1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to She Pivots. I'm your host to Emily Tish Sussman. 2 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: One of my goals in starting this podcast is to 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: highlight voices and stories of women who went through something 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: deeply personal, only to come out of it on the 5 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: other side better than they could have imagined. After launching 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: She Pivots last year, it's clear it's not a small group. 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: This applies to most women, whether it's a big pivot 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: or even just a tiny pivot. What's clear is there's 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: still a lot of unpacking to do around pivoting. So 10 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: as we're continuing to build this platform and community through 11 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: new episodes, I wanted to also bring you more stories, 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: unfiltered and honest. So I'll be sitting down with more women, 13 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: maybe the occasional man, some of whom have mastered their 14 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,959 Speaker 1: own pivot, some are just starting the pivoting journey. Are 15 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: some just have something to teach us about the deeply 16 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: personal moments of life. So stay tuned for more of 17 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: the these candid conversations this season. This week, I'm excited 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: to share my conversation with Sarah Lafleur from my weekly 19 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: getting down to business series thun Marie Claire's Instagram. Sarah 20 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,279 Speaker 1: is CEO and co founder of the popular clothing brand 21 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: mm Lafleur. Sarah is a fellow Pivoter who got her 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: start as a management consultant. Frustrated by the lack of 23 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,759 Speaker 1: women's work where options that are both stylish and practical, 24 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: she launched m M Laflur in twenty thirteen and it's 25 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: been growing ever since. To shop all of mm Lafleur's 26 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: elevated pieces, visit mmlafleur dot com. Let's jump right in 27 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: today we are going to be joined by Sarah Lafleur, 28 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: founder of mm Lafleur. So, okay, Sarah Lafleur, you founded 29 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: mm lafleur, your brand, which is I think we're wearing 30 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: it all here, like comfortable stylish work where. How did 31 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: you get into fashion? 32 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: First of all, thank you for having me. And I'm 33 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 2: not gonna lie. I'm having like just a tiny bit 34 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: of PTSD right now because the last time I did 35 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: an Instagram live it was in an Ikea and I 36 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 2: was like, Oh, it's totally fun. I'm just gonna like 37 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: sit in one of these corners and basically it looks 38 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: like my living room and I didn't realize that the 39 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: entire time I was doing it, the only thing that 40 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: was showing was my forehead. And so this time I 41 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: decided I was going to do it properly from the office. 42 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: We appreciate that, and I be sure to let you 43 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: know if we can see less than. 44 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. I appreciate it. But anyway, yes, 45 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 2: so I started on them, you know, kind of on 46 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 2: a whim. I did not have a career in fashion. 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: In fact, I had never even thought about going into 48 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: fashion before I started this business. I was a management 49 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 2: consultant coming out of school. I dabbled in private equity. 50 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: I just I you know, really, I mean, I still 51 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: honestly don't even feel like I work in fashion, even 52 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: though that is definitely the industry. And now I think 53 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 2: the only connection is my mother used to organ high 54 00:02:58,040 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: in fashion when I was growing up, and she was 55 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: definitely and still lives very much my idol. And I 56 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 2: loved watching her getting dressed for work, and I always 57 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: thought of this as like the super woman transformation process. 58 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 2: And she always looked I mean, she has the best taste, 59 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: and she just always looked so amazing walking out the door, 60 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: and I kind of thought to myself, that's who I 61 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: want to look like when I grow up. And I 62 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: started my first job and I started shopping for work. 63 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 2: I realized just how hard it was to look like 64 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: my mom, and you know, a lot of clothes that 65 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: I could afford with my salary at that point was 66 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: it was pretty poor tailoring. The fabric was not great quality, 67 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 2: and so I was like, oh, someone should do something 68 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: about this. Someone should, you know, come up with better 69 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: clothing for busy working women. I just never thought I 70 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: would be the one to do it, but I was 71 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: at my job in private equity. It was not a 72 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: good fit for me. I kind of ran out of there, 73 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: thinking I don't know what I want to do next 74 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: with my life. And I said, okay, I've always had 75 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: this idea that there should be a business that creates 76 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: beautiful tailored clothing for busy working women. Maybe now is 77 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 2: my chance to do it. And was over a decade ago. 78 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: Do you remember what the first piece was that you made? 79 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: Did you like kind of organize around one look? 80 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: So I am not the designer, which I think many 81 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 2: of you will be relieved to know, because you're like, 82 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: what does this woman work in finance know about clothing, 83 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 2: and it's true, I know very little, but it's my 84 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: co founder, my partner, Miyako Naka Mura. I actually met 85 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: her through a headhunter, of all places. People are I think, 86 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: always surprised to hear that, because it's not usually how 87 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: many people go about finding their co founders. But she 88 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: used to be the head designers posing at Jason Wu. 89 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 2: She was just incredibly, incredibly talented, and I sent her. 90 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 3: You know, I find dresses to be one of the 91 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 3: most practical things. 92 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: You know, it's kind of the adult onesie, right if 93 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: you put it on your doctor to worry about what 94 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 2: what does a mix and match with? 95 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: And so although I do wear a lot of onesies, 96 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: I have to say, and you know what power to you. 97 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: I mean, it's like you put it on and five 98 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: seconds later you're out the door. So but yeah, so 99 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: we decided to go with dresses. We said, let's do 100 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,599 Speaker 2: a line of seven dresses, and that is literally what 101 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 2: we launched with. We made the samples and I think 102 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 2: honestly that processing of itself took us six months, and 103 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 2: then we started selling them through Trump shows in hotels, 104 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 2: which sounds very fancy, but honestly, it was like the 105 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 2: way we could do retail without actually committing to a 106 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: retail store, and so we hosted them at these hotel suites. 107 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: We brought samples and then we took orders based on that, 108 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 2: and that was really the start of the start of 109 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: the business back in April twenty eleven. 110 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 1: So wild, Okay. So this conversation, this public interview, conversation 111 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: between you and I is three years almost to the 112 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: day in the making, because we were supposed to have 113 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: met in April twenty twenty. The beginning of April twenty twenty, M. M. 114 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: Lafleur was hosting I guess, a series of conversations of 115 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: panels or maybe it's one panel, I'm not sure if 116 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: it's one or more that I was supposed to come 117 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: to and be on I guess. And I had the 118 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: third baby mid February of twenty twenty, and I was 119 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: so focused on being able to get back to work 120 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: right now way that this paneling or having this conversation 121 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: with you in April was the thing I was focused 122 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: on that I was like, if I can just pull 123 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: myself together, like that will be me getting myself reasonably 124 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: back to work. And then obviously we all know what 125 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 1: happened in March twenty twenty. But nevertheless, I continued to 126 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: hold in my mind that this conversation would be happening 127 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 1: at Brookfields like one person, and I was like, well, 128 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: pull it together, Emily, you got to do it for 129 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: a memlal floor. You got to get it together. 130 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 3: Like. 131 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: It never occurred to me that it was not going 132 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: to happen. 133 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: First of all, so honored that you felt the need 134 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 2: to pull yourself together for moderating one of our panels, 135 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 2: So thank you. And second of all, having also had kids, 136 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: I now know that it took me at least two 137 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: years post babe feel somewhat put together. So amazing that 138 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 2: you had that fault. Yeah, they're involved. Instagram Live even exist, No, 139 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 2: I don't know it existed, but we didn't use it. 140 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: We did use it, that's for sure. And here we 141 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: are like actually having this conversation virtually. 142 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: So actually pulling it together. But even so, at that 143 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: point you had been in business for I guess probably 144 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: seven eight nine years. I can only imagine the impact 145 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: a work shutdown had on workwear a workware brand. 146 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean, what was that like for you guys? 147 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: It was it was traumatizing you know, I think I 148 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: think now I am. I don't know what stage of 149 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 2: you know, recovery I'm on, but I'm I think I'm 150 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: past acceptance and I'm starting to be able to talk 151 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: about it. But the three years of the pandemic, which 152 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 2: we initially thought was going to be two weeks, you know, 153 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: so cute. I remember us, you know, putting notices on 154 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 2: all of our stores, I think we had eight or 155 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 2: nine at that point, saying we'll see you in two weeks. 156 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 2: And unfortunately, all but two of those stores we actually closed, 157 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 2: and our revenue took a nose dive. It was a really, 158 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: really difficult time. Twenty twenty was obviously incredibly difficult, and 159 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 2: I think even twenty twenty one, when I think a 160 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 2: lot of people had kind of moved on and started 161 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: to think about what does the post COVID life look like, 162 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 2: a lot of people still mostly weren't, you know, back outside. 163 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: And it really wasn't until twenty twenty two that our 164 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: revenue started to grow again and we started seeing everyone. 165 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: It would not even go back to the office, but 166 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: just like emerge and be outside and getting ready to 167 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: be dressed again, as opposed to you know, living in 168 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 2: our pajamas day and night, and as a business, like internally, 169 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 2: we had to go through a big transformation to say, 170 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 2: what are women going to want to wear now? And 171 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 2: it looks actually quite different from the way we were 172 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 2: dressing back in twenty nineteen. You know, I you know, 173 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 2: dresses used to be a third of our business, and 174 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: I think, you know, talking about how the company started 175 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 2: with a line of seven dresses. Those dresses really were 176 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 2: the bread and butter of our business for the first 177 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: seven years, and I think through COVID, a lot of 178 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 2: people moved away from dresses. You know, pants are really 179 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 2: our biggest business now. Our jacket sales have actually doubled 180 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: since pre COVID. So it's not that women so much 181 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: are not dressing up anymore, but the way they're dressing 182 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 2: it looks actually quite different from the way we used 183 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 2: to get dressed pre pandemic. 184 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: That's so interesting. Did you have to change kind of 185 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty and twenty twenty one to I feel 186 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,719 Speaker 1: like everyone was chasing at leisure wear, like did you 187 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: have to do like fancy at leisure wear or like 188 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: just tops? 189 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 2: Like what was that? 190 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: So yes, we definitely leaned into the message. 191 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 2: Of you know, kind of business on the top, party 192 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: on the bottom, and I think we were calling it 193 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: mullet dressing, and so we definitely saw top sales increase, 194 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 2: bottom sales were declining and all of that. But I 195 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: think our biggest transformation as a business was leaning into 196 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 2: this concepts that we're now calling power casual. And so, 197 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: you know, what is power casual? I think if most 198 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 2: of the clothing we were selling before the pandemic was 199 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 2: tailored suits and dresses and skirts, so call it, you know, 200 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 2: business formal and business casual, and then you've got kind 201 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 2: of casual all the way at the bottom, so that's 202 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 2: like jeans and sweatpants and whatnot. 203 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 3: Then what we've introduced as a as a business. 204 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: Is this idea in the middle called power casual, which 205 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 2: is you're not in kind of whatever you'd be wearing 206 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 2: on Saturdays and Sundays, but you're also not dressing up 207 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 2: as though you're going into a war meeting. It's something 208 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 2: in between. And I think actually the kind of relaxed 209 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 2: pant that we just showed us right, coupled with the 210 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 2: jacket on top, that is like very much a signature 211 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: look for the power casual dress. Code. And I think 212 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 2: the jacket is now becoming this like all important signifier 213 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: because if you take off the jacket, which you know, 214 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 2: let me just do right now, it's kind of just 215 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: like it's it's just a knit top and I would 216 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 2: be rolling around the floor with my kids in this, 217 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 2: and it's it's machine washable, it's very easy. As soon 218 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 2: as I put my jacket on, it's I'm getting down 219 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 2: to business with Emily. So you know, I think I 220 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 2: think that's that's been the interesting transition we've made at 221 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: a business. But as a business, we also made a 222 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 2: ton of mistakes. Like I think we were like, oh 223 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 2: my gosh, what pants sales are you know skyrocketing? We 224 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 2: should make sweatpants, and we did, and let me tell you, 225 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: they bombed. And so I think that's just like another 226 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 2: lesson for us, which she is, you know, stick to 227 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: what you're good at, and that's what customers come to 228 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: you for. 229 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: I didn't know the term power cashful until right now, 230 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: and now I feel like it actually describes my look 231 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: at all times. Right this like is legitimate an outfit 232 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: that I am all the time. Like I can drive 233 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: to drop my kids off in these because I live 234 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: in the suburbs and I can go pick them up 235 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: in this and feel super comfortable, and I don't feel 236 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: silly like I'm like overdressed for whatever I'm doing at school, 237 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: and I feel comfortable. I feel cool, Like I feel like, yeah, 238 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: I am getting down to business. Yeah. 239 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 2: But you're like, yeah, she's she's she has it together. 240 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: I mean, she has a jacket off. 241 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 1: Look how poled together she is. 242 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 2: That is an that's exactly right. 243 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: That is a jacket. 244 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 2: That's a tailor jacket. 245 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: Well, you have pioneered all sorts of amazing programs alongside 246 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: with launching the business, which I love so much. Even 247 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: pre pandemic, you would offered to dress women who were 248 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,719 Speaker 1: running for office, which is so smart. It just not 249 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,599 Speaker 1: something that people think about. But of course they're not 250 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: ready to dress for it. I mean, and the response 251 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: you got will tell us about the responses you got 252 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: when you launched it. 253 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: It was crazy. And to be clear, I think this 254 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 2: all started with Cynthia Nixon declaring who her googernatorial run 255 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 2: for New York governor. And I actually saw her. My 256 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 2: co founder and I were having launch at a cafe 257 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 2: and I saw her walk into the cafe and I said, 258 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 2: I'm going to go walk over and picture on MM. 259 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 2: And I said, hey, Cynthia, you know love sex in 260 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,719 Speaker 2: the city. Always been a Miranda fan. I know you're 261 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: going to be on the campaign trail a lot. I 262 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 2: think you should wear amal slirt. And she was very 263 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 2: nice about it. She says, sounds lovely, like you know, 264 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 2: here's my card, contact, my stylist, blah blah blah, and 265 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 2: long story short, she wore us. I mean, I want 266 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 2: to say ninety percent of the campaign trail and she 267 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 2: looked fantastic doing it. And I think that was kind 268 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 2: of the beginning the inklings of what was to come. 269 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: And we started seeing MM on a lot of congresswomen, 270 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 2: a lot of senators and I shouldn't say a lot 271 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 2: because there aren't that many females senators, but you know, 272 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 2: percentage said we saw them on the sum and I 273 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 2: was like, you know, I think I think our clothes 274 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 2: are and they pulled really long hours, right, and they're 275 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 2: having to travel from point A to point B all 276 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 2: the time, but they also need to get put together. 277 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: And I was like, clearly, our clothes are suited for that. 278 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 2: And so when the twenty twenty election, campaign was coming, 279 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 2: election was coming up, we said, and so much of 280 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 2: what we've wanted to do always as a company is 281 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:30,599 Speaker 2: get more women to run for office, regardless of what 282 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 2: party they belonged to. And so we said, hey, women, 283 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 2: women out there, wherever you are on the ballot, up 284 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 2: and down. You know, I think local corner was actually 285 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 2: a rule that is an elected official. And so we said, 286 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: you know, wherever you are on the ballot, if you're 287 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 2: running for office, we will wrench you the clothes. Come 288 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: sign up, let us take at least this pain off 289 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 2: of your mind. And we had fifteen hundred responses. It 290 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,199 Speaker 2: was incredible, It kind of it really blew it out 291 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: of the water. I think a lot of the exciting 292 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 2: things that happened around that, and you know, we heard 293 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 2: from women who I don't think people think of as 294 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 2: obvious politicians. You know, one that particularly stands out in 295 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,839 Speaker 2: my mind as a woman who wrote to us from 296 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 2: Rhode Island. She was saying, I'm a single mom of two, 297 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: I live on the poverty line. I definitely couldn't afford 298 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: your clothes. But I think it's really important for Rhode 299 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 2: Island to hear from women like me, and so I'm 300 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 2: going to make a run for it, and this is 301 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: going to make it that much easier for me to 302 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 2: be on the campaign trail, So thank you. You know, 303 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 2: we heard from from kind of just. 304 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: Individuals all across the gamut, and you. 305 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 2: Know, I'm happy to say I think we our success 306 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 2: rate was very high. I think it was something like 307 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 2: thirty seven percent of women actually got elected to office. 308 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 2: So that was really exciting. And you know, I think 309 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 2: a moment that will stick with me is actually AOC 310 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 2: tweeted about this campaign, and I think she summed it 311 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: up better than I ever could have. She said, you know, 312 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 2: when you're running for office, getting people to imagine you 313 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 2: as a politician that can represent you is a huge 314 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 2: part of winning the campaign, and clothing goes a long 315 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 2: way and being able to tell that story. So you know, 316 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: we were so excited to be able to contribute in 317 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 2: our very very small way, even though there's a long 318 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 2: way to go before we actually get to parody and government. 319 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: No, I love that so much. When you launched that campaign, 320 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: I was still more actively working in politics, and I 321 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: remember thinking, oh, my goodness, that is so smart. Are 322 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: my idols Like they just thought of something that is 323 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: the one of the huge barriers to actually letting women 324 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: in like I want to be friends with them, Like 325 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: that is amazing. They are my idols. I love that. 326 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: I love that so much. And recently this year, you 327 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: sent out a letter as if it was ten years 328 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: in the future and the things that you would have 329 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: accomplished in ten years. I've never seen a business do 330 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: that before. I loved it so much. So what was 331 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: in that letter? 332 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 2: You know? It was a press release, So it was 333 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 2: an exercise actually that Amazon apparently frequently does and it's 334 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: called p are a fake, so it's press release frequently 335 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 2: asked questions. A friend who actually is an executive at 336 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 2: Amazon encouraged me to do this and she said, you know, 337 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 2: it's it's just going to give you a better understanding 338 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 2: of what your priorities are. And she was absolutely right. 339 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 2: And my opening statement of this this PRFAQ was MM 340 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 2: Lafleur opens a woman's workforce center in partnership with Bottomless 341 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 2: Closet and the International Rescue Committee, which are two nonprofits 342 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 2: that we've worked very closely with over I want to 343 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 2: say six or seven years now. And I ended up 344 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: sharing this with my team and I said you know, 345 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 2: I've loved running MM over the past decade, but the 346 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 2: pandemic was really hard. And you know, a lot of 347 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: my closest and most trusted advisors actually told me, you know, Sarah, 348 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 2: this would be a really good time for you to 349 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 2: sell the business or move on to something else. And 350 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 2: I ended up really really having to listen to that 351 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 2: like tiny inner voice, and it told me, you know, 352 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 2: you love what you do and you're going to stay 353 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 2: put right and this is what you're going to do. 354 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 2: And when I think about the next ten years for me, 355 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: of course, I wanted to be a bigger company. I 356 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 2: wanted to generate more revenue, more profit. But if I 357 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 2: do just that, it won't be enough for me, and 358 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 2: there has to be something more than that. And being 359 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 2: able to touch women beyond our direct customers like that 360 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 2: actually needs to become one of our biggest goals as 361 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 2: a business. And hopefully opening this workforce center in collaboration 362 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: with a partner like Bottomless Closet, which is an amazing 363 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 2: organization that works to get women in the New York 364 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 2: City area back into jobs. You know, to be able 365 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 2: to do something like that, that would be a true 366 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 2: dream come true. So anyway, I share this with my team. 367 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 2: I think it was in October of twenty two, thinking 368 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 2: it would be just an internal conversation, but then my 369 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 2: team kind of said to me, like, this is actually 370 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 2: the stuff that really inspired us to want to keep 371 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: working at a memal Flur, and so you need to 372 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 2: share it with the external world. And so we did 373 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: this kind of unconventional thing of sharing like what is 374 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 2: a very internal document with our customers, and so that 375 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 2: is the letter, and yeah, you know, we have a 376 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 2: lot of we're talking about sustainability in there, which has 377 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 2: been a huge part of our business, you know, for 378 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 2: the past decade and continue will continue to be and 379 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 2: hopefully becoming just an amazing company and continue to stay 380 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 2: an amazing company for women to work out. 381 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: I loved it so much. I obviously love the clothes, 382 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 1: and I like power casual as we've just been very 383 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: clearly discussing. But people want more now, like they want 384 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: to know that the businesses they are supporting support them, 385 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: and they want to know where businesses stand. I have 386 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,400 Speaker 1: always felt like like I like to dress by brands 387 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 1: that I believe in, that our women founded, that are 388 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: women designed, because I kind of feel like I have 389 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 1: like my armor of my girls squad with me. Yes, 390 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: I just it's like very important to me, Like I 391 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: feel like we're all in it together, like I have 392 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: my crew, I have my ladies, And so to put 393 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: it out there, I thought was so different. I'd never 394 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 1: seen anything like it before. Did you get response back 395 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: from customers beyond what you had heard from before? 396 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,640 Speaker 2: Yes, we Actually it was one of those moments where, 397 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 2: this is the funny thing about marketing campaigns, you kind 398 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 2: of immediately know or not it's a success. And even 399 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: though this wasn't a marketing campaign, it was more a 400 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 2: vision statement sharing. You know, I heard from kind of 401 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 2: people across the industry saying I'm going to do this, 402 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 2: like this was really good for me to read. This 403 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 2: was good for me to like pick my head up 404 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 2: from the sand, you know, Like I mean, COVID was 405 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: obviously difficult for my business, but it's difficult for a 406 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 2: lot of people in the fashion industry and to say, 407 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 2: like what's beyond this? If we you know, fashion is 408 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 2: notoriously the second most polluting industry after oil and gas, 409 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 2: and so most of us were in this industry are 410 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 2: really reckoning with like like an existential crisis. What is 411 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,159 Speaker 2: the role that we play in a world where there 412 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 2: is already so much and I think being able to 413 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 2: clarify our vision for why we exist like that, that 414 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 2: was huge part of this exercise and hopefully one that 415 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 2: others will will take on as well. 416 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: This is a business show, but I just have to 417 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: ask you about this. So I thought that I had 418 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: the three closest together children in history. You, in fact 419 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: have the three closest together children in history. So what 420 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: has that been like navigating You're very open about this, 421 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, essentially going from basically zero children to three. 422 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 2: Correct in a six week time and a six week timespan. Yes, 423 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 2: so that was insane. It was biologically impossible. And I 424 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: do remember some woman was very confused because she was like, 425 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 2: you gave birth to one and then popped out two 426 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 2: six weeks later, And I was like, you know, I 427 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 2: wish the human body works like that, but it does not. 428 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 429 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 2: No, it was after a very long struggle with IBF. 430 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: I'm at the risk of being tmi is. I have 431 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: a condition called a unicornuate uterus. I have essentially half 432 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 2: the uterus and one fallopian tube, and that made it 433 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 2: very difficult for me to carry a pregnancy, so we 434 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 2: ended up going down the path of certaincy after multiple 435 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: rounds of IVF and miscarriages, and around the same time, 436 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 2: I tried one last round of IVF and that round 437 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 2: happened to work, and my amazing gestational carrier, Tricia, kept 438 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 2: going with her pregnancy, which was two embryos. You know, 439 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 2: it was even the doctor said, you'd be very lucky 440 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 2: if you got one. It's highly unlikely that you would 441 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,920 Speaker 2: have twins. But somehow that was the round where both 442 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 2: of them stuck. And so we had three babies back 443 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 2: to back in August and September of twenty twenty. So 444 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 2: like that was kind of depths of the pandemic. And yeah, 445 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 2: it's been wild. I'm sure you can relate. I do 446 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 2: feel like I'm just like I'm just emerging into like 447 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 2: semi consciousness two and a half years later. But I 448 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 2: have like truly grown so much respect for all the 449 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 2: working moms who've come before me, because I feel like 450 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 2: I'm now living in this post pandemic era where like 451 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 2: high work and like telecommuting and all that is a 452 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 2: very acceptable part of work. And to think that some 453 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 2: people actually had kids and worked Monday through Friday in 454 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 2: an office to me is just like mind blowing. So really, 455 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 2: you found appreciation for all the other working moms out there? 456 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 1: How do you find three of things? Like how do 457 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,119 Speaker 1: you manage to hack of like three of the same 458 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: of the same age, like a stroller for example? 459 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 2: Thank you for asking. I hacked my own stroller, and 460 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: I need to give full credit to the woman who 461 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 2: discovered this and put us on YouTube. But I bought 462 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 2: like a it's one of the strollers very common, but 463 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 2: like I actually drilled a hole into them and then 464 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 2: attached to another seat. I mean, I definitely broke every 465 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 2: single warranty rule out there and turned it into a 466 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 2: triple decker. And that is how my kids get around, 467 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 2: you know, yeah it is. It is just kind of 468 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 2: three of everything, and it does sound insane, but there 469 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 2: is there's some benefit in scale. So I think we're 470 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 2: finally getting to that point where like the three of 471 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,479 Speaker 2: them kind of entertain each other. And you know, if 472 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: I go up in the morning, I can kind of 473 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 2: hear them like singing to each other and talking to 474 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 2: each other, So there's some built in benefits as well. 475 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: Oh that is super cute. I feel like you definitely 476 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: have to hack to do like a three firm. Like 477 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: I feel like my kids are close enough in age 478 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: that I generally had to do two of things, yes, 479 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 1: but three. I don't know how you how you figured 480 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 1: out all the respect on that. 481 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: Thank you. 482 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 3: I mean I actually just remembered and I probably shouldn't 483 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 3: share this, but you know you can't. 484 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 2: You can't actually like literally feed. 485 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 3: Three children, and like everyone's talking about like nursing your 486 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 3: baby and like you know, breastfeeding, and I was like 487 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 3: I was pumping like crazy, and then we would put 488 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 3: them all in bottles and I got actually, our nanny 489 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 3: found something that is only sold in China. 490 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 2: I don't think it's actually sold in the US because 491 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 2: maybe it's illegal, but you could like put the bottle 492 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 2: in here, and then it's like a necklace that you 493 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 2: wear around you put around the baby and so the 494 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 2: baby can feed hit himself herself. And so that is 495 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 2: literally how we used to feed our children. And so 496 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 2: like any of this like bonding that you're supposed to 497 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 2: do through nursing, like that definitely did not happen for us. 498 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 2: I think I've just learned very early on that like the. 499 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 3: Rules do not have to apply and you kind of 500 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 3: just mean to do whatever works for you. 501 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're just at survival. We're just a survival is 502 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 1: generally how I feel like about getting through a day. 503 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 2: That's right, Yes, that is correct. 504 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: Well, Sarah Lafleur, founder and CEO of mavil Flour, thank 505 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: you so much for joining us on getting down to business. 506 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: And I think this conversation is also going to be 507 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: on ship pivots, so we'll see you over there too. 508 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 3: Excellent, Such a pleasure, Emily big Fan. 509 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: Yes, thanks so much for joining us. Since Sarah's interview, 510 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: m M Lafleur has announced an exciting partnership with the 511 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: WNBA's New York Liberty. The partnership is the first of 512 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: its kind and showcases Sarah's incredible innovation. As part of 513 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: the multi year partnership, m M Lafleur will outfit head 514 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 1: coach Sandy Brondello along with me members of the organization's 515 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: executive leadership team. Be sure to check out the outfits 516 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: and some of the badass women at the New York 517 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: Liberty's next game. You can also follow Sarah at Sarah 518 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: M Laflour and m M Lafleur at m Laflor on Instagram. 519 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this candid convo episode of she Pivots. 520 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 1: Check back in weekly for more conversations with inspiring women. 521 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: To learn more about our guests, follow us on Instagram 522 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: at she pivots the podcast. Leave a rating and comment 523 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: if you enjoyed this episode to help outhers learn about it. 524 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: A special thank you to our partner Marie Claire and 525 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 1: the team that made this episode possible. Talk to you 526 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 1: next week. She Pivots is hosted by me Emily Tish Sussman, 527 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:50,919 Speaker 1: produced by Emily eda Veloshik, with sound editing and mixing 528 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 1: from Nina Pollock and research and planning from Christine Dickinson 529 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 1: and Hannah Cousins. I endorse she Pivots.