Mimi is a travel blogger from California who has spent a lot of time walking a lot of roads across more than a few exotic locations around the world. That’s why she knows a few things about shoes.

One day, however, when she found herself tempted to pay $200 for a pair of basic ballerina flats, she hit the “pause button.” She had done her research and heard marvelous things about the Tieks brand. However, Mimi was working as a bartender in New Zealand at the time. Kiwi bartenders generally don’t plunk down $200 for shoes.

Nevertheless, Mimi’s instincts won out in the end. She put in her order for the Tieks and looked forward to giving them a spin. Now, six years later, Mimi feels she made the best “footwear decision” of her life.

Tieks are the brainchild of Kfir Gavrieli, an American-Israeli entrepreneur who graduated with an MBA from Stanford University. He is among the first to create a major shoe brand into an international success using an online selling platform exclusively. The Italian leather foldable ballerina flats have been enjoying robust sales since the e-commerce platform was launched in 2010.

Furthermore, what makes Kfir Gavrieli stand out is his decision to incorporate an element of philanthropy into his business model from the beginning. As his product began to gain momentum, he established the Gavrieli Foundation. This organization invests in women empowerment programs at the community level.

The Gavrieli Foundation works hand-in-hand with KIVA, an international nonprofit group founded in 2005. Headquartered in San Francisco, KIVA works to expand financial access to the 1.8 billion “unbanked” people around the world.

As for Mimi, after six years, her $200 flats are still going strong. She now considers them her favorite shoe and considers the purchase one of her “best buying decisions ever.” Read this article for more information.

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