Why Purpose Matters More Than Passion with Heidi Zak

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Excellence, we sit down with Heidi Zak, Co-Founder and CEO of ThirdLove, to explore the journey behind building one of the most recognizable brands in the lingerie industry. Heidi shares her insights on defining entrepreneurial excellence, navigating early challenges, and the importance of resilience and storytelling in building a successful company. We dive into the evolution of ThirdLove’s culture, from its scrappy beginnings to becoming a larger, more structured organization, and discuss the critical lessons Heidi learned about hiring, leadership, and scaling. She also reflects on how her definition of success has shifted over the years—from proving skeptics wrong to making a meaningful impact on her customers’ lives. Tune in to hear Heidi’s candid thoughts on balancing work and life as an entrepreneur, how she approaches gratitude, and her advice for anyone looking to build a lasting legacy in business. Key Topics: Understanding the key traits of successful entrepreneursTackling early challenges and turning setbacks into opportunitiesCreating a strong, adaptable, and values-driven company cultureGaining insights from hiring, leadership, and scaling a businessRedefining success and embracing gratitude in the entrepreneurial journey Quote From The Episode:  "You have to love what you do, and you have to think about it as almost like a lifetime, to some extent." - Heidi Zak Timestamp: [00:15] Heidi shared her personal definition of entrepreneurial excellence, highlighting the importance of resilience, humility, and an unwavering passion for the work.  [10:53] Heidi opened up about the early struggles of launching ThirdLove, particularly the uphill battle of securing manufacturing partnerships without an established brand. [21:53] Heidi spoke about the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship—how persistence, conviction, and the ability to sell a vision were essential to convincing investors, partners, and manufacturers to believe in ThirdLove, even when the odds were stacked against them. [32:06] Reflecting on ThirdLove’s journey, Heidi described how the company’s culture has evolved over time.  [40:51] When it comes to hiring, Heidi underscored the importance of trusting your instincts, conducting in-depth reference checks, and surrounding yourself with scrappy, adaptable talent.  [50:45] As ThirdLove grew, so did Heidi’s approach to leadership. She stressed the value of continually reassessing team dynamics, embracing adaptability, and ensuring that every new hire wasn’t just skilled, but a cultural fit who could thrive in a fast-moving environment. [1:01:55] Heidi reflected on how her idea of success has shifted over the years—from proving doubters wrong to making a real impact on customers' lives. [1:16:59] Outro Connect with Heidi Zak: LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/heidizak Website - intro.co/heidizak Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eepodcast24 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570329516959 Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence