# How I Built Resilience: Live with Sarah LaFleur

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-05-23
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur

## Summary

Sarah LaFleur, founder of MM LaFleur, discusses how her women's workwear brand pivoted during the pandemic as customers shifted to remote work. She explains recontextualizing inventory, such as renaming 'origami suiting' pants to 'joggers,' and launching virtual styling appointments that now drive significant revenue. LaFleur also details the acceleration of their 'power casual' category and the importance of maintaining a supportive executive team to navigate leadership stress.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur#t=0) Introduction and Early Pandemic Impact
- [2:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur#t=168) Inventory Strategy and Recontextualizing Products
- [4:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur#t=260) Leadership Stress and Executive Team Support
- [8:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur#t=486) Virtual Appointments and Community Building
- [12:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur#t=740) Pivot to Power Casual and Future of Work
- [14:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-23-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-sarah-lafleur#t=879) Marketing Adaptation and Women in the Workforce

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- MM LaFleur (company)
- Rent the Runway (company)
- Colby pants (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Miyako (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Leading Your Team in the New Normal | Sales & Marketing Game Changers Mini-Series | Ep. 4 of 4](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2020-10-02-leading-your-team-in-the-new-normal-sales-marketing-game-changers-mini-series-ep) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-19-006-customizable-swimwear-with-kelsey-duffy-of-versakini) (Product Startup)
- [S6E29 Joshua Tarbutton | Lessons From the Military Applied to Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-07-18-s6e29-joshua-tarbutton-lessons-from-the-military-applied-to-engineering) (Being an Engineer)
- [044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-14-044-turning-customizable-jackets-into-a-multi-million-dollar-business-elyse-dani) (Product Startup)
- [#59 Welcome to the Oat Haus! Celebrity Collaboration, Sprouts Launch, and Mental Health with Ali Bonar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-08-30-59-welcome-to-the-oat-haus-celebrity-collaboration-sprouts-launch-and-mental-hea) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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