Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago

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In this episode of WORK Conversations, Erika sits down with Kathy Ireland to talk about how she went from modeling to building one of the most successful licensing empires in the world. Kathy shares how rejection prepared her for entrepreneurship, why she started with socks instead of swim, how she evaluates partners, and what she looks for in great products and great people. They also get into her Dollar General partnership, the power of affordable luxury, how women drive household spending, and what it means to scale a brand with integrity. A rare look at the business mind behind one of the most recognizable names in American retail.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:48 – Kathy on Modeling and Rejection
04:43 – Launching Her Business
09:35 – Building a Brand
13:26 – Dollar General Partnership and Designing Affordable Luxury
17:20 – Growing a Global Business and Reinventing
30:52 – Final Reflections

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