What separates a good brand from a timeless one? In this episode, Coach’s longtime CEO Lew Frankfort joins Danielle to share the lifetime of lessons he documents in his new memoir Bagman. Lew breaks down why an outsider’s perspective can be an advantage, how “magic and logic” shaped Coach, and what scaling a $6 million leather goods company into a $5 billion global lifestyle brand really took: personally and professionally. In this episode, Lew shares:
How a stroller-ready diaper bag sparked his first entrepreneurial lesson
Why immersive curiosity must precede data and analytics
Life lessons he took away from his struggles with a speech impediment as a child, and how they had a long lasting impact
How being an outsider helped him see the fashion world through a different (and valuable) lens 
The hidden costs of growth—including health, mindset, and family time
The techniques he used to help him navigate depressive episodes throughout his life and career
A haunting fear of failure that fueled his drive for excellence but came at a personal cost
A values-first philosophy on leadership and legacy amid short-term pressures
What Gen Z is getting right

Follow Lew on Instagram @LewFrankfort

Book recommendation: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

Check out Lew’s book Bagman

What separates a good brand from a timeless one? In this episode, Coach&rsquo;s longtime CEO Lew Frankfort joins Danielle to share the lifetime of lessons he documents in his new memoir Bagman. Lew breaks down why an outsider&rsquo;s perspective can be an advantage, how &ldquo;magic and logic&rdquo; shaped Coach, and what scaling a $6 million leather goods company into a $5 billion global lifestyle brand really took: personally and professionally. In this episode, Lew shares:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How a stroller-ready diaper bag sparked his first entrepreneurial lesson</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why immersive curiosity must precede data and analytics</li>
<li aria-level="1">Life lessons he took away from his struggles with a speech impediment as a child, and how they had a long lasting impact</li>
<li aria-level="1">How being an outsider helped him see the fashion world through a different (and valuable) lens&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden costs of growth&mdash;including health, mindset, and family time</li>
<li aria-level="1">The techniques he used to help him navigate depressive episodes throughout his life and career</li>
<li aria-level="1">A haunting fear of failure that fueled his drive for excellence but came at a personal cost</li>
<li aria-level="1">A values-first philosophy on leadership and legacy amid short-term pressures</li>
<li aria-level="1">What Gen Z is getting right</li>
</ul>
Follow Lew on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lewfrankfort/">@LewFrankfort</a>
Book recommendation: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
Check out Lew&rsquo;s book <a href="https://indiepubs.com/collections/harvard-business-review-press/products/bag-man?srsltid=AfmBOoqr-Nb92a4gjU0-7a1CwCRwQ3wOplDV2UJTIAnnDK6W8THLYbtC">Bagman</a>

Behind every headline is a person + a deeper story. Question Everything with journalist Danielle Robay cuts through social media buzz to uncover the voices, ideas, and cultural moments that shape how we see the world. Each week, she asks bold questions that challenge assumptions and reveal the nuance behind the narratives, inviting you to look closer at the world, and at yourself. Because there's always more to the story.
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Danielle is also the creator of the bestselling QUESTION EVERYTHING card game series, which has sparked connection and conversation in thousands of living rooms around the world. She's also the co-executive producer (alongside Reese Witherspoon) and host of Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. With her signature curiosity—dubbed "The Queen of Questions"—and a background in political science, Danielle brings both heart and rigor to every conversation. A Gloria Steinem Fellow and mentee of Larry King, she's carried forward a legacy of curiosity and connection, interviewing icons from Taylor Swift to Malala Yousafzai in more than 8,000 hours of elevated conversation.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

How To Build A Brand That Lasts:  with Lew Frankfort (Chairman + Former CEO of Coach)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e6c2a1d7-d822-4346-bc8a-b3a0005cc8b2/transcript

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