# Advice Line with Miguel McKelvey of WeWork

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-03-05
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework

## Summary

WeWork co-founder Miguel McKelvey joins host Guy Raz to advise three founders on scaling their physical product businesses. He advises Jane Barthell of Copa Threads on storytelling to justify high prices, Melissa Jensky of Good Grief on SEO and direct mail for care packages, and Lee Wright of The History List Store on leveraging podcasts and niche content to lower customer acquisition costs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework#t=0) Introduction: Miguel McKelvey and WeWork Reflections
- [7:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework#t=422) Advice for Copa Threads: Scaling Local Manufacturing
- [19:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework#t=1160) Advice for Good Grief: Marketing and SEO Strategy
- [32:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework#t=1967) Advice for The History List Store: Customer Acquisition
- [42:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework#t=2552) Founder Advice: Critical Self-Reflection

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- WeWork (company)
- Copa Threads (product)
- Good Grief (product)
- The History List Store (product)
- American Giant (company)
- Banana Republic (company)
- Chewy (company)
- Nike (company)
- Microsoft Gates Foundation (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [210: Using Ad Funnels for D2C Product Sales](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-01-19-210-using-ad-funnels-for-d2c-product-sales) (Product Startup)
- [093: Selling Products Direct to End-Customer Online](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-15-093-selling-products-direct-to-end-customer-online) (Product Startup)
- [#232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-20-232-2026-brand-resolutions) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [078: Selling Products Direct to End-Users via Shopify](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-06-02-078-selling-products-direct-to-end-users-via-shopify) (Product Startup)
- [76: Tom’s Future Corner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-01-12-76-toms-future-corner) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-05-advice-line-with-miguel-mckelvey-of-wework. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.