On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Marcy Syms, author of Leading With Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer. For 35 years, Marcy helped build her family’s company, Syms Corp, into a retail powerhouse famous for the slogan, “An educated consumer is our best customer.” Working alongside her father, Sy Syms, she pioneered the off-price retail model and made designer fashion accessible to millions of educated shoppers nationwide. When Syms went public, Marcy became the youngest female president of a New York Stock Exchange-listed company — breaking barriers while redefining what leadership looks like.
In this episode, Marcy shares her inspiring journey from the stockroom to the boardroom and the lessons behind her leadership philosophy — that respect isn’t just a value, it’s a strategy. We dive into how she built trust with customers and employees, the story behind the $10 coupon that saved hundreds of shoppers, and the risks and rewards of taking a family business public. Marcy also opens up about her philanthropic work, her advocacy for gender equality, and how she continues to “change the conversation” in business and beyond.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone passionate about building with integrity, this episode is full of wisdom and inspiration. Don’t miss it!

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Marcy Syms and Leading With Respect:
https://sysymsfoundation.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-syms

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/761