“The first thing déjà vu leaders do to succeed is to listen to their hearts and invest in their inner desires and drives,” so writes Dr. Henry Cloud in his book 9 Things a Leader Must Do.

This is exactly what good friends Jenny Legarda and Anna Abes did. A year ago, while having breakfast with friends, talk veered to shoes and bags. “Anna had the experience in selling at bazaars while I had the shoe manufacturing facility,” says Jenny. “We both shared the same passion for shoes and bags, and the acquisition of well made and fashionable shoes and bags without depleting our bank accounts was our obsession.” And so a business was born to give other ladies what they were obsessing about.

Teal Shoes and Bags basically targets women like Jenny and Anna, who like stumbling on great “finds,” are fashion forward, and yet are conscious of their budget. Both of them brainstorm on the designs of their products. “Basically we design shoes that we ourselves would wear or something that we see our friends in. We get inspiration from everything: artworks, interiors, people we meet, our lifestyle, our current needs and wants, trends, everything,” shares Jenny.

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