In 2026, WBENC proudly continues its tradition of honoring exceptional women business owners through the WBE Star Award. Selected by their Regional Partner Organizations, the 14 WBE Stars exemplify this year’s theme of IMPACT, demonstrating meaningful influence across their businesses, communities, and industries through leadership, excellence, and service.
Throughout the year, the 2026 WBE Stars will be featured on the WBENC website, culminating in their celebration at the 2026 WBENC National Conference, June 15–18, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where thousands will gather to do business and honor the strength and impact of the WBENC Network.
Meet Lisa Riggs, Sock Queen & CEO of Spirit Sox, with the Women’s Business Enterprise Council-Pacific Regional Partner Organization. Lisa is the Founder of Spirit Sox and a visionary entrepreneur widely known as the Sock Queen for transforming a simple idea into a high‑impact custom sock company. Spirit Sox began ten years ago after a wildly successful sock fundraiser at her daughter’s middle school, a moment that sparked the realization that this concept could benefit far more communities. What started as a fundraising venture evolved in 2019 into a full custom sock company serving clients around the world.
Under Lisa’s leadership, Spirit Sox has partnered with global corporations, national retail chains, schools, sports, and nonprofit organizations to create high‑quality custom socks that elevate brands, spark connection, and bring joy. Spirit Sox products have appeared in Global Brand Stores, Sam’s Club locations, and Hudson News, demonstrating both the company’s scalability and its commitment to exceptional quality and service.
Guided by a passion for innovation and community impact, Lisa has expanded the Spirit Sox product line to include eco‑friendly bamboo socks, introduced co‑branded collections for Fortune 500 companies, and committed to donating 5% of profits to providing socks to those in need. Spirit Sox was honored with the 2026 Sony Pictures Responsible Sourcing Supplier of the Year award, recognizing the company’s leadership in ethical production, sustainability, and purpose‑driven business practices.
Get inspired by Lisa’s insights!
Spirit Sox creates custom-designed socks that help organizations strengthen brand visibility, engage employees, and connect with clients through a high-quality, wearable product. The company partners with businesses, sports organizations, schools, and nonprofit groups across B2B, B2C, and retail channels to deliver branded socks that enhance marketing efforts, events, and fundraising initiatives. Their products combine comfort, durability, and creative design, turning everyday apparel into a meaningful tool for promotion, community building, and revenue generation.
View the Spirit Sox Economic Impact Story!
Wisdom from WBE Star, Lisa Riggs
What does “IMPACT” mean to you in the context of the WBENC network?
Impact within the WBENC network means opening doors, expanding access, and creating space for women-owned businesses to thrive. It is rooted in connection, community, and learning from those who have successfully navigated the journey before us. Through WBENC, I have seen how visibility, education, and genuine support translate into real opportunity, not just recognition. True impact is watching women-owned businesses grow in confidence, build meaningful relationships, achieve success, and then pay it forward by lifting the next generation of women entrepreneurs alongside them.
For business owners and leaders who are looking to accelerate their “IMPACT,” what key advice or actionable steps would you recommend for them to implement today?
For business owners and leaders looking to accelerate their impact, my biggest advice is to begin with intention and follow it with consistency. True entrepreneurial success isn’t about avoiding risk or waiting for the perfect moment, it’s about having the courage to begin and the grit to keep moving forward. Impact doesn’t have to start with a sweeping initiative. It begins by defining what matters most to you and making small, deliberate choices that reflect those values every day.
Focus on doing one thing exceptionally well and doing it with purpose. Build authentic relationships with customers, employees, and partners, and truly listen to what they need. Create systems that allow your success to support others, whether through giving back, mentoring, or creating opportunities through employment.
And above all, don’t wait for perfection. Progress will always matter more. Show up, share what you’ve learned, lift others as you grow, and remember that the most meaningful impact comes from consistent, values‑driven action over time.
What suggestions would you like to share with business leaders looking to expand their IMPACT?
- Focus on building something sustainable and meaningful, not growth for growth’s sake.
- Invest in people first, including your team, your customers, and your community.
- Listen more than you speak, and stay curious about what is genuinely working and what isn’t.
- Be willing to evolve as your business grows.
- Recognize when it’s time to pivot, take a calculated risk, or seek support from others.
- Remember that impact is built over time, not all at once.
- Take small, consistent actions that compound over time.
- Pair every action with integrity and purpose to create lasting, meaningful change.
What impact are you most proud of, and why?
The impact I am most proud of is building a successful business from the ground up, starting with a single idea and a product as simple as a sock. I was told many times that I would fail because I focused on only one item and didn’t look like everyone else. But I believed in doing one thing exceptionally well, so I trusted my gut and chose to specialize in custom socks across a variety of styles. Looking back, that instinct was absolutely right. Much of our success has come from the decision to lean into specialization rather than blend in.
Beyond the business itself, I am incredibly proud of the impact Spirit Sox has had on people. Today, we employ eight team members and have created a company that supports livelihoods, growth, and opportunity. Our commitment to donating 5% of profits has allowed us to provide tens of thousands of socks to people in need across the United States, transforming business success into meaningful community support.
When I started Spirit Sox, I had no idea where it would lead. To see it grow into a nationally recognized company partnering with major corporations and nonprofit organizations is still surreal at times. Most importantly, I am proud to have built this business as an example for my children, showing them that pursuing a dream, taking a risk, and striving to make an impact matters far more than the guarantee of success.
Looking ahead, what legacy of impact do you hope to leave in the business community?
Looking ahead, I hope my legacy in the business community demonstrates that you don’t need to follow a traditional playbook to build something meaningful and successful. I was told more than once that I was “too nice” to run a thriving company, and I hope my journey proves that leading with integrity, empathy, and purpose is not a weakness, it is a profound strength.
I also hope my legacy includes opening doors for women-owned businesses by sharing access, mentoring others, and paying success forward. If my experience encourages other entrepreneurs to trust their instincts, lead in their own way, and build businesses that create opportunity, connection, and positive change, then that will be a legacy I am truly proud of.
