A recent interview featuring yours truly...

                                                                         Tricia Steffes (LC Images)

I was recently asked by a local Kansas City magazine for an interview.  I welcome you to read my interview below to learn more about me and my company, Elevate.

Tricia Steffes is a 32 year-old passionate entrepreneur and mother.  Tricia graduated with an MBA from Stephens College.  Tricia has a magnificent obsession with philanthropy and child advocacy, as well as growing her business, her family, reading, cooking, learning Italian and running.  Currently the Founder and CEO of Elevate, a clothing line tailored to tall women, Tricia has goals to grow her business to become a leader in design for tall women's clothing. 

 

Learn how Tricia turned her entrepreneurial mindset into reality:

Give us your “elevator pitch” (What you do, who you are, where you’re from).

I’m Tricia Steffes and I am from Kansas City, MO (Go Royals).  I started my business in 2011 as a result of absolute frustration with the selection in tall women’s fashion.    After an unfruitful shopping trip to New York in 2010, I made the decision to start a clothing company tailored to tall women.  I originally started my business model with the idea of sourcing clothing and footwear tailored to tall women for my online boutique and quickly realized the deficiency that exists in the market for tall women’s fashion is beyond the consumer market and as a result, I dove into designing our own line of clothing, the Madeline Lubrano Collection, named after my great aunt from Malta.

If you could spend one day with any famous person (past or present), who would it be?

If I could spend one day with any famous person, other than Jesus of course, it would be John Wooden; one of the most revered coaches in the history of sports.  The world would be a better place if each of us adopted his approach to coaching as well as his outlook on life.  I have read every book every written by and about John. 

John’s life was a love letter.  Basketball, coaching and teaching were important to him, but nothing meant more to him than his wife, Nellie.  He wrote her a love letter on the 21^st of every month to mark her death.  Man after my own heart!  

Do you feel college and post grad education is essential for success? Why or why not?

I absolutely think college is essential for success for most people – but not everyone.  I learned so much more from life experiences and my career than I did from college, but I certainly think it is imperative to lay a solid foundation for a career with a college degree.  I will encourage my girls to do so, despite what path they may take in their life.

What’s your favorite book?

Well this is a hard one, because honestly I have an insatiable appetite for reading and so many different books have impacted my life.  I can’t honestly name a favorite, outside of the one book that always offers me guidance and meaning in my life, the Bible. 

 

What causes or organizations are your passionate about?

I’m most passionate about child advocacy.  Hands down, this has always been and will always remain a cause that I pursue with tenacity.  I believe that children need advocates and they need others to be their voice.  I believe that we are called to care for widows and orphans and I will do everything in my power to contribute to eliminating children in poverty, to help destroy hunger, to remove them from homes filled with abuse and neglect and to help orphans find their forever home. 

What’s your favorite quote?

“Make everyday your Masterpiece.” - John Wooden

Describe your dream vacation.

Besides visiting my family in Malta (island off of Sicily) any chance I get, my dream vacation would be eating and drinking my way through Italy.  Bunking with the locals and making lifelong friends during my visit.  I would make sure my girls joined me so that I can instill in them the love for travel. 

Where do you see yourself in 25 years?

In 25 years, I envision myself as a grandmother, serial entrepreneur, managing my foundation that will touch the lives of children worldwide, more specifically orphans and traveling the world for business and pleasure. 

What’s currently on your radar? Tell us about your latest project.

Well, I have to tame this entrepreneurial mind of mine from time to time.  With that said, I am working on a large project that I am thrilled about and will announce soon.  Until then, bringing the clothing line out of production and growing the number of designs in our line is my latest project and one that is important for the growth of my business. 

Any advice for recent college grads?

Building a strong network is so important to college graduates…I can’t stress that enough.  I believe this will not only open many doors to opportunity, but will help lay the foundation to a very successful career.  Oh and one last and very important piece of advice, I encourage college graduates to find a Nonprofit organization that they are passionate about and get involved whether it is through volunteer work, sitting on a committee or sitting on the Board.  It is incredibly rewarding!