Podcast Summary: Making Space with Hoda Kotb

Episode Title: Sarah Blakely On Learning From Failure and Trusting Your Intuition
Release Date: May 28, 2025
Guests: Sarah Blakely, Founder of Spanx
Host: Hoda Kotb

Introduction

In this inspiring episode of Making Space with Hoda Kotb, host Hoda Kotb engages in a heartfelt conversation with Sarah Blakely, the visionary founder of Spanx. Sarah shares her remarkable journey from selling fax machines door-to-door to becoming the youngest self-made female billionaire. Throughout the episode, Sarah delves into the themes of resilience, intuition, and the power of embracing failure as a stepping stone to success.

Sarah’s Early Life and Career Path

Sarah Blakely’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age. Originally aspiring to be a lawyer, Sarah’s plans took an unexpected turn after she failed the LSAT. Reflecting on this pivotal moment, she states:

Sarah Blakely [11:39]: “Those moments in life are such hidden blessings. It's like failures are life's way of nudging you a lot of time and letting you know you're off course.”

Without a formal business education, Sarah ventured into selling fax machines door-to-door. This experience honed her sales skills and instilled a relentless drive to succeed, which would later become crucial in her entrepreneurial endeavors.

Founding of Spanx

The genesis of Spanx was born out of personal necessity. Frustrated with traditional undergarments that left her uncomfortable panty lines, Sarah decided to create a solution. She recounts:

Sarah Blakely [09:14]: “Let me tell you how this is going to improve your life. Like, this is how you're spending your time now without a fax machine. This is what it's going to mean to you.”

With a modest investment of $5,000 from her fax machine sales, Sarah meticulously developed Spanx, focusing on product quality and consumer needs. Her hands-on approach and dedication laid the foundation for what would become a billion-dollar brand.

Sales Strategies and Building Spanx

Sarah’s innovative sales strategies played a significant role in Spanx’s success. Determined to place her product in high-end stores, she personally sold Spanx at Neiman Marcus for extended hours, immersing herself in the consumer experience. She shares a memorable tactic:

Sarah Blakely [05:44]: “I went to Target and I bought little envelope stands, and I would go and Renegade style, put them at every cash register in Neiman's, including Gift Wrapping, and throw like five Spanx envelopes in them and walk away.”

This guerrilla marketing approach not only increased product visibility but also demonstrated her commitment to the brand’s success. As a result, Spanx quickly gained traction, securing placements in prestigious department stores like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Dillard’s over two years.

Balancing Business and Family

Despite her burgeoning business, Sarah prioritized her personal life. She married at 37, after dedicating nearly a decade to building Spanx. Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood was challenging, but Sarah found a way to manage both by delegating responsibilities and building a trustworthy team.

Sarah Blakely [12:50]: “I staggered it. I started Spanx when I was 29. I got married at 37.”

Her husband’s support was pivotal, as he admired her professional achievements while also appreciating her role as a dedicated mother. This balance allowed Sarah to thrive both personally and professionally.

Decision to Sell Spanx

After 21 years of owning Spanx entirely, Sarah faced the difficult decision to sell a majority stake in her company. This decision was driven by an intuitive sense that she needed to free up mental space for new ventures and personal growth. She reflects on the emotional turmoil of letting go:

Sarah Blakely [20:35]: “It was extremely painful for me and really hard. I went through a tremendous amount of grief of letting go of something that I love that much.”

Despite holding onto a large portion of Spanx, Sarah recognized that continuing to focus solely on Spanx was limiting her potential for future endeavors. The decision, though painful, was necessary for her personal and professional evolution.

Transition to Sneaks and New Ventures

Embracing her entrepreneurial spirit, Sarah founded Sneaks, a company dedicated to creating comfortable high heels that could be worn with jeans. This new venture was motivated by her own desire for comfortable footwear and aimed to fill a gap in the market. She shares:

Sarah Blakely [25:05]: “I wanted the feeling of a really comfortable high heel that I could wear with jeans. So I was trying to fill a hole in my closet.”

Launching Sneaks was met with the same self-doubt and resilience that characterized her early years with Spanx. Despite taking a year to perfect the product, Sarah remained committed to her vision, demonstrating the same determination that led to Spanx’s success.

Personal Reflections and Life Lessons

Throughout the episode, Sarah emphasizes the importance of betting on oneself, embracing failure, and trusting one’s intuition. She imparts wisdom to listeners about the value of daydreaming and finding moments of clarity:

Sarah Blakely [37:15]: “Pay attention to where that happens for you. And I'm like, I tell people all the time, when do you daydream? When have you allocated time to daydream?”

Sarah also highlights the significance of fostering a supportive upbringing, where her father encouraged her and her brother to embrace failure as a learning opportunity. This mindset was instrumental in her entrepreneurial journey.

Conclusion

Sarah Blakely’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, intuition, and the willingness to embrace failure as a catalyst for growth. From her humble beginnings to building a billion-dollar brand and venturing into new entrepreneurial pursuits, Sarah exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit. Her insights offer valuable lessons for anyone seeking to make space for personal and professional growth in their own lives.

Hoda Kotb [38:19]: “It's going to be fun.”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sarah Blakely [03:10]: “Why not me?”
• Sarah Blakely [09:14]: “Let me tell you how this is going to improve your life.”
• Sarah Blakely [20:35]: “It was extremely painful for me and really hard.”
• Sarah Blakely [25:05]: “I wanted the feeling of a really comfortable high heel that I could wear with jeans.”
• Sarah Blakely [37:15]: “Pay attention to where that happens for you.”

Inspirational Takeaways:

• Embrace Failure: View setbacks as hidden blessings that guide you toward your true path.
• Trust Your Intuition: Listen to your inner voice when making significant life and business decisions.
• Balance and Delegation: Effectively balance professional ambitions with personal life by delegating tasks and building a supportive team.
• Continuous Growth: Always seek new opportunities for growth and transformation, even after achieving significant success.

Making Space with Hoda Kotb continues to provide listeners with profound insights and inspiring stories from remarkable individuals like Sarah Blakely. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that with resilience and self-belief, one can navigate through challenges and achieve extraordinary success.