<p>This episode is brought to you by <a href="https://www.timeline.com/everforwardsample">Timeline Nutrition</a> and <a href="https://www.piquelife.com/everforward">Pique Teas.</a></p> <p>Julie Wainwright is the powerhouse founder behind The RealReal, the luxury resale juggernaut she launched at 53 after being publicly shamed for the failure of Pets.com. In this episode, Julie tells the full story—how she bounced back, took on Amazon by doing what they wouldn’t, and faced off against Chanel in a high-stakes industry lawsuit. She opens up about navigating sexism in boardrooms, creating value from secondhand fashion, and why the future belongs to bold founders, not safe CEOs.</p> <p>Follow Julie <a href="https://www.instagram.com/realrealjulie/?hl=en">@realrealjulie</a></p> <p>Follow Chase <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chase_chewning/?hl=en">@chase_chewning</a></p> <p>-----</p> <p><strong>In this episode we discuss...</strong></p> <p>00:00 - Julie Wainwright Introduces The RealReal</p> <p>00:35 - The Founder vs. CEO Mentality</p> <p>03:00 - Raising $700M: A Story of Persistence</p> <p>06:08 - Turning Around Berkeley Systems & Pets.com</p> <p>09:03 - Why Founders Must Embrace Possibility, Not Logic</p> <p>10:14 - PE vs. VC: Who Should You Trust With Your Startup</p> <p>13:25 - Starting The RealReal at 53 After Total Rejection</p> <p>16:04 - “Plan B Was Hell”: Yoga, Snakes & Arizona</p> <p>18:42 - Why Amazon Would Never Compete in Luxury Resale</p> <p>20:04 - The Boutique Experience That Sparked The RealReal</p> <p>21:35 - Launching in 4 Months: Julie’s Execution Playbook</p> <p>23:32 - Making Resale Cool: Hiring a Fashion Insider</p> <p>25:43 - Keeping the Romance of Luxury Alive</p> <p>27:21 - Luxury as Art: Why the RealReal Appeals Emotionally</p> <p>29:01 - Monetizing Secondhand Luxury</p> <p>30:54 - How Resale Changes Consumer Behavior</p> <p>33:29 - Girl Math, Cartier Watches & Smart Shopping</p> <p>35:15 - Why Resale Was So Hard Before The RealReal</p> <p>37:01 - Chanel’s Vendetta Against The RealReal</p> <p>38:28 - Neiman Marcus Deal Sabotaged by Chanel</p> <p>40:26 - Chanel Lawsuit: Accusations & Counterclaims</p> <p>41:36 - WWD Awards Night & Chanel's Petty Tactics</p> <p>45:20 - Thugs at Her Door: When Things Got Physical</p> <p>47:53 - Where She Stands with Chanel Today</p> <p>48:22 - Why Julie Got Fired from The Company She Built</p> <p>51:42 - The Boardroom Coup: What Really Happened</p> <p>54:01 - Her Theory: Money, Power & Politics</p> <p>56:10 - Business Advice for Small Business Owners</p> <p>58:09 - How Julie Sets Quarterly Goals & Metrics</p> <p>60:13 - Don’t Believe Your Own Press</p> <p>63:39 - Ever Forward”</p> <p>-----</p> <p><em>Episode resources:</em></p> <ul> <li>FREE sample pack of MitoPure gummies at <a href="https://www.timeline.com/everforwardsample">https://www.Timeline.com/everforwardsample</a> </li> <li>20% off for life of gut-friendly teas and healthy drink mixes at <a href="https://www.piquelife.com/everforward">https://www.PiqueLife.com/everforward</a> </li> <li>Watch and subscribe on <a href="http://youtube.com/everforwardradio">YouTube</a></li> <li>Get her book <a href="https://a.co/d/beaEqbQ">here on Amazon</a></li> </ul>