We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bridget Johns a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bridget, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

Travel, and vacations in general, have always been the place that I am most grounded. It’s a time for creativity, deep thinking and restoration. Of course it is always hard to step away from the day to day, but as a founder and as a mom and wife, I think it’s a non-negotiable. That time to connect with my family is something I am not willing to sacrifice. My advice to entrepreneurs is to find a way to step away without disconnecting. I like to tell my team that I am working reactively – definitely call me if there is a question or issue, but don’t expect me to respond to mundane tasks or non urgent issues. I also do a “send later” for any thoughts or ideas that are not urgent, so they get a vacation from me as well!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Absolutely, I’d be delighted to share my journey and the evolution of my work.

I had a humble childhood, growing up on a farm in western Pennsylvania. From an early age, I was drawn to entrepreneurship—always finding ways to create, sell, and build something of my own. But I was also deeply curious about the world beyond my small town. I sought out every opportunity to travel, whether it was through a competition, a church retreat, or a summer camp. One particularly formative experience was my school’s Young Historians club. Looking back, it was remarkable that we had a teacher so dedicated to broadening our horizons, organizing trips that took us beyond our rural surroundings. Visiting Boston and Washington, D.C., as a ninth and tenth grader gave me my first taste of “the big city” and cemented a goal: I wanted to live and work in an urban environment after college. That early exposure set the course for my career, ultimately leading me to professional opportunities in Atlanta, London, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Professionally, I’ve spent decades in the luxury retail and consumer goods space, working with iconic brands like Ralph Lauren Home, Tiffany & Co. and Lancôme. Later, I transitioned to the tech side of retail, serving as an executive at RetailNext, a startup specializing in data analytics for brick-and-mortar stores. This experience gave me a firsthand look at how data and AI were transforming consumer experiences, and it planted the seed for what would eventually become my own entrepreneurial journey. Despite a fulfilling corporate career, I always had the dream of building something of my own—something that blended my passion for retail, technology, and human connection.

At 51, I took the leap into entrepreneurship and founded To&From, an AI-driven e-commerce platform designed to revolutionize the way people approach gift-giving. I recognized a common struggle: people genuinely want to give meaningful gifts, but often find the process stressful, time-consuming, or uninspiring. To&From eliminates that frustration by making gift selection more intuitive, thoughtful, and effortless.

What sets To&From apart is our approach to curation and context. We believe that great gifting recommendations require more than just data—they require a deep understanding of both the consumer’s intent and the nuances of the products being recommended. Our technology is built on that foundation: by combining carefully curated selections with AI-driven personalization, we help people give gifts that truly resonate. But we also recognize that gifting should be frictionless. That’s why our applications are designed to seamlessly integrate into the experiences people already use and love. Whether it’s your calendar, an e-commerce site, or a corporate gifting platform, we operate behind the scenes to make those experiences smarter and more thoughtful. We believe that good gifting should show up wherever and whenever people need it—not as another standalone tool, but as a value-add to what they’re already doing.

For potential clients, partners, and followers, my message is this: It’s never too late to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. My journey reflects a broader trend—investors and industry leaders are increasingly recognizing the value of founders in their 50s and 60s. Decades of industry experience, deep networks, and domain expertise are incredibly powerful assets that drive success. My own path has reinforced the idea that experience is a competitive advantage—one that allows us to build with confidence, execute with precision, and innovate with a real understanding of the market.

At its core, To&From is about strengthening human connections. Gifting is one of the most personal ways to show appreciation, love, or gratitude, and we’re making sure that process is as seamless and meaningful as possible. Whether you’re someone who struggles to find the perfect gift or a business looking to enhance client relationships through thoughtful giving, we’re here to make gifting easier, smarter, and more personal.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite marketing moments was actually one I almost passed up. When I first took investment from Brilliant Minds, I was hesitant to do any PR around it. While I was incredibly proud to have their backing, I wasn’t sure I wanted my age to be front and center in the narrative. I had spent my entire career in industries where youth and innovation were often glorified, and I worried that emphasizing my age as a first-time founder at 51 might overshadow the strength of my company and our technology.

But over time, I softened to the idea. I realized that my story wasn’t just about me—it was part of a much bigger conversation about how experience is an asset in entrepreneurship. Investors were beginning to recognize the value of founders in their 50s and 60s, and I was living proof of that shift. So, I leaned into it.

That’s when the Wall Street Journal opportunity came along. Being featured in a publication of that caliber was a huge leap of faith. I remember feeling nervous—what if it pigeonholed me? What if potential partners or customers focused on my age instead of my vision? But the risk paid off in ways I never could have imagined.

When the article ran, it was like a light switched on inside of me. For the first time, I truly saw how powerful my story was—not just for marketing, but for my own confidence as a founder. I had spent so much time proving myself in an industry that often skews young, but here was undeniable proof that my experience was a competitive advantage, not a liability. And that internal shift was just the beginning.

So many people reached out—not just to congratulate me, but to partner, collaborate, and explore ways to work together. Partnerships that had been slow-moving suddenly accelerated. Sales conversations became warmer because people had already read about To&From and understood our mission. Investors, retailers, and customers saw the business through a new lens—one that positioned us as both innovative and deeply experienced.

And while it’s only been a couple of weeks since the article ran, I can already feel the acceleration. Momentum is building in a way that feels almost tangible. It reinforced something I now carry with me in every sales and marketing decision: The best marketing doesn’t just sell your product—it tells a story that makes people want to be part of what you’re building. Taking that risk opened doors I didn’t even know existed, and most importantly, it gave me the confidence to walk through them.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My network has always been built on genuine connections. I’ve always maintained deep relationships with the people I enjoy meeting and working with, not just for professional reasons, but because I truly value those connections. Over the years, this has been instrumental to my work as a founder.

I think what has helped build my reputation within my network is consistency—showing up, following through, and being someone people can count on. Whether it was during my time in luxury retail, tech, or now as an entrepreneur, I’ve always prioritized trust and collaboration. That means helping others when I can, staying engaged, and keeping relationships warm even when there’s no immediate transaction at stake.

That long-term approach has made all the difference. When I launched To&From, my network wasn’t just supportive—they became my early champions, partners, customers and investors. It’s actually my advice to young people – make sure your network isn’t just big online – take time to nurture your relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://toandfrom.com
• Instagram: @mytoandfrom
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johns-pavlopoulos/

Image Credits

Headshot credit is Jane Sikorski