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Alenka’s journey began in marketing, continued in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and then took a very concrete turn into entrepreneurship into sustainable design. Today, Kaaita creates sustainable hotel slippers made from recycled materials, hand-sewn in Slovenia and designed for boutique hotels across Europe. A product that is not “single-use,” but intended for repeated use or to remain with the guest as a gift and lasting keepsake.

In the conversation, we touch on her studies, her early career beginnings including the difficult moments and rejections that did not stop her. We then move to the core: how an initial idea evolved into an entrepreneurial path, why Alenka deliberately chose a narrow niche, how a boutique business grows “by word of mouth,” why craftsmanship at Kaaita is not just sewing but also highly intellectual and creative work, and how to recover when dry spells, industry fluctuations, or the inevitable “downs” of entrepreneurship occur.

We conclude the episode with the role of mentors and highly practical advice for young entrepreneurs: focus, authenticity, proactivity, and the courage to build their own path, in their own way.

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