BY: LEENA KHAN
Staff Writer
Tory Burch is America’s most successful career woman, as she built a billion-dollar fashion empire. She started her company from her kitchen table with no degree in business or design, because she knew that there was something missing from her life. Seventeen stores were open in the first five years when her goal was three. Now there are one hundred and thirty stores open – globally. As a child, Burch was not a girly girl. She was a tomboy who preferred sports over tea parties and jeans over dresses which shocked a lot of people because now she is a “girls” girl with a billion-dollar franchise. Her parents were very fashionable growing up, which must have influenced her. Going to a girl’s school instilled confidence and helped her learn how to support fellow women and not let jealousy get in the way. She worked at designer brands like Vera Wang and Ralph Lauren which helped her be exposed to more of the fashion industry. She had an Oprah moment and was exposed by the media which helped her grow. The next day their website had 8 million hits. She sees over 2500 employees and her pet peeve is employees being catty. She wants a straightforward and humble working fashion environment. One of Burch’s ideals is supporting women and she has a mini business school that is nine weeks long. Everything from legal advice to networking, it teaches entrepreneurs things they did not know before. “Embrace ambition” is something Burch lives by.