Lew Frankfort - Coach CEO's Untold Story | The Fear and Depression That Fueled My Success
Lew Frankfort - Coach CEO's Untold Story | The Fear and Depression That Fueled My Success
References & Resources
Lew Frankfort
Former CEO and Chairman of Coach, Co-founder of Benvolio Group
Key Topics
Companies & Organizations
A global brand that Lew Frankfort grew from $6 million to $5 billion in sales during his 35-year tenure as CEO and Chairman.
An investment firm co-founded by Lew Frankfort that focuses on early-stage consumer brands.
Show Notes
Lew Frankfort is an American business executive who grew Coach from $6 million in sales to a $5 billion global brand during his 35-year tenure. Joining Coach in 1979, he became CEO and Chairman, taking the company public in 2000 and pioneering the "accessible luxury" market segment. Named multiple times to Barron's "World's Most Respected CEOs" and Institutional Investor's "Best CEOs in America," he retired in 2014 and co-founded Benvolio Group, investing in early-stage consumer brands.
➡️ Talking Points
00:00 — Intro
01:22 — Why Lew Started Writing After Retiring
04:37 — Thriving Under Pressure
07:45 — Finding Your Career North Star
10:17 — The Danger of Being “Too Principled”
15:29 — Lew’s Path Into Leadership
20:28 — What Great Leadership Looks Like
24:37 — Carrying the Coach Legacy Forward
34:00 — The Power of Magic & Logic
46:53 — Balancing Intuition and Strategy
50:05 — What Drives Lew Today
54:44 — Opening Up About the Dark Side of Leadership
59:36 — The Role of Fear in Success
1:02:42 — Advice to His 20-Year-Old Self
1:04:23 — The Big Idea Behind His New Book
1:05:12 — The Lesson He Wants to Leave His Kids