#42: Mickey Drexler, The Gap, J. Crew & Banana Republic Former CEO—Break the Rules (Sometimes)

Today’s guest is Mickey Drexler, the former CEO of The Gap, J. Crew, and Banana Republic. He’s the legendary king of retail who put all those stores (and several others) on the map. These days he and his son have teamed up to build a new clothing brand called Alex Mill. Mickey is a hard-charging guy with plenty of conviction. When you listen to him, you remember just how compelling it is when a leader has a unique vision and really believes in it.  But visionaries like Mickey usually don’t reach the heights they do unless they’re willing to break some rules along the way. You’ll be so inspired by all the stories he tells of times he had to go against the grain in order to see his vision through – including how he helped Steve Jobs shape the timeless clean aesthetic of the very first Apple store. If you’re a rule breaker yourself, you’re going to love this. And if you’re not, you may just want to become one after you listen!  You’ll also learn: Tips for eliciting great creative marketing and advertising work How to go through the firing process with decency and integrity Why you need to develop an inner circle of trusted partners  The most important person you need to talk to if you work in retail Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go  Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.