EP 021: 26 Years of Lessons: Building a Profitable Stationery Brand with Karen Adams

What happens when a creative calling, a family-first season, and a bold business pivot collide? In this episode of Big Girl Panties and Other Business Essentials, Amy sits down inside the stunning home of Karen Adams, founder of Karen Adams Designs, to unpack the real story behind building a luxury stationery + invitation brand—from early nonprofit event invitations to weathering major leadership tension, the 2008 economic downturn, and the hard-earned shift from custom work to scalable products. If you’re a creative entrepreneur, female founder, or faith-driven business owner trying to grow a brand without losing yourself in the process, Karen’s journey will give you both courage and clarity—especially if you’ve ever felt the stomach-knot stress of conflict, the pressure of making payroll, or the fear of starting without “wins.” You’ll hear how Karen learned to trust her gut, protect her creative energy, build a team of women she’s proud to employ, and create a business culture rooted in joy, dignity, and real-life sustainability. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to Pivot Without Panicking (The 2008 Reinvention) How to Lead With Both Profit and People in Mind The Confidence Curve: Why Your Best Leadership Comes Later And so much more... Links Mentioned Karen Adams Designs #WomenInBusiness #FaithAndBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #CreativeEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessOwner #FemaleFounder #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #CreativeBusiness #BrandBuilding #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #ProductBasedBusiness #ScalingASmallBusiness #StartBeforeYoureReady #BigGirlPantiesPodcast