E4: Sophia Amoruso on Nasty Gal and Girlboss: Burnout, Backlash, and Rebounding

"In The Arena"

Sophia Amoruso reflects on being the poster child of entrepreneurship with Nasty Gal and Girlboss, going from the cover of Forbes to bankruptcy in a matter of months. Jesse Genet and co-host Erik Torenberg talk to Sophia about what it’s actually like at the red-hot center of the zeitgeist, how to assess your own leadership strengths and weaknesses, and how to rebound in your career and life.

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In The Arena is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: Turpentine.co

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introducing Sophia Amoruso

(01:49) Describing Nasty Gal’s turning point

(05:00) Missed opportunities to exit: “I would have taken the money”

(08:00) How helpful is the team of C-level executives around a founder?

(12:00) Leadership burnout

(14:20) Tension between the rough waters at Nasty Gal and the success of Sophia’s book Nasty Gal

(16:33) Sponsor: Pesto.tech for remote developers

(20:00) Girlboss backlash: “If you stand for something, people will use it against you.”

(24:00) Politicization of Girlboss

(27:00) Toxic culture from a founder perspective

(31:00) Sophia’s support to other female founders who were taken down

(33:00) How do you defend yourself in the public arena?

(35:02) Accountability and lessons for what Sophia is doing now

(37:15) How to avoid entrepreneurial mistakes

(39:00) Sophia’s advice for other entrepreneurs

(41:40) Sophia’s mindset as an investor and advisor

LINKS:

Trust Fund VC https://www.trustfund.vc/

TWITTER:

@sophiaamoruso (Sophia)

@trustfundvc (Trust Fund)

@jessegenet (Jesse)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@InTheArena_Pod

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