For this edition of Coffee Unfiltered, we’re sitting down with Leila Rana Quraishi, a young entrepreneur who’s making waves in fashion with her innovative brand, Nudesox. Born in New York City and raised between there and Southern California, Leila recently graduated from The University of Southern California, where she honed her skills in entrepreneurship and communication. With a vision to create women’s socks that blend style, comfort, and social impact, she launched Nudesox — a brand born in 2015 and carefully developed over two years. Fashion-forward yet unapologetically practical, Leila shares her journey, the inspiration behind her brand, and how she’s redefining what it means to merge fashion with purpose.
How do you usually start your mornings, and what role does coffee or your favorite fuel play in setting the tone for your day?
I always start my mornings with a walk to get my iced matcha. It’s a nice little ritual and gets me started for the day with both caffeine and a little exercise. The duo gets my mind right!
Women often juggle so many roles—career, family, self-care. How do you personally manage your energy levels to keep up with the demands of your lifestyle?
It’s hard! I’m constantly looking at my calendar and time blocking. I also have a pen and paper “to-do” list that I add to every day and check off as I go. It helps to set time for certain tasks and then physically cross them off when you get them done.
When you hit those days where motivation feels low, what’s your go-to ritual, mindset shift, or daily practice that helps you power through?
I love listening to podcasts – they always inspire and uplift me. I’ll usually go on a walk or if I’m driving I’ll have one playing. Usually, they are business podcasts like “How I Built This” With Guy Raz or “Female Founder World.” I also love “On Purpose” by Jay Shetty and other self-help podcasts – they really get you in a good headspace.
Outside of coffee, what other habits, foods, or wellness practices do you swear by to stay energized and grounded throughout the day?
I make sure to do a walk every day to clear my mind and refuel. My best ideas come from those walks and moments to myself. I’m Los Angeles based so we are often in our cars! I also have a great circle of friends who are business owners. It's super helpful to bounce ideas off one another and talk through challenges, since we face similar ones.
If you could share one piece of advice with women about how to fuel not just their bodies but also their ambition and spirit, what would it be?
I would say to figure out what works specifically for you. We all have our likes and dislikes and what works for me may not work for you. The key is trying different things and learning what you feel most connected to/where you get your energy from. It's also important to rest and listen to your body when you aren't feeling 100%. Our world and social media makes you feel like you need to be moving at 100 miles per hour all the time. We see thousands of accounts in our feeds doing "cool things" and constantly creating. It can be draining, so it's important to recognize its effects and step back to reconnect with your own ambitions and spirit.