If you're an entrepreneur or aspiring to be one, you're likely familiar with the challenges of starting and growing a business. Learning from successful entrepreneurs who have overcome those challenges can be incredibly inspiring and informative. That's where “How I Built This with Guy Raz” comes in.
Hosted by award-winning journalist and author Guy Raz, “How I Built This” is a podcast that features interviews with some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, including women leaders Sara Blakely, Katrina Lake, and Whitney Wolfe. The podcast explores the journeys of these entrepreneurs, from their early struggles and failures to their ultimate success.
Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx, a company that revolutionized the shapewear industry. In her interview with Guy Raz, she shared how she started the company with just $5,000 and went on to become a billionaire. Everything from how she started by selling machines door-to-door, to how she pitched Spanx to retailers is discussed in this episode, demonstrating the power of perseverance and grit. Her story highlighted the value of innovation and creativity, as the idea for Spanx came by cutting off the feet of her pantyhose. An important lesson she learned was that taking risks is worth it. Against the advice of many, she launched her products while still continuing to innovate and improve, and did so without any advertising, proving to herself and others that her product is in good demand and desired.
Katrina Lake is the founder of Stitch Fix, a company that uses data and technology to personalize clothing selections for customers. In her interview, she described how she started the company while still in graduate school and grew it into a publicly traded company with a valuation of over $2 billion. One of the key takeaways is Lake's emphasis on the importance of data and technology in driving the success of Stitch Fix. She shared how the company's use of data and algorithms has allowed it to provide customers with highly personalized recommendations and create a more efficient and effective supply chain.
Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder of Bumble, a dating app that empowers women by giving them control over the initial contact. In her episode, she talked about how left another popular dating app, to build one that revolved around kindness and respect. The conversation with Raz also delved into the challenges Herd faced in building Bumble, including dealing with online harassment and managing rapid growth. However, despite these obstacles, Bumble achieved great success and Herd believes that is due to the fact that they prioritized their company culture which values diversity, inclusivity, and empowering women.
These episodes and others like them are not only inspiring but also provide valuable insights for women entrepreneurs. The stories of these successful leaders demonstrate that it's possible to overcome challenges and achieve success, even in industries that are traditionally male-dominated.