Spoleto Designs: Estate Jewelry Curated by Krista Cavanaugh

Please share a brief introduction and tell us something about your business, Spoleto Designs:

Krista Cavanaugh is the founder and curator of Spoleto Designs, a fine jewelry brand built on connection, legacy, and the belief that jewelry should actually be worn and enjoyed—not tucked away in a drawer.

Spoleto Designs grew naturally from Krista’s love of beautiful things with history and her ability to truly listen to people. She specializes in vintage, estate, and pre-loved fine jewelry, often helping clients breathe new life into pieces that no longer fit their lives as they are now. For Krista, it’s never just about the stones or the metal—it’s about what the piece represents and how it makes someone feel when they wear it.

People who work with Krista often describe her as calm, thoughtful, and deeply trustworthy. Much of her work involves partnering with attorneys, wealth advisors, and estate professionals to support clients during moments of transition—whether that means selling fine jewelry, honoring a family legacy, or reimagining an heirloom in a way that feels personal and right. Her approach is steady and human, grounded in clarity, accountability, and respect.

Outside of her business, Krista is deeply invested in community and mentorship. She serves as Vice President of Membership for the DFW chapter of Women’s Jewelry Association, where she focuses on building meaningful connections and helping members feel welcomed, supported, and engaged. She is also a mentor for students at Winona State University, sharing real-world guidance and encouragement with those just beginning their professional journeys. Supporting the next generation—especially in creative and entrepreneurial spaces—is a natural extension of how she shows up, both personally and professionally.

Krista is also married and the mother of adult children, and that sense of family and continuity shows up in everything she does. It shapes how she thinks about legacy, relationships, and the role jewelry plays in marking the chapters of a life.

At the heart of it all, Krista brings a grounded, authentic presence to the jewelry industry. She believes business should feel personal, trust should be earned, and the most meaningful work happens when people feel seen. Through Spoleto Designs, she continues to create space for stories—past, present, and still unfolding.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No—absolutely not. For a long time, I didn’t think I had what it took to be an entrepreneur. I built my career in structured environments and valued stability, collaboration, and doing meaningful work well. It wasn’t until I reached a point where staying felt harder than starting something new that I realized entrepreneurship wasn’t about having all the answers—it was about trusting my judgment, honoring what mattered to me, and being willing to grow into the role.

Do you have a co-founder?

I don’t have a formal co-founder, but I do partner exclusively with Legacy Saint Jewelry on the sale of my inventory, which in many ways functions like a close partnership. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to work with people whose values and standards align with yours. Clear communication, mutual respect, and well-defined roles matter more than titles. My best partnership advice is to choose trust and transparency first—everything else can be built from there.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Yes, I am. The most practical advice I can give is to design your business around your real life, not an idealized version of it. Be clear about your non-negotiables at home, build flexibility into your schedule, and communicate expectations early—with clients, partners, and family. Use systems and boundaries to protect your energy, and don’t try to do everything at once. Progress comes from consistency, not perfection.

Take us back to when you launched Spoleto Designs? What was your marketing strategy?

When I first launched Spoleto Designs, I didn’t have a formal marketing strategy. The only clear decision I made was to partner with a longtime friend who is a jeweler—someone I trusted and respected. Beyond that, it was very organic: conversations, introductions, and following genuine connections. It didn’t go “as planned” because there really wasn’t a plan, but that turned out to be a gift. The business grew through relationships, word of mouth, and trust, which ultimately set the tone for how I still operate today.

What accomplishments are you most proud of to date in your business?

What I’m most proud of are the relationships I’ve built—ones rooted in trust, respect, and mutual support. I’m also incredibly proud to now have my daughter involved in the business, which brings a deeper sense of meaning and continuity to the work. And on a very personal level, completely reinventing myself professionally in my 50s stands out as a major accomplishment. Taking that risk was genuinely scary, but choosing growth over comfort has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I wish I had known that not having it all figured out was part of the process, not a failure. Progress came from taking small, consistent steps, asking for help, and trusting relationships over perfection. The journey has been less about confidence at the start and more about building it along the way.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

My go-to interview question is: “Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you handled it.” I’m listening for accountability, self-awareness, and how someone learns—not perfection. In my experience, skills can be taught, but integrity and curiosity can’t. My biggest hiring tip is to prioritize character and alignment over credentials, especially in a relationship-driven business.

What did you do before starting your own business?

Before founding Spoleto Designs, Krista Cavanaugh built a career rooted in complex decision-making, relationship management, and conflict navigation. She holds a master’s degree in dispute resolution and conflict management from Southern Methodist University, a foundation that continues to inform her calm, structured approach to sensitive conversations. Since 2010, she has also worked in executive and career coaching through Spoleto Partners, guiding professionals through decisions that carried both emotional and financial weight with clarity and accountability. Her corporate experience includes roles with Capgemini / Sogeti, PepsiCo, and Gartner—environments where trust, discretion, and thoughtful judgment were essential. Together, these experiences shaped her ability to support clients and professional partners with steadiness, insight, and respect for the human side of decision-making.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

The decision to start Spoleto Designs came at a moment of real personal and professional reckoning. After experiencing burnout on multiple levels—including emotional and medical crisis—I knew I needed to make a change that honored my health and my life, not just my résumé. Professionally, I was no longer inspired by the work I was doing, and the disconnect became impossible to ignore. I wanted flexibility in how and where I worked, but more than that, I wanted to build something aligned with what actually mattered to me: creativity, connection, integrity, and joy. Spoleto Designs became a way to return to curiosity—to have fun again, meet interesting people, and create meaningful work centered on beauty, story, and human connection.

Do you have any recent wins?

This past year has been about steady growth and evolution in a very challenging economic landscape. With rapidly rising gold and silver prices, shifting tariffs, and ongoing market uncertainty, simply continuing to build thoughtfully and stay aligned with my values feels like a meaningful win. I’m proud of the adaptability the business has shown—refining how I source, price, and partner—while continuing to serve clients with integrity and care.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

I can’t pick just one. My calendar keeps me honest, LinkedIn fuels great connections, ScrapIt! feeds my inner metals nerd with real-time pricing, and Facebook keeps me plugged into jewelry communities. Different apps, same goal—staying connected, informed, and moving forward.

Who are Spoleto Design customers?

Krista Cavanaugh works with thoughtful private clients who value quality, story, and integrity over trends—often women investing in themselves, as well as individuals navigating life transitions such as estate settlements, inheritance, divorce, or downsizing. Through Spoleto Designs, she helps clients understand, honor, and make informed decisions about fine jewelry, whether that means wearing it, reimagining it, or responsibly letting it go. Her business partners include attorneys, wealth advisors, fiduciaries, and estate professionals who rely on her discretion, clear communication, and ethical approach when jewelry becomes part of a larger financial or emotional conversation. Across both clients and partners, Krista is trusted for her calm guidance, respect for legacy, and ability to bring clarity to moments that require care and confidence.

What's your top productivity tip?

Ask for referrals—specifically. I make it a habit to ask people to introduce me to three individuals they think I should meet. It keeps my outreach focused, builds on existing trust, and turns everyday conversations into meaningful momentum without feeling transactional.

What's your favorite business tool?

Canva. It lets me turn ideas into something visual quickly—without overthinking or overengineering it. It keeps things creative, efficient, and honestly… fun, which matters more than people admit in business.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

I think of it as work–life integration rather than balance. I’ve built my business to allow flexibility in time and location, and I try to be intentional about how work fits into my life—not the other way around. Some seasons are fuller than others, and I’m okay with that, as long as there’s space for family, rest, and things that bring me joy. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s alignment.

How do you avoid burnout?

I pay attention when things start to feel tight or joyless and course-correct early. That means protecting my time, building flexibility into my schedule, and giving myself permission to step back when I need to. Staying connected to people I enjoy, keeping the work human, and remembering why I started all help me avoid slipping back into burnout. I’ve learned that sustainability isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what actually matters, well.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Be clear about what you’re building and who you’re building it for. Talk to people early, ask for referrals, and learn as you go instead of waiting to feel “ready.” Protect your time, keep your overhead low at the start, and focus on consistent progress—small, steady steps compound faster than big, perfect plans.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today

‍