutting process to a community of entrepreneurs, artists, and different creative minds, so they can transform waste into iconic pieces, and then we can invest in their ideas, so we can sponsor a scalable solution to turn waste into now scalable businesses. And that is how we want to transcend our brand, our goal, our industry, and we can create a circular mission through the brand. So actually, that is something that law school has given me: this ability or this necessity of thinking from different angles and different perspectives. So I believe that the main thing that got me here to where I am today, is actually being a lawyer.

If you could have somebody else’s job for a day, who would it be, and why?

That is a hard question because I have done so much to get to where I am now that I really completely love what I’m allowed to do every day. But if I had to for just one day do something different, I’d say I’d like to be a wildlife conservationist in Africa. I truly believe that mission taps into something that’s really deep into my heart and that this mission’s really close to my heart; I’m really passionate about wildlife and I believe that Baobab is playing its role to contributing to make a positive impact by leaving less waste in the world, and I could in a way, contribute to another cause that really allows us to create a bigger impact on the planet and the environment, I’d say I’d be for one day only a wildlife conservationist.

Could you tell me your favorite book?

My favorite book is actually Shoe Dog from Phil Knight. It’s this beautiful, exciting biography about how he built this Nike empire. This is a very sincere and a very deep story of all of his mistakes, all of the things that got him where he is right now, so I would say that it’s the most inspiring, fun and amazing book I have ever read in my life.

What do you most value in friendship, or in friends?

I’ll say authenticity. That’s really what allows you to get deep and to have genuine connections. Authenticity.

What trait do you most feel uncomfortable in yourself and in others?

Okay, myself, I’ll say I’m a little bit impatient, so sometimes that really makes me think and go out thinking of what I wish would happen now, and sometimes that disconnects me from what is happening in the time being. That’s something that I have been really focusing on for the time now, which is really allowing me to be present, enjoy the process and what is happening now, instead of being impatient and always thinking about what needs to happen next.

What do you consider is the most overrated virtue?

I’ll say talent. And I think that’s a weird question, but I do believe that persistence and discipline really adds up to the entire picture. You can have talent, but if you don’t have persistence, strategy, and passion for what you do, that talent can get a bit lost on the way. So discipline and persistence eats what talent can bring you in life.