Build a bigger business

In this episode our host Ana talks with Michelle Cordeiro Grant, the founder of Lively, a clothing brand that is changing the world of fashion – specifically athleisure and lingerie. Through a lively conversation, Grant shares what she has learned about balancing life and running a business.

Grant is passionate about supporting, creating and developing brands from concept to customer. Prior to starting Lively, Grant spent a full career working with industry leaders like Federated Merchandising Group, VF Corporation and Limited Brands/Victoria’s Secret. She was responsible for developing and launching private label and global brands, including Nautica Women’s Sportswear.

Noticing the industry shift to ecommerce, Grant worked on merchandising and strategy for Victoria’s Secret digital arm. During her work here, she learned that Victoria’s Secret dominated the $13B lingerie market. Frustrated that one brand with one point of view had so much influence on this category, Grant decided to shake up the industry – Leisurée as she calls it – and start her own brand.

To gain experience working for a start-up, Grant moved from industry leader Victoria’s Secret to thriving startup, Thrillist Media Group, where she oversaw their commerce division. She left in 2016 to start Lively.

In late 2017, Grant was named one of eight winners of Shopify’s Build a Bigger Business competition. One of her prizes was a trip to Namale, Tony’s Fiji resort, for group and one-on-one business coaching.

At the time, Lively was just another brand new start-up with a passionate CEO. During their one-on-one coaching session, Tony could see the passion Grant had for her business and vision. What she needed to learn was how to create a sustainable business where she could do what she loved but also be aware of the signs of burnout and exhaustion before they took over.

With Tony’s guidance and her industry knowledge, Grant grew Lively into an industry-changing business that was acquired for $85 million after only three years.