The Fashion Founder Who Said No To Millions and Built a Values-First Company

How do you take a stand as a brand without losing your customers or your credibility?In this episode of Creative Got Me, Michael Stars co-founder and CEO Suzanne Lerner joins Monique for a raw and unfiltered conversation on what it really means to build a values-driven brand that lasts.Suzanne has done what few founders ever do: she’s run a successful fashion brand for 40 years, never taken a dollar of VC, kept 75% of production in LA, and built her company around real social impact—from reproductive rights to racial justice.But this episode goes deeper than business.Suzanne opens up about:• The 3AM moment she decided to support abortion rights (even if it meant losing customers)• How she and her late husband built Michael Stars from nothing• Her decision to stay independent and say no to outside funding• How grief reshaped her leadership• Why real brand activism isn’t a marketing campaign• What she’s learned from 40 years of doing the right thing, even when it’s hardYou’ll walk away with lessons on integrity, longevity, and building a company you’re proud of without ever selling out.If you’re a founder, marketer, or someone who gives a damn about doing business differently and building with purpose, this one’s for you.⏱ Timestamps0:00 – Suzanne’s 3AM decision to take a stand on abortion rights3:00 – Co-founding Michael Stars with her late husband5:00 – Why they refused to take venture capital8:00 – How she keeps her husband’s legacy alive in the brand11:00 – Building community through kindness and connection14:00 – Her advice to new founders (and what most get wrong)17:00 – Why 75% of Michael Stars products are still made in LA20:00 – The financial reality of doing business ethically22:00 – How resale (via ThredUp) fits into their sustainability mission24:00 – What most brands get wrong about influencers26:00 – Why customers can feel authenticity30:00 – How Michael Stars balances trends with timelessness35:00 – Choosing which social issues to speak on (and which to avoid)38:00 – The truth about the VC funding gap for women40:00 – How anyone can start funding women entrepreneurs44:00 – Suzanne’s wild career path, from typist to global fashion CEO48:00 – Her advice for finding purpose (and staying grounded in it)