What does it really take to turn a guilty pleasure into a global brand, and why do the “crazy” ideas often become the ones that change your life?
In this episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I sit down with Georgiana Ghiciuc, a powerhouse entrepreneur whose career has spanned academia, digital marketing, employer branding, and now high fashion. Georgiana opens up about how burnout and self-doubt pushed her to reinvent herself, how a pair of fuchsia satin stilettos became the cornerstone of her business, and why adaptability is the key to thriving in both life and entrepreneurship.
Whether you’re chasing a passion project, doubting your next move, or needing the courage to take the first small step, this conversation will inspire you to embrace change, trust your vision, and bet on yourself.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why embracing change leads to growth (even when it feels scary)
• How “insane” ideas can open surprising doors
• The power of small, consistent steps in building a dream business
• Why adaptability is every entrepreneur’s secret weapon
• What it’s really like to launch a fashion brand from scratch
• The advice Georgiana would give her 17-year-old self
• Her top book recommendations that shaped her journey (Range by David Epstein and Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)
👠 Check out MAD Shoes here https://madshoes.ro
Georgiana Ghiciuc is a Romanian entrepreneur, storyteller, and founder of MAD Shoes, a luxury footwear brand featured in British Vogue. With a career spanning academia, digital marketing, and employer branding, she has helped over 40 global tech companies grow their voice before reinventing herself in fashion. Today, she designs bold, expressive shoes for women who love originality, proving that true entrepreneurship is about curiosity, reinvention, and turning passion into business.
In this episode:
00:00 – Welcome + Georgiana’s Vogue UK feature
01:10 – From academia to fashion: the unexpected career turn
03:00 – Embracing change & adaptability as an entrepreneur
04:40 – How MAD Shoes began with one bold prototype
06:50 – Doubts, setbacks & first big wins from global stylists
12:20 – Advice to students & young professionals starting out
16:00 – From guilty pleasure to global fashion business
21:50 – The hardest & most surprising challenges in fashion
25:40 – Why entrepreneurship feels like freedom (and why it isn’t)
27:40 – The advice Georgiana would give her 17-year-old self
31:00 – Georgiana’s top 2 book recommendations (Range + Alice in Wonderland)
34:00 – Final advice to embrace patience and the process
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📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast
🌐 Find out more about Sonia: www.soniamarta.com
📲 Follow Sonia’s journey on Instagram: @soniamartaauthor | Linktree