Nasty Gal's Sophia Amoruso: #GIRLBOSS | Disrupt NY 2014 | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

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Summary

In this video, Sophia Amoruso, the founder of Nasty Gal and author of the book #GIRLBOSS, is interviewed about various topics including her journey as an entrepreneur, her mistakes, her views on feminism, and her thoughts on personal and professional growth.

Questions & Answers

Q: Do you think #GIRLBOSS is a good thing for the world?

Sophia Amoruso states that she does not think about other people's secrets very much, as she is focused on writing her book. She also mentions that the hashtag has been good for free marketing.

Q: Where did you find the time to write your book?

Sophia explains that she took chunks of time out of her busy office schedule and worked on the book from home. She compares it to the days when she used to work from home with her laptop, dedicating time to writing.

Q: Do you pronounce the hashtag when saying #GIRLBOSS?

Sophia admits that she doesn't say hashtag out loud and refers to it as "hey, GIRLBOSS." She also mentions that the hashtag has been beneficial for free marketing and discusses it in detail in the book.

Q: Did you plan on speaking at conferences when you wrote #GIRLBOSS?

Sophia explains that speaking at conferences was not her goal when she wrote the book. She mentions that it would have been a distraction and that her focus was on other aspects of her business. However, she is glad that she now has the opportunity to speak at conferences.

Q: How did you get to where you are today?

Sophia tells her story of starting an eBay store at age 22, selling vintage clothing. From there, she launched Nasty Gal and eventually grew it to a multi-million dollar company with hundreds of employees.

Q: What was your biggest mistake on your journey to becoming a #GIRLBOSS?

Sophia reflects on being more loyal to individual employees than to the overall company. She shares a story of a manager who she was wary of hiring directly and how it ultimately resulted in a difficult situation during a busy season.

Q: What is the message you want people to take away from your book?

Sophia describes her book as part business book, part life Bible. She emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes, being the boss of one's own life, and not listening to societal expectations or limitations.

Q: Will there be a Nasty Gal line of workwear in the future?

Sophia acknowledges the need for work-appropriate clothing for their primarily 20-something customers. She mentions that they have begun designing their own products to have more control over quality and that workwear is something they are focused on.

Q: Do you think more women should be in positions of leadership and power?

Sophia expresses her support for more women in the workplace and on boards but does not believe in a strict 50/50 division. She believes in creating her own path and does not frame her life in terms of gender-related barriers or biases.

Q: What do you miss the most about your early days of dumpster diving?

Sophia reflects on the naivety she had during those times and the sense of adventure and freedom that came with it. She mentions that she misses the carefree feeling of living in a small space and pursuing her passions without constraints.

Q: Can anyone achieve success and accessibility like you have?

Sophia believes that anyone can use the resources available to them, be smart and resourceful, and pursue their passions to achieve their own version of greatness. She encourages individuals to be their own idols and compete with themselves for personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

Sophia Amoruso's interview sheds light on various aspects of her journey as an entrepreneur and the lessons she has learned along the way. She emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes, being the boss of one's own life, and pursuing greatness without being limited by societal expectations or gender biases. Her book, #GIRLBOSS, serves as a guide for readers to find inspiration in her experiences and discover their own path to success.