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Carla Mackie is a master bra fitter and the founder and owner of Uplift Intimate Apparel in Carmel City Center. She says her passion is “to serve, educate, and empower women,” and one way she does so is by helping women find bras that actually fit. Let’s hear from you now, Carla!
My Maven Superpower is … Being a connector. I love connecting people. God did not create us to work alone. We’re all here to work together to accomplish the tasks of this life. My personal connections and the various connections I’ve made for others have, and continue to be, life-changing.
A fun fact about me is … I’m the “Energizer Bunny” always ready to go! I run a few of my friends into the ground (but, they love me anyway).
The best book I’ve read lately is … The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews. It’s a refreshing and entertaining story about a family with many dark secrets and friendships through time.
My first job was … Washing dishes at Asbury Towers in Greencastle, IN. I was 13 years old.
The skill I most want to learn is … To speak French fluently.
My favorite nonprofit to support is … Dove Recovery House. The work they do to support women in recovery is life-changing. We have a program we call “Give A Lift” where we accept “gently loved” bra donations. We’re able to support Dove Recovery by providing bra fittings for the ladies and giving them several of these donated bras that fit. For some of these women, it’s the first bra they have ever owned.
Self-care habit I swear by is … For me, self-care is taking time to do something that I love. When I lived in Virginia Beach, my favorite thing for recharging was to walk on the beach. Since being in Indiana, going out with friends or spending time with my family soothes my soul.
The best career advice I can offer is … The old cliché: Do what you love; something you would do for free. Surround yourself with people who are both honest with you and lift you up.
Favorite purchase lately is … I believe that if you have the right intimates and the right shoes, you can do ANYTHING. I can’t tell you how much I love the Empreinte bras we just started carrying. The design, fit, and fabric make them one of my top favorites. Another purchase that I have been loving is a pair of Naot sandals from Goodman’s shoes. They are stylish, extremely comfortable, and very cute. (They even keep my back from hurting).
I feel most confident when … I am helping someone else and they light up with joy and excitement.
My favorite local restaurant dish is … I LOVE everything at divvy, located in Carmel City Center. However, their Savor Board is my absolute favorite! And their Corn Crème Brûlée is perfection!
The snack I’ve been binging lately is … Air-popped popcorn with butter. Actually, that’s my go-to snack of choice.
A Maven you should know is … Nicole Busch of Nicole Blair Wear. On the surface, she helps women discover their personal style for themselves and their spaces. However, her real work is at the heart level. She has an extraordinary level of compassion for her clients and is able to curate confidence and truly change their lives. Her positive outlook on everything is truly inspiring and her talent is unmatched.
The thing I’ve achieved lately that I’d like to celebrate with the Maven community is … Uplift turned five years old in May 2022. It’s a huge milestone and an absolute labor of love. In 2021 I was invited to participate in the Emerging Leaders program through the SBA. This invitation only, 10-month, mini-MBA program provided the tools to see what Uplift could be in the future and increased my confidence to move boldly forward. In the process, I gained a new mentor, Tim Martin, who taught the program for several years. We all have a tendency to lose sight of the business side by focusing solely on the “what we do.” This course refocused my attention on “how we do” so that “what we do” is even better. We have also been recognized as one of the top intimate apparel stores in North America for four of our five years. This is national recognition right here in Indiana.
What’s next for me is … I’m planning a trip to Africa in 2023. I am going alongside an organization called Zabra – AFreeBra Initiative which empowers women by providing them with something we all take for granted: underwear. We’ll be taking donated gently loved bras, providing fittings for women, and training others on the basics of bra fitting. In Africa, a woman must have a bra to get a job. Talk about the power of a bra. In addition to Africa, I’m also planning to attend the Paris Lingerie show. My goal is to curate new European brands for Uplift and practice my French!
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Stephanie Groves is the Executive Editor of Indy Maven.
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