Spanx Founder Sara Blakely Says Kevin O'Leary Is Wrong About This Aggressive Business Tactic: 'Focused on My Own Quality'

Before appearing connected Shark Tank together, Spanx laminitis Sara Blakely and investor Kevin O'Leary were connected a business panel.

This week, Blakely posted nan throwback video connected Instagram and explained why she still believes what she said 12 years agone astatine a CNBC Town Hall Event called "Getting Back to Business."

Related: Kevin O'Leary Says This Is a 'Huge Red Flag' When He's Looking astatine Resumes

In nan clip, O'Leary says he goes to conflict pinch nan title and takes an fierce approach, saying, "Business is war."

"You get up successful nan greeting and you fig retired really do I termination my competitor?" O'Leary said. "How do I move boiling lipid connected them? Competing, winning, fighting, winning, competing."

Blakely disagreed, but contempt launching Spanx successful 2000 at nan property of 27 pinch $5,000 successful savings and turning it into a billion-dollar company by 2012, she says she was tense to speak up, particularly to Mr. Wonderful.

"I've done it very differently," she said. "I person not been obsessed aliases focused connected nan title and annihilating nan competition. I person only been focused connected my ain quality. What tin I connection that's nan champion and springiness value?"

The pushback paid off. Spanx is presently 1 of nan largest direct-to-consumer brands successful nan world. Blakely was a impermanent investor connected Shark Tank successful 2017 and has been backmost aggregate times, moreover sitting adjacent to O'Leary, who has been a Shark Tank judge since 2009.

Sara Blakely and Kevin O'Leary. Credit: Eric McCandless via Getty Images

Blakely says she still stands by her words today, and obsessing complete nan title is nan incorrect approach.

"I genuinely don't judge business is war," she said. "I deliberation that you should beryllium focused connected your consumer, what you tin do amended for your consumer, really you tin springiness them a amended experience, a amended product."

"Be genuine, beryllium authentic pinch what you're creating for them, and springiness back," she added. "What astir that feels for illustration a war?"

Investment money Blackstone bought a mostly liking successful Spanx successful 2021 astatine a valuation of $1.2 billion. Blakely is now worth an estimated $1.3 billion.

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