Defying The Odds

Fixing Fashion from the Heel Up: Tina Wright’s Journey from Mom Life to Market Disruptor

Abby Vaden Season 2 Episode 6

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In this episode of Defying the Odds, host Abby sits down with Tina Wright, founder of The Heel Sling™—the innovative, doctor-endorsed shoe insert that’s redefining comfort and fit for women everywhere.


Tina shares her inspiring story of going from stay-at-home mom to startup founder after watching her daughter struggle with the same heel slippage that plagued her for years. What started as a DIY solution turned into a patented product now endorsed by orthopedic surgeons and praised by fashionistas.


Abby and Tina dive into:


  • The “aha” moment that led to The Heel Sling™
  • Navigating entrepreneurship as a Black woman founder
  • The challenges of sourcing, manufacturing, and breaking into retail
  • Why customization is the future of fashion
  • And Tina’s advice for any woman sitting on an idea she can’t stop thinking about



This is more than a conversation about shoes—it’s about perseverance, purpose, and proving that innovation can come from anywhere.

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