Episode #34: Taking a Risk and Following your Passion: Margaux Co-Founder Alexa Buckley
Hi everyone! Super excited to share my conversation with my friend Alexa Buckley. Alexa is 27, grew up right outside Philadelphia, went to Episcopal Academy for high school, and then went on to Harvard University. During her senior year at Harvard, she and her friend Sarah Pierson came up the dream of starting their own shoe company called Margaux. Although they were passionate about the idea, they had already committed to jobs in venture capitalism and consulting. However, they suddenly became inspired when they heard Sheryl Sandberg give the commencement speech to their graduating class at Harvard in 2014. Sheryl asked, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” That moment sparked the fire in Alexa and Sarah to forego their planned corporate jobs, take a risk, and dive head first into starting Margaux.
In the spring of 2015, just a year after their graduation, they successfully launched Margaux, which has evolved over the past three years into standard and made-to-measure comfortable and chic ballet flats, loafers, slippers, sandals, and boots. They have had several pop-up stores all over the country in places like San Fran, Boston, Palm Beach, and Nantucket and just last month opened their very first flagship store on Bleeker Street in the West Village in NYC. Throughout our conversation, Alexa takes us on her entrepreneurial journey over the past three and half a years. We talk about the setbacks, the rejections, the importance of resilience, the ah-ha moments, working with a best friend, and so much more. I especially loved how Alexa told her story in such a humble manner. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!
Also, with Thanksgiving coming up, I wanted to let you all know that my good friend Brittany Fenkel and her family just published an awesome children’s picture book based on their true story of how they cook for a homeless shelter every Thanksgiving and all the great feelings that go along with it. There aren’t many Thanksgiving books out there for kids and this one is very sweet (it also makes a great gift!). A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book goes to Project Home. The book can be purchased through their website www.gobblesgivesaturkey.com. Link in the show notes!
Books: Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
Website: https://margauxny.com/