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 advantageNotable 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.”