Hardware Podcasts

Steve Madden: Steve Madden

How I Built This · 16 Jul 2018 · 51m

What this episode covers

Steve Madden, founder of Steve Madden Shoes, recounts how he pivoted from selling platform shoes in high school to launching a brand that bridged the gap between affordable and high-end fashion, eventually reaching a $3 billion valuation. He details his early career at L.J. Simone, his decision to go public with the help of Stratton Oakmont, and the subsequent securities fraud scheme that led to his 31-month prison sentence. Madden explains how he returned to the company in 2005, leveraging his design instincts and hiring strong operational leadership to scale the business while remaining creatively involved.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Steve Madden, Stratton Oakmont, L.J. Simone, Toulouse, 9 West
Products
Manolo Blahnik, Balenciaga, Keyboard Waffle Iron, Smith Corona

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