Julie Colombino isn’t interested in charity. She’s interested in changing lives, and she knows those aren’t the same thing.
As the founder of Deux Mains, a sustainable fashion company creating handcrafted bags in Haiti, Julie has spent years building a case for what ethical business actually looks like in practice. Her artisans, many of them women supporting entire families, aren’t recipients of aid. They’re skilled professionals earning dignified wages, building futures, and dismantling the idea that poverty requires pity rather than opportunity.
Her path here wasn’t a straight line. Shaped by personal loss, infertility, and the kind of challenges that either break you or forge you into something stronger, Julie has built a business and a life that refuse to separate purpose from profit. Or personal healing from professional growth.
In this conversation, she’s candid about what it really takes to run an ethical company in today’s market: the emotional weight of responsibility, the discipline of personal branding without pretense, and the daily practice of staying true to your values when scaling would be easier if you compromised. She also talks about the resilient women she employs and how her own struggle with infertility reshaped her definition of success.
For women navigating the tension between achievement and well-being, Julie’s story offers something rare: proof that you don’t have to choose between impact and integrity. That true leadership isn’t about holding everything together. It’s about knowing when to let go, and what to build when you do.
Julie Colombino, Founder of Deux Mains
You’ve established yourself as a thought leader in the ethical fashion and women’s empowerment space. How did you intentionally build your personal brand, and what advice would you give to women trying to position themselves as experts in their field?
Julie: I didn’t set out to build a personal brand, I set out to tell the truth about what I was experiencing. Over time, that consistency built trust. I’ve been intentional about sharing both the wins and the challenges, speaking from lived experience rather than theory, and staying aligned with my values across every platform. My advice: don’t wait to be an “expert.” Start by being honest. Share what you’re learning, document your journey, and speak on what you know firsthand. Authority is built through consistency and clarity, not perfection.
Running a business that directly impacts dozens of families is incredibly demanding. How do you manage the emotional weight of that responsibility while maintaining your own well-being and avoiding burnout?
Julie: The responsibility is real and I don’t take it lightly. But I’ve learned that carrying it alone isn’t sustainable. I’ve built strong systems and a team I trust, and I’ve had to develop boundaries. Early on, I believed I had to hold everything. Now I understand that leadership also means letting go. Personally, I prioritize my art which is dance. I am still part of a ballet/modern dance company and enjoy performing and practicing my craft. You can’t pour from an empty cup, especially when others are depending on you. Dance reinvigorates me.
Your book From Loss to Legacy addresses turning personal hardship into purpose. Can you share how you’ve integrated your personal healing journey with building your business, and how that’s shaped your approach to work-life balance?
Julie: My journey with infertility has been one of the most personal and defining challenges of my life. It’s a kind of grief that’s often invisible, but incredibly heavy, filled with hope, loss, waiting, and questions you can’t always answer. For a long time, I tried to separate that pain from my work. But what I’ve come to understand is that healing doesn’t happen in compartments, it integrates into every part of who you are. Building Deux Mains became both an outlet and a source of meaning during a season that felt deeply uncertain. There were moments when the business gave me something to hold onto…a place where I could create, build, and see impact when other parts of my life felt out of my control. And at the same time, my personal journey softened me. It made me a more empathetic leader, more present, and more aware that success isn’t just about growth, it’s about how you live along the way.
In terms of balance, infertility forced me to redefine everything. I no longer measure my life by productivity alone. I’ve learned to honor my capacity, to make space for rest, and to recognize that some seasons are about surviving, not striving. It’s shaped how I lead, how I build, and how I care for myself. My life and my work are no longer separate, they’re aligned. And that alignment has been one of the most important parts of my healing.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about time management and prioritization while building Deux Mains? What would you tell women who feel stretched too thin between professional ambitions and personal life?
Julie: Not everything deserves your energy. Early on, I said yes to everything. Over time, I realized that focus is one of the most powerful tools an entrepreneur has. The biggest growth has come from doing fewer things, better. For women feeling stretched thin: give yourself permission to prioritize. You don’t have to do everything at once. Clarity around what truly moves the needle will free up more space than working harder ever will.
You work with women in Haiti who are often the sole breadwinners for their families, a reality many of our members also face. What have these women taught you about resilience, and how has that influenced your own leadership?
Julie: They’ve taught me that resilience isn’t loud, it’s steady. These women show up every day, despite challenges most people can’t imagine, and they do it with strength and grace. They don’t wait for perfect conditions, they move forward with what they have. That has deeply influenced my leadership. It’s taught me to stay grounded, to focus on progress over perfection, and to lead with humility.
If you could mentor your younger self at the beginning of this journey, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give her about navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship while staying true to your values?
Julie: I spent a lot of time second-guessing, seeking external validation, and overthinking decisions. The truth is, you often know the right next step, you just have to be willing to take it.
Looking at where Deux Mains is today versus where you want it to be in five years, what does success look like to you, both professionally and personally? How do you define the legacy you’re building?
Julie: Success looks like scale with integrity. Professionally, it means significantly increasing the number of jobs we’re creating in Haiti, expanding our product reach, and growing our School Shoes Fund to impact thousands of children. Personally, success means building all of that without losing myself in the process, staying present, healthy, and connected to why I started. Legacy, for me, is about creating something that outlives me…opportunity, dignity, and systems that continue to empower women long after I’m gone.
Lastly, is there a specific mantra, quote, or affirmation that you hold close to your heart?
Julie: I tell myself every day to be relentless in the belief that access to work is one of the greatest human rights.
