Neil Hoyne
Author Of Converted | Chief Strategist At Google | Senior Fellow At Wharton
Sara Blakely
Founder of Spanx & Sneex | World's Youngest Self-Made Female Billionaire | National Inventors Hall of Fame | TIME 100 Most Influential
Speaker Sara Blakely turned $5,000 and a pair of cut-off pantyhose into Spanx, a global brand she sold to Blackstone at a $1.2 billion valuation. She founded footwear innovator Sneex and the Sara Blakely Foundation, is a National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee, and a long-time Shark Tank guest. Audiences gain a candid blueprint on grit, contrarian thinking and building category-defining consumer brands.
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Sara Blakely biography
Speaker Sara Blakely redefined an entire product category when she turned $5,000 in savings and a pair of self-modified pantyhose into Spanx, a global shapewear brand. She became the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire and later sold a majority stake in Spanx to Blackstone at a valuation of $1.2 billion. Her story has become a staple of modern entrepreneurship case studies and a blueprint for building consumer brands from nothing.
Before Spanx, Blakely sold fax machines door-to-door for seven years, an experience that forged the resilience, cold-calling tenacity and customer obsession she carried into her first venture. She wrote her original patent herself, won placement in Neiman Marcus, Saks and Bloomingdale’s, and scaled Spanx into a billion-dollar business without taking a dollar of outside capital.
Sneex, the Foundation and a Second Act
Blakely’s second consumer brand, Sneex, became one of the most talked-about footwear debuts of recent years. Built around a patented Hy-Heel design that fuses the comfort of a sneaker with the silhouette of a high heel, the brand earned a Footwear News Achievement Award for Launch of the Year and continues to expand into new styles. Blakely drives its product strategy and brand direction personally, applying the same disruptive instinct that defined Spanx.
Alongside her businesses, Blakely runs the Sara Blakely Foundation, which funds education and entrepreneurship for women, and became the first female billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge. Her recognition has continued to grow, from induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and an honorary doctorate from Florida State University to a standing place among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and a recurring role as a guest investor on Shark Tank.
As a speaker, Sara Blakely delivers a masterclass in entrepreneurship, consumer branding and female leadership, blending candid storytelling with hard-won commercial lessons. Few entrepreneurship speakers match her combination of track record, authenticity and ability to energize founder and executive audiences alike.
Sara Blakely Speaking Videos
Sara Blakely: Fireside Chat
Sara Blakely - Variety's Power of Women
Sara Blakely Keynote Topics
Sara Blakely walks audiences through the step-by-step story behind Spanx — how a frustrated consumer moment turned into one of the most successful self-funded consumer brands of the modern era. She breaks down the psychology of spotting unmet needs, the practical playbook for turning an idea into a patent, a prototype and a retail-ready product, and the unglamorous grind of building customer demand from zero. Ideal for founder, innovation and commercial-leadership audiences.
This keynote blends Blakely's personal story with the practical mental models she has used to design a non-conventional career in entrepreneurship. She covers fear-setting and risk-taking, selling without permission, protecting creative confidence inside large organisations and turning rejection into momentum. Audiences leave with concrete tools for engineering their own breakthroughs rather than waiting for them.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Sara Blakely
Why Sara Blakely?
Sara Blakely is one of the rarest things in business keynote speaking: an authentic, self-made billion-dollar founder who is also a gifted storyteller. She built Spanx from $5,000 in savings, sold it to Blackstone at a $1.2 billion valuation, and is now creating a second category-defining brand in Sneex. A National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee and the first female billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, she blends humor, vulnerability and hard-won commercial insight on stage, making her equally magnetic for founder events, women's leadership summits and corporate innovation audiences. Book Sara Blakely through Aurum Speakers Bureau to give your stage a keynote your audience will remember for years.
How did Sara Blakely start Spanx?
Sara Blakely started Spanx in 1998 with $5,000 of personal savings, after cutting the feet off a pair of pantyhose to create a smoother silhouette under her white trousers. She wrote her first patent herself, built initial prototypes by visiting hosiery mills across North Carolina, and landed Spanx in Neiman Marcus after cold-calling the buyer. Spanx grew into a billion-dollar business entirely bootstrapped, without outside investors until the Blackstone transaction in 2021.
What is Sneex and how does it relate to Sara Blakely?
Sneex is Sara Blakely's second consumer brand, a premium footwear company. Its patented Hy-Heel design combines the support and cushioning of an athletic sneaker with the aesthetics of a high heel, and the brand has already won industry honours including a Footwear News Achievement Award for Launch of the Year. Blakely remains the founder and creative driver behind Sneex's product strategy.
What makes Sara Blakely a strong keynote speaker for corporate audiences?
Blakely's content goes far beyond 'start-up story'. She works through product strategy, consumer insight, brand building, resilience and female leadership with a level of candour that resonates with CEOs, boards, founder communities and all-company events. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to discuss keynote, fireside chat and moderated Q&A formats tailored for your audience.
How to book Sara Blakely as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Sara Blakely as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Sara Blakely's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Sara Blakely or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Sara Blakely speaking fee?
Sara Blakely speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Sara Blakely to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Sara Blakely.
How can I contact Sara Blakely?
We only work with Sara Blakely on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Sara Blakely and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Sara Blakely speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Sara Blakely for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Sara Blakely for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Sara Blakely is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Sara Blakely for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
