Why Paige Adams-Geller Says Her Trauma Made Her a Better Entrepreneur

In a raw and revealing conversation on Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, Paige Adams-Geller — founder of the premium denim brand PAIGE — opened up about something rarely discussed in startup circles: how financial trauma and personal healing shape who we are as founders.

“I didn’t go to business school. I didn’t know anything about the fashion industry,” Paige says. “But I figured it out.”

Her story is anything but polished. She grew up in a tiny Alaskan town, watched her parents go bankrupt during an oil bust, survived sexual assault at 16, and wrestled with the invisible weight of imposter syndrome, body image, and burnout, all while building a multimillion-dollar fashion brand worn by everyone from stylists to celebrities.

The First Collapse: Watching Her Family Lose Everything

In the 1980s, Paige’s family was living in a small Alaskan town when the local economy, fueled by oil, crashed. “Everyone basically went bankrupt,” she recalled. Her family lost their home. Her father’s business failed. And she was just 16 years old — newly enrolled at USC in Los Angeles.

“My parents told me I couldn’t stay at school anymore,” she said. “But my education was everything to me.”

Paige sprang into action, applying for every scholarship and student loan she could find. She stayed. And she learned something crucial: “I never wanted to depend on a man for money,” she said. “I had to become self-reliant”.

That wound — the collapse of her family’s finances — became a foundation.

Before Fashion: Pain Behind the Scenes

Long before founding PAIGE, Adams-Geller worked in entertainment: acting, singing, and modeling. She also battled an eating disorder — something she openly links to surviving sexual assault at 16.

“I wanted to disappear,” she said. “Even now, when I’m really stressed, that control stuff can come back”.

That trauma shaped how she approached entrepreneurship. She poured herself into every detail, trying on every garment, obsessing over fit and feel. And sometimes, the stress would trigger old wounds. “I still go to therapy. I still manage my triggers. But I’ve learned how to be gentle with myself”.

The Aha Moment: Starting PAIGE

Her shift into fashion came after a conversation with a life coach. “She said, ‘You love empowering women. You love fashion. You’ve worked as a fit model for years. Why don’t you start your own line?’”

At first, Paige laughed it off. “I didn’t go to business school. I didn’t think I was smart enough.”

But the idea stuck. She had insider experience from years of fit modeling. She understood how clothing should feel, not just how it should look. In 2004, she launched PAIGE at the Coterie trade show. It was a hit from day one.

Why Trauma Still Shows Up at Work and How She Handles It

Trauma doesn’t stop at the boardroom door. Paige knows this better than most.

After being stalked by her assailant, the sound of a ringing phone became a panic trigger. “To this day, I keep my phone on silent,” she said. “It affects how I run my business. People wonder why I’m hard to reach. But that’s my boundary. And that’s okay”.

This honesty extends into how she talks to her team. She’s open about her past, her therapy, and her commitment to mental health. “Secrets make you sick,” she said. “I say it out loud. I talk to other founders. I build a playlist of power songs before big bank meetings. That’s my version of the Rocky stairs”.

Advice for Founders Healing While Building

Here are a few key takeaways from Paige’s journey that every founder should remember:

🧠 Therapy is strategy. Paige credits her 20+ years in therapy as a core part of her business resilience.

🎵 Build rituals for courage. Whether it’s pump-up playlists or silent phone mode, find what helps you feel strong before high-stakes meetings.

💬 Don’t compartmentalize. “Your personal life and your work life aren’t separate,” she says. “Triggers can show up anywhere.”

🤝 Talk to other founders. “Even the most successful people I know have imposter syndrome,” Paige said. “And when you say it out loud, the shame lifts.”

The Denim Empire Wasn’t Built Overnight, But It Was Built Honestly

Seventeen years after launch, PAIGE is a global brand. But its founder still walks into boardrooms with a playlist, still heals, still reflects.

“I’m not going to look back and wish it didn’t happen,” she said of her early traumas. “Because I’m proud of everything I learned in the process”.

And to anyone doubting their capacity to rise, she offers this: “If I can do it — a girl from a tiny town in Alaska — you can too.”