From Accountant to Island Designer Brand

After 30 years in a family business built on high-end craftsmanship and accounting precision, Erika Preuss walks away from comfort to rediscover herself. What begins as a sailing trip to the Virgin Islands turns into a complete reinvention, leading to the creation of Ola Kala Bags, a luxury handbag brand inspired by island living, craftsmanship, and personal transformation. In this episode, she shares how COVID, burnout, and losing herself forced a reset, and how she turned Excel sketches into a physical product sold globally. This is a story about slowing down, cutting the noise, and having the courage to change your course before life makes the decision for you.

Key Takeaways

• Reinvention is possible at any age if you are willing to leave comfort behind

• Slowing down creates clarity that busy routines destroy

• You can build a brand even with zero experience in the industry

• Creativity often exists where you least expect it

• Courage to change direction is the real competitive advantage

Notable Quotes

• “When you stop the noise, you start to find yourself again.”

• “It’s never too late to start over at any age.”

• “Look within and take note of the course you’re on.”

• “I buried the adventure girl inside me for years.”

• “Life is a journey, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”