Latest / The Billionaire Brain® Podcast / HerPower #2 - The Remarkable Rise of Sara Blakely
Transcript
- 0:02Hey,
- 0:02it's
- 0:02Dawn
- 0:02McGruer,
- 0:03the
- 0:03business
- 0:03growth
- 0:03coach.
- 0:04And
- 0:04welcome
- 0:04to
- 0:05dawn
- 0:05of
- 0:05a
- 0:05New
- 0:06Era,
- 0:06the
- 0:06podcast
- 0:07where
- 0:07we
- 0:07talk
- 0:07all.
- 0:08Things
- 0:08health,
- 0:09wealth,
- 0:09and
- 0:09happiness,
- 0:10and
- 0:10where.
- 0:11Founders
- 0:12share
- 0:12the
- 0:12good
- 0:12and
- 0:13bad
- 0:13and
- 0:13ugly
- 0:14of
- 0:14being
- 0:14an
- 0:14entrepreneur.
- 0:15So
- 0:16welcome
- 0:16to
- 0:16part
- 0:17two
- 0:17of
- 0:17our
- 0:18female
- 0:18empowerment
- 0:19miniseries
- 0:20as
- 0:20part
- 0:21of
- 0:21the
- 0:21dawn
- 0:21of
- 0:22a
- 0:22New
- 0:22Era
- 0:23podcast.
- 0:23Now,
- 0:24we
- 0:24bring
- 0:24this
- 0:24to
- 0:25you
- 0:25in
- 0:25association
- 0:26with
- 0:26our
- 0:26new
- 0:27community,
- 0:27her
- 0:28power
- 0:28community.
- 0:29And
- 0:29it's
- 0:29all
- 0:29about
- 0:30breaking
- 0:30the
- 0:30glass
- 0:31ceiling.
- 0:31Fulfillment
- 0:31female
- 0:32founders.
- 0:33So
- 0:33the
- 0:33remarkable
- 0:34rise
- 0:34of
- 0:34Sara
- 0:35Blakely
- 0:36is
- 0:36a
- 0:36story
- 0:37that
- 0:37I
- 0:37want
- 0:37to
- 0:37share
- 0:38with
- 0:38you
- 0:38today.
- 0:38Now,
- 0:39she
- 0:39is
- 0:39the
- 0:39woman
- 0:40behind
- 0:40Spanx
- 0:40and
- 0:41also
- 0:41Sneaks.
- 0:42So,
- 0:42in
- 0:42a
- 0:43corporate
- 0:43world
- 0:43traditionally
- 0:44dominated
- 0:45by
- 0:45men,
- 0:45Sara
- 0:46Blakely
- 0:46emerged
- 0:47as
- 0:47this
- 0:47beacon
- 0:48of
- 0:48inspiration.
- 0:49And
- 0:49the
- 0:50journey
- 0:50of
- 0:50founding
- 0:51and
- 0:51scaling
- 0:51Spanx,
- 0:52a
- 0:52multi
- 0:53billion
- 0:53dollar
- 0:54shapewear
- 0:54empire,
- 0:55was
- 0:56testament
- 0:56to
- 0:57her
- 0:57gift,
- 0:58innovation,
- 0:59and
- 0:59underlying
- 1:00determination.
- 1:01And
- 1:01she
- 1:01definitely
- 1:02broke
- 1:02the
- 1:02glass
- 1:02ceiling.
- 1:03Now,
- 1:04her
- 1:04latest
- 1:04addition
- 1:05of
- 1:05sneaks.
- 1:06Yes,
- 1:06trainers
- 1:07with
- 1:07heels.
- 1:08Mine
- 1:08are
- 1:08actually
- 1:08on
- 1:09order
- 1:09and
- 1:10currently
- 1:10on
- 1:10their
- 1:11way
- 1:11from
- 1:11the
- 1:11usa,
- 1:12so
- 1:13you
- 1:13can
- 1:13only
- 1:14get
- 1:14them
- 1:14in
- 1:14the
- 1:14USA
- 1:15right
- 1:15now.
- 1:15But
- 1:16thankfully
- 1:16my
- 1:16mom
- 1:16and
- 1:17dad
- 1:17have
- 1:17lived
- 1:17in
- 1:18Naples
- 1:18in
- 1:18Florida
- 1:19for
- 1:19part
- 1:19of
- 1:19the
- 1:20time
- 1:20for
- 1:20the
- 1:20past
- 1:2015
- 1:21years,
- 1:22so
- 1:22I'm
- 1:22going
- 1:22to
- 1:23get
- 1:23my
- 1:23new
- 1:23purchase.
- 1:24But
- 1:24she
- 1:25has
- 1:25founded
- 1:26many,
- 1:26many
- 1:27brands.
- 1:27And
- 1:28in
- 1:28the
- 1:28early
- 1:28days,
- 1:28Sara,
- 1:29who
- 1:29was
- 1:29born
- 1:30in
- 1:30Clearwater
- 1:30in
- 1:31Florida
- 1:31in
- 1:311971,
- 1:32from
- 1:33an
- 1:33early
- 1:33age,
- 1:34she
- 1:34was
- 1:34really
- 1:35driven
- 1:35by
- 1:35an
- 1:36entrepreneurial
- 1:36spirit,
- 1:37often
- 1:38dreaming
- 1:38of
- 1:39making
- 1:39a
- 1:39significant
- 1:40mark
- 1:40on
- 1:41the
- 1:41world.
- 1:41So
- 1:42after
- 1:42graduating
- 1:43from
- 1:43Florida
- 1:43State
- 1:44University
- 1:45with
- 1:45a
- 1:45communication
- 1:46degree,
- 1:47Sara
- 1:47took
- 1:47a
- 1:48job
- 1:48selling
- 1:48fax
- 1:49machines
- 1:49door
- 1:49to
- 1:49door.
- 1:50So
- 1:51it
- 1:51was
- 1:51during
- 1:51this
- 1:52time
- 1:52that
- 1:52she
- 1:53identified
- 1:53a
- 1:54problem
- 1:54that
- 1:54many
- 1:55women
- 1:55faced,
- 1:56which
- 1:56was
- 1:57a
- 1:57lack
- 1:57of
- 1:57comfortable
- 1:58and
- 1:58effective
- 1:59undergarments.
- 2:00So
- 2:00here
- 2:01was
- 2:01the
- 2:01eureka
- 2:02moment.
- 2:02One
- 2:03evening,
- 2:03preparing
- 2:04for
- 2:04a
- 2:04party,
- 2:04Sara
- 2:05struggled
- 2:05with
- 2:06finding
- 2:06the
- 2:07right
- 2:07shapewear
- 2:07to
- 2:08wear
- 2:08under
- 2:08her
- 2:08white
- 2:09pants.
- 2:09So,
- 2:10frustrated
- 2:11by
- 2:11the
- 2:11options
- 2:12available,
- 2:12she
- 2:12took
- 2:13a
- 2:13pair
- 2:13of
- 2:13scissors
- 2:14and
- 2:14cut
- 2:14a
- 2:14pair
- 2:15of
- 2:15tights
- 2:16and
- 2:16wore
- 2:16them
- 2:17under
- 2:17her
- 2:17outfit.
- 2:18And
- 2:18to
- 2:18her
- 2:19delight,
- 2:19this
- 2:19impromptu
- 2:20solution
- 2:21worked
- 2:21perfectly,
- 2:22providing
- 2:22this
- 2:23smooth
- 2:24look
- 2:24she
- 2:24desired
- 2:25without
- 2:25any
- 2:25uncomfortable
- 2:26seams
- 2:27or
- 2:27lines.
- 2:28So
- 2:28she
- 2:28realized
- 2:29then
- 2:29that
- 2:30she'd
- 2:30stumbled
- 2:31on
- 2:31this
- 2:32product
- 2:32that
- 2:33countless
- 2:33women
- 2:34actually
- 2:34needed.
- 2:35And
- 2:35then
- 2:35here
- 2:36comes
- 2:36turning
- 2:37an
- 2:37idea
- 2:37into
- 2:38the
- 2:38actual
- 2:38business.
- 2:39So,
- 2:39determined
- 2:40to
- 2:40turn
- 2:40her
- 2:41idea
- 2:41into
- 2:41reality,
- 2:42Sara
- 2:43spent
- 2:43the
- 2:43next
- 2:44two
- 2:44years
- 2:45researching,
- 2:46developing
- 2:46prototypes,
- 2:48and
- 2:48ultimately
- 2:49patenting
- 2:50her
- 2:50invention.
- 2:51So
- 2:52despite
- 2:52having
- 2:53absolutely
- 2:53no
- 2:53background
- 2:54in
- 2:54textiles
- 2:55or
- 2:55fashion
- 2:56design,
- 2:56she
- 2:57navigated
- 2:58the
- 2:58industry
- 2:59challenges
- 3:00with
- 3:00sheer
- 3:01determination.
- 3:01And
- 3:02Sara
- 3:02used
- 3:02her
- 3:03savings
- 3:03of
- 3:04$5,000
- 3:05to
- 3:06fund
- 3:06the
- 3:06initial
- 3:07steps
- 3:07of
- 3:07her
- 3:07business,
- 3:08marking
- 3:09the
- 3:09beginning
- 3:10of
- 3:10Spanx.
- 3:11So
- 3:11she
- 3:12overcame
- 3:12investment
- 3:13hurdles
- 3:14as
- 3:14she
- 3:14went
- 3:14through
- 3:15this,
- 3:15and
- 3:16finding
- 3:16support
- 3:17was
- 3:17not
- 3:17easy.
- 3:18So
- 3:18despite
- 3:19having
- 3:19a
- 3:19revolutionary
- 3:20product,
- 3:21Sara
- 3:21faced
- 3:22skepticism
- 3:23and
- 3:23rejection
- 3:24from
- 3:24numerous
- 3:25male
- 3:25investors
- 3:26who
- 3:26either
- 3:27didn't
- 3:27understand
- 3:28the
- 3:28product
- 3:28or
- 3:29didn't
- 3:29even
- 3:29take
- 3:29her
- 3:30seriously.
- 3:31So
- 3:31the
- 3:31stigmas
- 3:32surrounding
- 3:32female
- 3:33entrepreneurs
- 3:34were
- 3:34pervasive
- 3:35and
- 3:36often
- 3:36dismissing
- 3:37this
- 3:38innovative
- 3:38potential
- 3:39of
- 3:39ideas.
- 3:40So,
- 3:41undeterred,
- 3:42Sara
- 3:43continued
- 3:43to
- 3:44knock
- 3:44on
- 3:44doors,
- 3:45demonstrating
- 3:45her
- 3:46product
- 3:46and
- 3:47refining
- 3:47her
- 3:47pitch.
- 3:48So
- 3:48her
- 3:48breakthrough
- 3:49came
- 3:49when
- 3:50she
- 3:50managed
- 3:50to
- 3:51get
- 3:51a
- 3:51meeting
- 3:52with
- 3:52a
- 3:52buyer
- 3:52from
- 3:52Neiman
- 3:53Marcus.
- 3:54So
- 3:54instead
- 3:54of
- 3:54just
- 3:55talking,
- 3:55she
- 3:56demonstrated
- 3:57Spanx
- 3:57by
- 3:57wearing
- 3:58them
- 3:58and
- 3:58showing
- 3:58the
- 3:59difference
- 3:59that
- 3:59they
- 3:59actually
- 4:00made.
- 4:00The
- 4:01buyer
- 4:01was
- 4:01immediately
- 4:02impressed
- 4:03and
- 4:03placed
- 4:04an
- 4:04order
- 4:04making
- 4:05Spanx
- 4:05first
- 4:06major
- 4:06retail
- 4:07partnership.
- 4:08Now
- 4:08here
- 4:09comes
- 4:09the
- 4:09Oprah
- 4:10effect
- 4:10and
- 4:10rapid
- 4:11growth.
- 4:11Because
- 4:11in
- 4:122000,
- 4:13Sara's
- 4:14determination
- 4:14paid
- 4:15off
- 4:15when
- 4:15Oprah
- 4:16Winfrey
- 4:17named
- 4:17Spanx
- 4:18as
- 4:18her
- 4:18favorite
- 4:19product.
- 4:20Now,
- 4:20this
- 4:20endorsement
- 4:22catapulted
- 4:22Spanx
- 4:23into
- 4:24the
- 4:24national
- 4:25spotlight
- 4:25and
- 4:26led
- 4:26to
- 4:26an
- 4:26explosive
- 4:27growth
- 4:28in
- 4:28sales.
- 4:29Women
- 4:29across
- 4:29America
- 4:30flocked
- 4:30to
- 4:31stores
- 4:31and
- 4:31websites
- 4:32to
- 4:32purchase
- 4:32Spanx.
- 4:33And
- 4:33this
- 4:34transformed
- 4:34the
- 4:34brand
- 4:35from
- 4:35a
- 4:35small
- 4:36startup
- 4:36and
- 4:36a
- 4:36household
- 4:37name
- 4:38almost
- 4:38overnight.
- 4:39So
- 4:39with
- 4:39growing
- 4:40demand,
- 4:40Sara
- 4:41reinvested
- 4:41her
- 4:41profits
- 4:42into
- 4:43expanding
- 4:43the
- 4:43product
- 4:43line,
- 4:44hiring
- 4:45a
- 4:45team
- 4:45and
- 4:46scaling
- 4:46production.
- 4:47She
- 4:47maintained
- 4:48rigorous
- 4:48oversight
- 4:49over
- 4:49product
- 4:50quality
- 4:50and
- 4:51brand
- 4:51image,
- 4:52ensuring
- 4:52that
- 4:53Spanx
- 4:53remains
- 4:54synonymous
- 4:55with
- 4:55comfort,
- 4:56innovation
- 4:57and
- 4:57confidence.
- 4:58Now
- 4:59breaking
- 4:59the
- 4:59glass
- 5:00ceiling.
- 5:00Sarah
- 5:01Blakely's
- 5:02success
- 5:02story
- 5:03resonated
- 5:04far
- 5:04beyond
- 5:04the
- 5:04fashion
- 5:05industry.
- 5:05She
- 5:06challenged
- 5:07the
- 5:07biases
- 5:08and
- 5:08stigmas
- 5:08prevalent
- 5:09in
- 5:09the
- 5:09investment
- 5:10world,
- 5:11proving
- 5:12that
- 5:12women
- 5:12entrepreneurs
- 5:13could
- 5:14build
- 5:14highly
- 5:15successful
- 5:16scalable
- 5:16businesses.
- 5:17And
- 5:17her
- 5:18journey
- 5:18inspired
- 5:19a
- 5:19new
- 5:19generation
- 5:20of
- 5:20female
- 5:21founders
- 5:21to
- 5:22pursue
- 5:22their
- 5:22dreams,
- 5:23regardless
- 5:24of
- 5:24the
- 5:25obstacles.
- 5:26So
- 5:26in
- 5:262012,
- 5:27Blakely
- 5:28was
- 5:29named
- 5:29the
- 5:29world's
- 5:30youngest
- 5:31self
- 5:31made
- 5:32billionaire
- 5:32by
- 5:33Forbes.
- 5:34She
- 5:34never
- 5:35saw
- 5:35external
- 5:36investment
- 5:36or
- 5:36sold
- 5:37equity
- 5:37in
- 5:37her
- 5:38company,
- 5:38maintaining
- 5:39complete
- 5:40control
- 5:40over
- 5:40Spanx
- 5:41and
- 5:42preserving
- 5:42her
- 5:43vision
- 5:43for
- 5:43the
- 5:43brand.
- 5:44So
- 5:44next
- 5:45comes,
- 5:45then
- 5:45giving
- 5:46back
- 5:46and
- 5:46inspiring
- 5:47others.
- 5:48Because
- 5:48Sara's
- 5:49success
- 5:49also
- 5:50amplified
- 5:51her
- 5:51commitment
- 5:51to
- 5:51give
- 5:52back.
- 5:52She
- 5:53founded
- 5:54the
- 5:54Sara
- 5:54Blakely
- 5:55foundation
- 5:55to
- 5:56support
- 5:56women
- 5:56through
- 5:57education
- 5:58and
- 5:58entrepreneurial
- 5:59training,
- 5:59meaning
- 6:00empowering
- 6:01those
- 6:01who
- 6:02face
- 6:02similar
- 6:03challenges.
- 6:03And
- 6:04her
- 6:04philanthropic
- 6:05efforts
- 6:05reflect
- 6:06her
- 6:06belief
- 6:06in
- 6:07lifting
- 6:08others
- 6:09as
- 6:09she
- 6:10climbs.
- 6:11So
- 6:11the
- 6:12legacy
- 6:12of
- 6:12empowerment.
- 6:14Today,
- 6:15Spanx
- 6:15is
- 6:16a
- 6:16global
- 6:16leader
- 6:16in
- 6:17shapewear
- 6:17market
- 6:18and
- 6:18Sara
- 6:18Blakely
- 6:19stands
- 6:19as
- 6:19an
- 6:20icon
- 6:20of
- 6:20female
- 6:21entrepreneurship.
- 6:22Her
- 6:22journey
- 6:23is
- 6:23not
- 6:23just
- 6:24about
- 6:24financial
- 6:25success,
- 6:25but
- 6:26breaking
- 6:27barriers,
- 6:27defying
- 6:28expectations,
- 6:29and
- 6:29creating
- 6:30a
- 6:30legacy
- 6:30of
- 6:30empowerment.
- 6:31So
- 6:32through
- 6:32resilience,
- 6:33innovation
- 6:34and
- 6:34absolute,
- 6:35unwavering
- 6:35belief
- 6:36in
- 6:36her
- 6:36vision,
- 6:37Sara
- 6:37Blakely
- 6:38redefined
- 6:39what
- 6:39it
- 6:39means
- 6:40to
- 6:40be
- 6:40a
- 6:41successful
- 6:41entrepreneur
- 6:42and
- 6:42inspired
- 6:43countless
- 6:43women
- 6:44around
- 6:44the
- 6:44world
- 6:45to
- 6:45follow
- 6:46in
- 6:46her
- 6:46footsteps.
- 6:47So
- 6:47Sara
- 6:48Blakely's
- 6:49story
- 6:49is
- 6:50a
- 6:50celebration
- 6:51of
- 6:51perseverance,
- 6:52innovation
- 6:53and
- 6:53empowerment.
- 6:54A
- 6:54powerful
- 6:55narrative
- 6:56that
- 6:56continues
- 6:57to
- 6:57inspire
- 6:57women
- 6:58to
- 6:58challenge
- 6:59societal
- 6:59norms,
- 7:00innovate
- 7:01fearlessly,
- 7:02and
- 7:02climb
- 7:03the
- 7:03highs
- 7:04of
- 7:04success.
- 7:05So
- 7:05remember,
- 7:06join
- 7:06me
- 7:06on
- 7:06the
- 7:07next
- 7:07episode,
- 7:08number
- 7:08three
- 7:09of
- 7:09our
- 7:09miniseries,
- 7:10all
- 7:10about
- 7:11female
- 7:11empowerment.
- 7:13Thanks
- 7:14for
- 7:14listening
- 7:14to
- 7:15dawn
- 7:15of
- 7:15a
- 7:16New
- 7:16Era,
- 7:16the
- 7:16podcast
- 7:17brought
- 7:17to
- 7:17you
- 7:17in
- 7:17association
- 7:18with
- 7:19the
- 7:19Her
- 7:19Power
- 7:20Community.
- 7:20This
- 7:21initiative
- 7:21was
- 7:22founded
- 7:22by
- 7:22myself
- 7:23and
- 7:23it's
- 7:23all
- 7:23about
- 7:23empowering
- 7:24female
- 7:24founders
- 7:25to
- 7:25recognize
- 7:26their
- 7:26limitless
- 7:27potential
- 7:28and
- 7:28pursue
- 7:29their
- 7:29ambitions
- 7:29with
- 7:30confidence.
- 7:31Now
- 7:31there
- 7:31is
- 7:31less
- 7:32than
- 7:321.8%
- 7:33that
- 7:33goes
- 7:33into
- 7:34investing
- 7:35in
- 7:35female
- 7:35founded
- 7:35businesses
- 7:36and
- 7:37we
- 7:37are
- 7:37here
- 7:38to
- 7:38make
- 7:38positive
- 7:39change.
- 7:39So
- 7:39come
- 7:39and
- 7:40support
- 7:40us
- 7:40on
- 7:40Instagram
- 7:41at
- 7:41Her
- 7:42Power
- 7:42Community
- 7:43and
- 7:43find
- 7:43out
- 7:43more
- 7:44about
- 7:44what
- 7:44we're
- 7:44doing
- 7:45to
- 7:45support
- 7:45female
- 7:46founders
- 7:46to
- 7:46scale
- 7:47and
- 7:47grow
- 7:47their
- 7:48businesses.