Success doesn’t come from trying to impress everyone.

It comes from finding your people and building with them in real time.

In this episode of She Wears the Pants, Ashley Deland sits down with entrepreneur, real estate investor, and EmpowerHER podcast host Kacia Ghetmiri for an honest conversation about building businesses through authenticity, transparency, and community.

Kacia is known for creating one of the most relatable personal development podcasts for women, reaching more than 11 million downloads by speaking openly about entrepreneurship, identity, and growth in real time. Rather than positioning herself as someone who has everything figured out, she built her platform by inviting women to figure it out alongside her.

Together, Ashley and Kacia explore what happens when you stop chasing external validation and start building a business that reflects who you actually are.

From stepping away from a six-figure corporate career at Google to building multiple businesses, scaling a real estate investment portfolio with her husband, and navigating motherhood while evolving as an entrepreneur, Kacia shares the real lessons behind sustainable growth.

This conversation is for the woman who is building something meaningful and wants to do it without performing, posturing, or pretending to have it all figured out.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why finding “your people” is the foundation of a powerful personal brand

• The strategy and psychology behind building in public

• How external validation and vanity metrics quietly limit growth

• The difference between authentic leadership and performative authority

• Pivoting your business when the version of you who built it begins to evolve

• Creating wealth and freedom through real estate investing

Kacia also shares her perspective on motherhood, entrepreneurship, and why honoring the season you’re in is essential for long-term fulfillment.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between the version of success you built and the one you’re evolving toward, this episode will remind you that growth often requires letting go of the way things used to work.

Because the most powerful businesses are built by women who are willing to evolve.

Meet Kacia Ghetmiri

Kacia Ghetmiri is an entrepreneur, speaker, real estate investor, and host of the top-ranked EmpowerHER Podcast, a community-driven show focused on personal growth, business, and mindset that has reached over 11 million downloads worldwide.

After leaving a six-figure corporate career at Google, Kacia built multiple businesses helping women launch podcasts, create community-driven brands, and step into entrepreneurship. She now focuses on real estate investing and helping high-income professionals create financial freedom through strategic property investments.

Her mission is to empower women to build lives and businesses that align with who they truly are.

Connect with Kacia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kacia.ghetmiri/

Podcast: EmpowerHER Podcast

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Ashley Deland (Participant 1):

Welcome to She Wears the Pants — the podcast that celebrates and empowers female founders at every stage of their journey, from launching groundbreaking startups to creating lasting legacies.

I’m Ashley Deland, business advisor with over a decade of experience driving more than $25 million in revenue for my clients and collaborating with top industry leaders. Together, we’re redefining what’s possible — because it’s more than wearing the pants. It’s about rewriting the rules and becoming unstoppable.

Welcome back to She Wears the Pants — the place where high-growth women come to build companies and lives that actually work.

Today’s guest is the kind of woman whose energy is contagious, honest, and disruptively real. The kind of woman who doesn’t just talk about potential — she lives in it.

I’m thrilled to welcome Kacia Ghetmiri: wife, mama, entrepreneur of 11 years, licensed real estate agent, real estate investor, and host of the top-rated EmpowerHER podcast — an unfiltered space that’s reached over 11 million downloads.

Kacia built her community by figuring it out with women in real time — with laughter, tears, and hard-earned insight. From stepping away from a six-figure corporate career to scaling a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio with her husband, she is living proof of what’s possible when you refuse to settle for “good enough.”

Kacia, I’m so happy to have you here. Welcome.

Kacia Ghetmiri (Participant 2):

Ashley, I’m so excited for us to have a raw, juicy conversation — because that’s what you’re all about, and it’s the only kind of conversation you and I ever have. Thank you for having me.

Ashley Deland:

You probably hear this a lot, but you are such a breath of fresh air. You’re living proof. You’re just… Kacia.

I’m honored to have you here and to share your energy with the women listening — especially as proof of possibility.

Let’s start with your background. How did you get started in entrepreneurship?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

I did what I think a lot of women will resonate with — I did the thing I thought I was supposed to do.

On paper, it made sense. I got there, looked around, and thought, “Oh shit… this is not for me.”

I’d say things to my girlfriends and even my then-boyfriend (now husband) — who was on a path to becoming a dentist — like, “This doesn’t feel right. Why does this look good, yet feel so unfulfilling?”

I was in the wrong lane.

And I think we don’t always give ourselves permission to leave something that’s “good,” especially when other people would call it great.

But if you know internally it’s unaligned, none of the external validation matters — the money, the praise, the clapping. If you know you need to get off that path, you need to get off that path.

So I didn’t jump and hope the net appears. We moved from Seattle to New York City for my husband to go to dental school at NYU, and I was financially supporting both of us. I wasn’t going to quit and hope it worked.

I built my first business before and after work.

And it took off because I decided to do it my way.

Most of the leaders in that space were stay-at-home moms with back-against-the-wall stories — fitness-obsessed. And I was like, “I’m a corporate girl. No kids. Not married. I want to lose ten pounds because I drink too much wine at happy hour — and I’m also making six figures.”

So I thought: why don’t I just find my people?

That became everything. I got really good at finding my people and building a personal brand that felt like, “Come with me. Let’s figure life out together.”

That business became extremely profitable. I was making over $400K a year in my twenties, speaking on stages to thousands of people — external validation everywhere.

And yet I felt it again: this isn’t my path.

The hard part was I didn’t know what the next thing was.

Because I couldn’t find podcasts that felt like girlfriends talking in real time. Everything I heard felt like hindsight advice — “back when I was in that stage…” and I was thinking, “Who is in this with me right now? Who’s ugly crying on their bathroom floor?”

So I created it.

Eventually I got to a point where I thought: we’re making great money, but it requires me to be on all the time.

So we started investing in real estate. My husband left dentistry because he hated it. And now we’re in a totally different life.

Looking back, it started with my gut — and tuning out the noise.

Your gut is a whisper at first. And if you don’t listen, it becomes a two-by-four to the face.

Ashley Deland:

It will bulldoze your life if you ignore it — truly.

You said a few things I want to highlight.

One: you were doing trend analysis before you even knew it — that visionary ability to see what’s coming.

Two: you equate so much of your success to finding your people and speaking to them differently than traditional marketing.

And three: you mentioned external validation. We’re not skipping that.

Would you say your success came from finding your people and speaking to them directly?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

One hundred percent.

And it’s because I’m speaking the way I want to be spoken to, instead of trying to posture as an authority.

A lot of people try to position themselves like they’ve got everything figured out — perfect mom, perfect business, perfect health, perfect marriage, perfect sex life. And I’m like… no.

No one is crushing every area of life at the same time.

Perfection disconnects people. People want to connect with people.

I never said, “I have all the answers.” I said, “I don’t have all the answers. I’m not afraid to say I don’t know. And I’m resourceful — I’ll go find it, and we’ll talk about it together.”

That’s why I never really struggled with imposter syndrome, because I wasn’t pretending.

This is who I am. Either you like it or you don’t — and that’s okay.

And the people you’re right for? They become lifers.

Being you is the secret sauce — once you remove the noise and the comparison.

Ashley Deland:

You also build in public — which I think is genius.

You’ll literally say, “You want this? Cool. I don’t know how yet — and I’m going to build it in front of you.”

What are the pros and cons of creating that way?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

For me, it’s ridiculously fun. And joy is a compass.

I’m obsessed with falling in love with the process, not just what the process produces — because if you’re living aligned, where you think you’re going can change. If I’m process-focused, pivoting doesn’t feel like loss.

Pros: real-time market research.

Whenever I created courses, masterminds, events, I’d say, “I’m thinking about doing this. Would you be into it? This way or this way?” I’d ask on Instagram stories, ask on the podcast — and people felt like they co-created it with me.

I’ve seen a lot of people build behind closed doors and then launch and hear crickets. People didn’t even know it was coming.

When your audience watches you build it — and they shaped it — they buy because it feels like it was made for them.

Cons: you have to be comfortable creating in public.

Our culture rewards the polished end product, not the messy middle. So at first it feels weird because you think being polished is what builds trust.

In my experience, it’s the opposite.

The other piece is boundaries. You have to have parameters around accessibility and energy. Otherwise you can drain yourself trying to be available everywhere.

Ashley Deland:

That’s it. Listening is service.

So let’s go to the external validation piece: where do you see entrepreneurs still operating for validation?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

You see it everywhere.

People post content they didn’t write. They suddenly sound like someone else. People can feel incongruence instantly.

And consumers are smart. We know the “only two spots left” thing. Then suddenly there are two more spots. People know what’s happening.

When you’re focused on external validation, you miss opportunities to build real trust.

Also, vanity metrics can distort reality.

I’m experiencing this in real time as I pivot into real estate investing. The demographic I serve now — high-income W-2 earners and business owners — often doesn’t like or comment. They DM. They book calls. They move quietly.

So if I was motivated by validation, I’d panic about engagement.

But the goal is connection with the right people.

People use Instagram like a search engine now. They type your name, they want to see what you’re about. They want consistency and clarity, not viral quotes.

Ashley Deland:

In 2026, it feels like the shift is transparency, rawness, reality — especially with AI everywhere.

Kacia Ghetmiri:

I’ve thought about this a lot because I’ve been in podcasting, courses, masterminds, events, speaking — online education — for a long time.

Part of the reason I pivoted is because I stopped feeling connected to the person I used to serve.

I used to run a course where I took 25 women a month for five years — sometimes 50 — helping them launch a podcast in four weeks.

A lot of the questions were beginner questions — “Do people want to hear my story? I’m nervous to be seen.”

And I realized: I’m no longer at the start line with her. And that matters, because I love serving from lived connection.

Ashley Deland:

From the outside, because you’re so transparent and you build in real time, what is something people wouldn’t guess about you?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

I’m private in a way people don’t expect.

I’m open about a lot, and I like social media — but I also unplug completely. I don’t consume. I don’t keep up. I have strong boundaries and I don’t put pressure on myself.

I think in earlier seasons I told myself I had to show up constantly because consistency was everything.

Now, I’d rather show up with full energy than force myself when I’m depleted.

At the time we’re recording this, I have a two-year-old and I’m 17 weeks pregnant. If I don’t have the energy, I don’t care — I’m not forcing it.

Ashley Deland:

I love that.

You are a true girl’s girl — a woman who supports, advocates, and serves. That energy is part of the powerhouse behind you.

What are the top principles you used to build by — and how have they changed?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

Early on, I came from network marketing, and so much was drilled into me: consistency, hustle, always showing up.

I had an all-or-nothing mentality.

I also didn’t understand that people are wired differently. I assumed everyone would be motivated like me.

Over time, as a leader, I had to become really good at being me — and help others become really good at being them.

Because your strengths and differences attract your people.

I was a hustler. And I respect that version of me deeply.

I don’t build that way now — it doesn’t align with being a wife and parent. But I’m grateful I have that “hustler” in me. She gives me safety. If things ever hit the fan, I know she’s still there.

New season, new scoreboard.

And also — hard things create pride. We don’t brag about the easy stuff. We set goals because we want the feeling we think we’ll get by accomplishing them.

Sometimes the “hard” now is letting go of how you did it before. Rejecting the old way and trusting yourself to figure out the new way.

That’s where the pride comes from.

Ashley Deland:

So what does success look like for you now — especially as you pivot into real estate investing?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

Success now is loving who I am while I’m doing the thing.

I had a season where I swung hard into motherhood because I wanted to give myself the experience. I needed to scratch the itch — to see if that was aligned.

And it wasn’t.

I love my son. I’m so grateful to be pregnant again after a long fertility journey.

And I’m also not fulfilled if I’m not creating and building outside motherhood.

I believe our kids choose us. My son needs to see me be the most me I can be. He chose an entrepreneurial mom.

I want the juggle. I want to be challenged. That’s what fulfills me.

I can play trucks with full energy for two hours. I’m a great mom — and part of that is because I know how important it is to light myself up too.

Ashley Deland:

Let’s talk about real estate investing. For women listening who feel this pull, where are you now?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

Everything in my business required me to be on — my voice, my face, my energy.

A friend asked me: “Do you want to build this to sell it? Or are you going to be on this hamster wheel forever?”

That hit.

I didn’t want to change the model by bringing in other coaches. So I thought: let’s take the capital from this business and build another business that doesn’t require me to be on.

So we poured income into real estate.

What’s interesting: with my first pregnancy, I was calm — “keep things steady, evolve slowly.”

With pregnancy number two, I felt urgency: figure it out now. I pictured a future me with a toddler and a newborn, unsure of what I wanted — and I didn’t want to be stuck there.

So in my first trimester, I got my real estate license in Colorado and joined a brokerage focused on investment properties.

Now I work primarily with high-income W-2 earners who want to invest — short-term rentals, investment properties in Colorado — and business owners who want their money to work for them.

And I still have my podcast — because I love it.

Ashley Deland:

I remember being in that hotel room together, talking about fertility and the future — and even then, your passion for real estate was undeniable.

This feels like you coming home to something that’s always been in you.

To wrap us up, our signature She Wears the Pants question:

Looking back on your journey of wearing the pants, what message do you want to relay for future generations of women in business?

Kacia Ghetmiri:

If you’re listening to this podcast, you probably have a big vision of where you want to go.

It’s easy to get caught up in the distance between where you are now and where you want to be — especially because you’ll likely keep moving the goalpost.

So I want you to pay attention to how you label that space.

Is it intimidating? Overwhelming? Are you creating stories about why you can’t do it?

Because future you has it handled.

Future you has more experience. More confidence. More resources. She’s been around the block.

You figure out what you need to know on the path.

So if you’re going to use your imagination, don’t use it to create stories about why you’re incapable.

You’re the only person you’ll spend every second with for the rest of your life. Be on your own team. Hype yourself up.

You wouldn’t have been gifted this vision without being gifted the resourcefulness to figure out the “how.”

Stay the path. Fall in love with the path.

And trust: it won’t work out exactly the way you planned — it will be a thousand times better.

Ashley Deland:

I agree. That path is meant for you.

Kacia, thank you for sharing your wisdom and your energy. We’re going to put all the ways people can follow you and connect with you in the show notes.

I genuinely appreciate you being here today.

Kacia Ghetmiri:

Thank you so much. I adore you.

Ashley Deland:

Thank you for tuning into another episode of She Wears the Pants. If today’s insights ignited something in you, share this episode with a friend — and don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe so you never miss another powerful conversation.

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Remember: you have the power to shape your success story. Keep pushing boundaries, embracing your vision, and turning your dreams into reality.

Until next time — stay unstoppable.