Episode Summary: Serving up Success with Sloane Stephens of Doc & Glo

Podcast: The Unshakeables
Host: Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business
Co-host: Kathleen Griffith, iHeartPodcasts
Guest: Sloane Stephens, Professional Tennis Player and Founder of Doc & Glo
Release Date: April 1, 2025

1. Introduction to Sloane Stephens and Doc & Glo

The episode opens with Ben Walter introducing Sloane Stephens, a renowned professional tennis player who channels her on-the-go lifestyle and passion for clean beauty into her entrepreneurial venture, Doc & Glo. Trading in-home stability for a 40-week touring schedule, Sloane found herself yearning for high-quality, fragrance-free personal care products tailored to her active lifestyle.

Ben Walter [00:20]: "Sloane has been traveling 40 weeks a year."

2. The Genesis of Doc & Glo

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, confined within bubbles and locker rooms, Sloane's dissatisfaction with available personal care products inspired her to create Doc & Glo. Combining her love for cosmetics and skincare, she began experimenting with formulations, initially sharing samples with family and friends to garner feedback.

Sloane Stephens [02:35]: "I came up with the concept and the idea during COVID... Everyone just smelled really bad, and I was like, there has to be a better way."

3. The Branding Catastrophe

Just weeks before Doc & Glo's official launch, Sloane encountered a significant setback. Her website designer informed her that the branding and packaging of Doc & Glo were strikingly similar to another company's, effectively rendering her original branding unusable.

Sloane Stephens [00:52]: "The website looks exactly like this other company's... identical down to the packaging."

Faced with this dilemma, Sloane had to abandon her initial branding efforts, incurring substantial financial losses and delaying the product launch by a year and a half.

Sloane Stephens [01:24]: "We literally have to start over from scratch completely."

4. Resilience and Rebuilding

Despite the unexpected crisis, Sloane's tenacity didn't waver. Drawing from her athletic mindset, she swiftly pivoted, redesigning the brand from the ground up. The experience reinforced her vision and commitment to providing clean, effective beauty products for active individuals.

Sloane Stephens [15:14]: "We've come this far. Like, we can't stop here. We have to have this brand launch."

5. Athlete Entrepreneurship and Leadership Insights

Kathleen Griffith delves into the parallels between athletic discipline and entrepreneurial resilience. She highlights the "singularity of focus" Sloane embodies, emphasizing the importance of a clear vision and unwavering dedication.

Kathleen Griffith [08:42]: "Think about what is the vision of what you're looking to create... having a singularity of focus to realize that vision."

Ben Walter adds that many successful executives share a background in competitive sports, suggesting that the competitive mindset significantly contributes to business acumen.

Ben Walter [10:33]: "A lot of the senior executives... played competitive sports and were reasonably successful at it."

6. Balancing Multiple Ventures: Business and Foundation

Sloane manages not only her tennis career and Doc & Glo but also her philanthropic efforts through the Sloan Stephens Foundation. She discusses the challenges of juggling these responsibilities, particularly the emotional labor involved in entrepreneurship compared to the physical demands of tennis.

Sloane Stephens [23:54]: "Running a business is more emotional labor, for sure."

Her foundation focuses on providing access to tennis and educational resources for underprivileged children, reflecting her commitment to community empowerment.

Sloane Stephens [24:05]: "Getting access to those kids to be able to play the sport of tennis... showing them that there's a little bit more on the other side."

7. Fundraising Challenges and Future Directions for Doc & Glo

As Doc & Glo seeks to scale, Sloane confronts the complexities of fundraising, including equity distribution and maintaining the brand's integrity. She expresses concerns over compromising ownership and the strategic decisions required to attract investors without diluting her vision.

Sloane Stephens [26:35]: "Where do you go from there? How much do you give away? What's smart?"

Looking ahead, Sloane plans exciting collaborations and retail expansions to make Doc & Glo more accessible, even considering giving away products to build brand loyalty and reach a broader audience.

Sloane Stephens [27:18]: "I want the brand to scale... to get as many people product in their hands to try it and experience it."

8. Navigating Brand Originality in a Competitive Market

The discussion shifts to the broader business landscape, emphasizing the fine line between inspiration and imitation. Kathleen Griffith advises entrepreneurs to ensure their brands maintain uniqueness to avoid legal pitfalls and preserve brand integrity.

Kathleen Griffith [19:34]: "Am I copying or am I setting my business up for someone to copy me?"

Ben Walter echoes this sentiment, distinguishing between copying a product versus a brand and advocating for originality to foster genuine success.

Ben Walter [20:58]: "I'd rather be copied than accused of copying."

9. Sloane’s Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Concluding the episode, Sloane imparts her philosophy on perseverance and dedication. She encourages business owners to adopt a championship mindset, emphasizing that success is a matter of "when," not "if."

Sloane Stephens [28:23]: "It's not if, it's when. Because you put all the work in, you've dedicated yourself... the end is win, not if."

10. Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Kathleen Griffith and Ben Walter reflect on Sloane's remarkable ability to juggle multiple demanding roles. They commend her for exemplifying the athlete-entrepreneur archetype, inspiring listeners to adopt similar resilience and focus in their ventures.

Kathleen Griffith [31:52]: "I think you can absolutely do well by doing good."

Ben Walter [32:09]: "She's really running three businesses... that seems like a lot."

The episode wraps up by highlighting the synergy between athletic discipline and entrepreneurial success, leaving listeners motivated by Sloane Stephens' unyielding spirit and strategic acumen.

Notable Quotes:

• Sloane Stephens [03:09]: "I wanted to create products for people who could also have their own little hotel in their bag."

• Kathleen Griffith [08:42]: "Spend time really solid time on crafting your vision, and then you have that singularity of focus to realize that vision."

• Ben Walter [10:33]: "There is no doubt that that competitive mindset translates."

• Sloane Stephens [28:23]: "It's not if, it's when."

This episode of The Unshakeables masterfully encapsulates the intersection of sports, entrepreneurship, and resilience. Sloane Stephens' journey with Doc & Glo serves as a compelling narrative of overcoming adversity, maintaining unwavering focus, and leveraging athletic discipline to build a meaningful and impactful business.