This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Northeastern chapter.
On Tuesday afternoon, I joined roughly 400 students, business people and fashionistas alike who filled Egan’s Raytheon Amphitheater to see world-renowned designer Tory Burch share her entrepreneurial insight for Startup America’s first anniversary celebration. With introductions by Northeastern sopho
more and Startup Massachusetts Director Cory Bolotsky, President Aoun and Massachusetts State Senator Karen Spilka
, Tory sat down with fellow entrepreneur Karen-Michelle Mirko to discuss the process, challenges and rewards of building a start-up business.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Tory built her empire from the ground up, finding her niche in th
e fashion industry and making her vision a reality. “It was a constant two years of gathering and sketching,” Tory explained, “and coming up with what I personally thought was the right space in the market.” With a history degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Tory had no design training or experience, which posed some difficulties when first developing her brand. “I had no design experience, and I was sketching poorly, so I needed to bring people in to help me sketch to help translate my thoughts onto paper. That was our first employee.” She shared with the audience her experience of starting her business from home while also taking care of her children. “I was working out of my apartment because I didn’t have money for an office… It was waking up at 7 and taking the boys to school, and it was like that for about two years until I got it up and running.”
Tory’s experience was inspiring to not only the budding entrepreneurs in the audience, but anyone with an idea or dream they strive to fulfill. Her Campus co-founder and Tory’s fellow Kappa Alpha Theta sister Windsor Hanger was in attendance, one of the many young, female entreprene
urs there to hear Tory’s wisdom. “Be tenacious, and believe in yourself and your concept,” Tory shared with the audience. “I’m the best at surroundi
ng myself with the best people… it’s all about the team for us.”
Tory’s life outside of her business was also inspiring, as she described her foundation’s work to help support female entrepreneurs like herself who are striving to develop a new business. She herself is inspired by the women she meets, and has hired women as 1,200 out of her 1,500 employees.
With her undeniable fashion sense and generosity towards the community, Tory’s words and presence were a true inspiration, not only to businesswomen at Northeastern, but anyone with big dreams for the future.
To watch the full discussion with Tory and more, visit the News@Northeastern website.
Photos: Ally Koss, tenthingsilike.wordpress
