We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lexi Boese. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lexi below.

Hi Lexi , thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

You have to be willing to treat failure like feedback.
I started failing early—high school, to be honest. I was a terrible student but a likable one. My report cards were full of Cs next to “a pleasure to have in class.” My counselor told me I’d be lucky to graduate from community college. I was probably voted least likely to succeed.

At the time, it crushed me. But now I see it as the perfect training ground for entrepreneurship. I had to learn how to keep going, even when no one else believed I could. That mindset is everything.

After college, I stayed in a city I wasn’t from and started consulting. No fancy job. No connections. Just me and a desire to work for myself. I was underpaid and overworked for years. But every project helped me land the next one. Eventually, I built a full agency.

It grew fast—until it fell apart. I worked with the wrong people, stopped trusting my instincts, and let myself get steamrolled. The crash was painful, but it didn’t stop me. Failing spectacularly meant I had nothing left to lose—which gave me the freedom to give it everything.

I went back to consulting with clear boundaries and a customer-first mindset. That “failure” turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. It taught me I could rebuild as many times as I needed to—and that the only real failure would be giving up.

I rebuilt the agency my way, and it became more successful than I could’ve imagined. That confidence gave me the courage to launch Saddle & Stone.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Saddle & Stone was born from determination, passion, and the same fire that helped me rebuild my agency.

I didn’t study design or train as a metalsmith. But I grew up on the back of a horse—always searching for jewelry that honored that love and never quite finding the right piece.

Through my consulting work, I got to collaborate with incredible jewelry companies like Armenta, Maiden Voyage, and Meltdown Studio. Every time I worked with a jewelry designer, something pulled at me. I felt it in my chest—a quiet but persistent tug.

Last year, I finally said it out loud. I wanted to create a line of horse-inspired jewelry. Something 13-year-old me would’ve worn with pride. Something for women who loved horses too loudly, who didn’t shrink themselves to fit in, who always rode their own path.

Saddle & Stone is heritage jewelry for the next generation of horse girls: bold, capable, emotionally intelligent women who lead with instinct and aren’t afraid to get a little muddy. Our pieces are crafted in sterling silver and built to last. Curved lines nod to reins and stirrups. Textures echo worn leather. It’s elegant—but unafraid.

What sets us apart isn’t just the jewelry. It’s the story behind it. We give back to equine rescue organizations, support mental health nonprofits like Not One More Vet, and create pieces that let horse girls feel seen—not hidden.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When my first agency fell apart, it felt like the ground I’d built everything on was being ripped out from under me.

It took two months to fully understand what was happening, make the hard decisions, and move forward.

The first month, I realized I was in trouble. My team had promised work that never got delivered, and key client conversations were happening without me. One by one, clients started reaching out—and I realized I was the only one willing to take accountability.

The second month, I did just that. I took ownership of everything. I stayed up late fixing what I could, one piece at a time. I apologized. I rebuilt trust.

I woke up every day with a pit in my stomach. I gained weight from the stress, barely slept, and had more than a few panic attacks. My mantra was: “If you can survive today, you can do anything.”

And I did. But this time, I rebuilt on my own terms—no more pretending, no more burnout, no more giving away my voice. I focused on what I do best: customer research, brand strategy, and honest, results-driven growth.

That clarity is what helped me land legacy clients like Adidas, Anisa Beauty, Armenta Jewelry, Dr. Greenthumb’s, and government agencies. That grit is what gave me the courage to launch Saddle & Stone.

Resilience is built into the DNA of this brand. Every design carries a little of that weight—and a whole lot of that power.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That I wasn’t smart. I carried that around for a long time.
In college, I lied to my parents and flew to Europe to backpack alone for a month. I didn’t speak the languages. I didn’t have a lot of money. But I figured it out—trains, hostels, missed connections, it was all on me.
That trip taught me that intelligence isn’t just about grades. It’s about adaptability. It’s about grit. If I could survive that, I could survive anything.
That belief is at the core of my work now—whether I’m building marketing strategies or designing jewelry. I don’t have to do it the way everyone else does. I just have to trust that I won’t let myself down.
If I can do this, I can do anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saddleandstone.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saddle_and_stone/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexiboese

Image Credits

Image Credit: Lexi Boese