It began with a single boutique: In 2004, Tory Burch opened her first retail store in downtown Manhattan. Today, she has more than 300 locations worldwide, has grown her line into one of America’s most recognizable brands, and continues to be a tastemaker who’s pushing fashion forward.
In this week’s Wake-Up Call at Work, we’ve invited the iconic designer to discuss how she built her business from the ground up, why she decided to step back as CEO, and the one piece of career advice she wishes she would’ve known earlier. Plus, Burch gets candid about the barriers still facing women in business — and what she’s doing to help close the gap.
You launched Tory Burch with just one boutique in 2004. Looking back, what was the turning point that made you realize it would be a success?
Burch: The day we opened our store, we nearly sold through our inventory. It got so crowded that no one even noticed we had no front doors — they hadn’t arrived in time. It was February, so we had to improvise with some space heaters.
What’s one piece of advice you wish you received earlier in your career?
Hire slowly, fire quickly. I learned many lessons from doing the opposite.
What’s one regret you’ve had during your career — and what would you have done differently?
Refining my role was the best decision I ever made, and I wish I could have done it sooner. In 2019, I gave up the CEO title after 14 years so I could focus exclusively on design, and the difference has been night and day. Our collections have become a much more personal reflection of how I see women.
Where do you draw inspiration for your collections? And what do you do when you feel stuck creatively?
Inspiration is the easy part, it’s editing that’s more difficult. I get ideas everywhere: art, music, films, books… My team and I spend a lot of time at the New York Public Library.
What’s an emerging brand you’ve had your eye on — and why?
There’s an incredible new wave of young designers in New York right now: Ashlyn Park, Colleen Allen, and Zane Li are just a few.
The Tory Burch Foundation launched in 2009 — why did you decide to focus on women entrepreneurs?
That was in my business plan from day one. My concept was to build a global luxury brand that could support a foundation for women — a business driven by purpose.
I knew from experience that entrepreneurship was where I could create the most impact — and the foundation has become one of the most important resources for women entrepreneurs in the U.S.
What’s the biggest barrier female entrepreneurs face today?
Women face real inequities when it comes to starting a business, and access to capital remains a barrier. Women are starting businesses at record rates — nearly twice the pace of men — yet they still receive just 2% of venture capital funding.
Women also still have less access to the networks, education, and communities they need to succeed, and they face biases and stereotypes in the workplace. These gaps in access and equality don’t just hold women back — they hold everyone back. It’s an understatement to say that we still have a lot of work to do.
If you had to pick one of your products to wear every day, what would it be?
Our Lee Radziwil handbag. For our spring/summer 2026 show, we introduced a new take on it with sculpted silver handles.
What’s one fashion trend you think will be big this fall?
More-is-more accessories: Layered jewelry, statement eyewear, pins and charms.
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