We had the good fortune of connecting with Gigi Leberger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gigi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After working in a manager setting at Dutch Bros Coffee for several years, I soon realized I wanted more independence and time in my schedule. To be in control of my own decisions, schedule, and vision. I believed that starting my own business would give me the freedom to work on what mattered most to me while also allowing me to create something unique and valuable.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career has been a long journey of continuous growth, learning, and revelation. 

At age 17, I got a job at Dutch Bros Northern Colorado. A job in coffee was familiar to me as my older brother and sister both grew up working as barista.

In addition, I always wanted to work in the medical field. I graduated High School at Fossil Ridge in 2020 and was unfortunately in the graduating class when the COVID pandemic swept across the country. I dreamed about studying in Hawaii but that got shot down pretty quickly when the whole country went into a lockdown. So, I decided to enroll in the local community college for Nursing.

I have always struggled with where I wanted to be in my life. I either wanted to become a nurse or an owner/operator at Dutch Bros. But when college didn’t pan out for me, I chose to put all my effort into my job. I worked for the company for 6 years, and after that time I realized the chance at becoming an operator wasn’t going to materialize. I was miserable and lost all passion for the company. I felt like I was drowning with no direction to go. So thats when I quit my job and started to pursue something completely different. And swimwear was something that was familiar to me as I lived in a bikini since a child and have purchased countless pieces.

Etolie Swimwear was started from my love for the ocean and how I had a very hard time finding a swimwear brand that wasn’t outrageously expensive, simplistic, and functional as I am someone who has lived in the water. I am a professional sun bather. lol So of course having my own swimsuit line made perfect sense.

Swimwear should make you feel like a star and should accentuate your unique features. I’m thrilled about the new collection I just produced, and I’m excited to see how my business will continue to evolve in the coming years. 

I didn’t get here overnight. It was a combination of hard work, learning from my mistakes, and being open to new opportunities. There were moments of doubt and uncertainty, but I always reminded myself of my vision and kept pushing forward, one step at a time. 

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that failure isn’t the end part of the process. I’ve also learned the importance of building a strong support network and surrounding myself with people who believed in me and challenged me to think bigger.

I want people to know that my brand is built on authenticity and passion. I hope that by sharing my journey, others will feel inspired to take a leap of faith and follow their passion. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I’d make sure we had the best time exploring the beautiful city of Fort Collins. We’d start with a relaxed brunch at the local café, Ginger and Baker with fresh pastries and mimosas, then spend the afternoon walking around Old Town, checking out the unique shops, street art, and farmers markets.

To get a bit of adventure, Horsetooth reservoir is a must. We would hop on a boat and cruise around the lake, looking at the beautiful scenery. Horsetooth Reservoir is one of the most beautiful lakes in the state and is a must see if you are visiting in Fort Collins Colorado.

To finish out our week, we would go camping in Rocky Mountain National Park, and we would not forget the marshmallows, gram crackers, and chocolate for the most delicious smores over a camp fire.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The idea for my business didn’t come from me alone. It was a combination of conversations with friends, mentors and my family.I felt that the opportunity at Dutch Bros was stagnant, and they saw my un-fulfillment with my current role.

They encouraged me to pursue my own venture, quit my job, and create a bathing suit line.

They saw the potential in the idea before I did, and I am so thankful for their unconditional support and mentorship with building my own brand, as them too, were self-employed.

Website: https://www.etolieswim.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.leberger/

Other: https://www.instagram.com/etolieswim/

Image Credits
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Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.