Almost every entrepreneur in the U.S. knows the story of how Spanx started: Sara Blakely, then 27, was prepping for a party when she realized she didn’t have the right undergarment to wear under white pants. To solve the issue she pulled out a pair of scissors and cut the feet off her pantyhose. Thus, Spanx was born.

In April of 2018, Blakely visited Stanford GSB and was interviewed by Sarah AlBanna, MBA '18. Listen to their conversation on this podcast:

Stanford GSB’s View From the Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Stop the crazy mind chatter in your head that tells you that you are not good enough,” said Oprah Winfrey during a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business. She advised students that even when their long-term goals are unclear, the important thing is to banish self-doubt and continue forward, no matter how small the step. "The way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, 'What is the next right move?’ and then, from that space, make the next right move and then the next right move."

Listen to Oprah’s conversation with Amanda Facelle, MBA ’14, on leadership, education, and following your “inner GPS.”

Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Mitt Romney first talked to Bill Bain about joining Bain & Company, Romney was clear about one thing: “I have to have all day Sunday off. If that’s something the firm can’t accept, then I’m probably not the right guy for the firm.” He ended up getting the job and leading its momentous growth. Romney later co-founded the spin-off company, Bain Capital, which grew to become one of the largest private equity investment firms in the nation. In 2003, Romney entered politics, serving as the governor of Massachusetts for four years. He is the current senator-elect from Utah.

“Have more in your life than just work,” Romney tells Stanford GSB students during his View From The Top conversation with Ryan Harper, MBA ’15. “I found that if you take a block of time off for yourself, you may well be more productive than if you don’t.”

Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a visit to Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2017, Sheryl Sandberg advised students against making a strict plan for their careers, because "you’re going to miss all the good stuff — all the good stuff hasn’t been invented yet!"

Sandberg also spoke openly about the sudden loss of her husband, Dave Goldberg, in 2015. “When Dave died, I didn’t think I was capable of anything. I could barely go to work and not cry. I was parenting two grieving children,” she says.

Listen to Sheryl Sandberg in conversation with Julie Sawaya, MBA '17.

Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the Dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund. During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diverse teams lead to more innovation. Stanford professor Margaret Neale talks with Stanford Insights about why it's so hard to create and maintain diverse teams.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does the end of privacy look like? Stanford GSB professor Michal Kosinski shares with Stanford Insights his optimistic vision of a world with less privacy but more tolerance.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Consumers really care about authenticity, but what makes something the real deal? Stanford professor Glenn Carroll and Stanford Insights sit down to talk about his research on authenticity.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you follow through with a goal when you're mid way there and motivation waivers? How can wellness trackers help you achieve your goals? Stanford professor Szu-Chi Huang and Stanford Insights sit down to talk about her research on goal setting.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.