How She Built Her Confidence, and Then an Empire with Krissy Cela | E57

In this deeply personal episode of The Diary of a CEO, Steven Bartlett sits down with Krissy Cela to explore how she built her confidence and subsequently created her empire. The conversation opens with Krissy discussing the constant pressure she felt as a woman to justify her existence and her choices, a theme that permeates much of her entrepreneurial journey.

One of the most transformative aspects of Krissy's life came through fitness. She describes how the gym became her sanctuary and tool for building confidence from the ground up. Rather than just a place to exercise, it served as a foundation for her mental resilience and self-belief. As her confidence grew, so did her ability to pursue bigger ambitions and ultimately build her business.

The conversation delves into the darker aspects of her journey. Krissy opens up about her battle with depression, a struggle that many successful entrepreneurs face but rarely discuss publicly. She explains how the pressure of building an empire, combined with personal relationship breakdowns including growing apart from her ex, created significant mental health challenges. This candid discussion reveals that success does not insulate you from deep internal struggles.

Steven and Krissy explore the unique pressures facing women in entrepreneurship and business. She discusses how women are constantly expected to prove their worth, justify their decisions, and manage expectations that men rarely face. There is also a revealing conversation about dating as a successful woman, with Krissy reflecting on how her ambition and drive can complicate relationships.

A significant portion of the episode focuses on what Krissy calls the bullshit of entrepreneurship. She breaks down the romantic narratives about building a business and replaces them with harsh realities about sacrifice, loneliness, and the impossible choices entrepreneurs must make. She touches on a critical moment where she realized something in her life would have to give, forcing her to reevaluate her priorities and approach to building her empire.

The conversation also touches on existential themes, with Steven asking Krissy about her relationship with death and mortality. This philosophical turn grounds the episode in a deeper examination of what truly matters and why she has pushed herself so hard.

Throughout the episode, Krissy discusses the challenges of maintaining friendships as an entrepreneur, the pressure society places on women to succeed, and her current projects and vision for the future. What emerges is a portrait of someone who has achieved significant success while grappling with the very human costs of that achievement. Her openness about mental health, relationships, and the realities of entrepreneurship makes this a refreshingly honest conversation that goes beyond the typical success story narrative.