Entrepreneur & Inventor; Founder of Spanx & Sneex; Executive Chairwoman at Spanx; National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee
Sara Blakely Biography
Sara Blakely is an entrepreneur and inventor known for founding the shapewear company Spanx. Blakely developed the concept for Spanx after seeking a solution to improve the fit of her clothing, leading her to create footless pantyhose. With no formal background in fashion, retail, or business leadership, she invested her savings into researching clothing manufacturing and launched Spanx, which became widely recognized after being featured on Oprah Winfrey's "Favorite Things."
Blakely's professional journey began as a door-to-door fax machine salesperson before she established Spanx. She credits her approach to entrepreneurship to her upbringing, where her father encouraged learning from failure, a philosophy she shares in her public speaking engagements. Blakely gained additional visibility as a contestant on the reality television program "Rebel Billionaire," hosted by Richard Branson, and has appeared as a guest judge on "Shark Tank" and in a cameo on "Billions."
Under Blakely's leadership, Spanx expanded from shapewear to include undergarments, leggings, and apparel. The company attracted significant investment, with Blackstone acquiring a majority stake in a deal that valued Spanx at $1.2 billion. Blakely retained her role as executive chairwoman and part owner. She also founded Sneex, a brand focused on hybrid footwear that merges the style of a stiletto with the comfort of a sneaker. Blakely is recognized on Forbes' America's Richest Self-Made Women list.
In addition to her business ventures, Blakely is active in philanthropy through the Sara Blakely Foundation, supporting women in entrepreneurship, education, and the arts. She is the first self-made female billionaire to sign The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of her wealth to charitable causes. Through the Red Backpack Foundation and other initiatives, Blakely has funded scholarships and invention education programs for girls. She has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, received an honorary doctorate from Florida State University, and is listed among TIME's 100 Most Influential People.
Blakely is a frequent speaker on topics such as entrepreneurship, innovation, consumer branding, and female leadership. Her career is marked by a focus on creative problem-solving, resilience, and advocacy for women's empowerment in business.
Sara Blakely Speaking Topics
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The Fashion & Hosiery Industry
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Marketing & Public Relations
Sara Blakely Videos
The Heart of Your Team with Sara Blakely Moderated by Corrina ...
Sara Blakely joins us on stage with Corrina Carter for an amazing interview to learn about how Sara has been the director of her own life ...
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How do I book Sara Blakely to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sara Blakely for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sara Blakely, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sara Blakely or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Sara Blakely
Speaking fees for Sara Blakely, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Sara Blakely are $100,000 - $200,000 for live events and $100,000 - $200,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sara Blakely, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Sara Blakely speak about?
Sara Blakely is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Beauty, Beauty, Business Leadership, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Fashion, Fashion, Female Leadership, Personal Growth, Retail, Sales, Women, Women in Business, Women's Empowerment -
Where does Sara Blakely travel from?
Sara Blakely generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Sara Blakely’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Sara Blakely for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sara Blakely for your next private or corporate function. -
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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sara Blakely or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Sara Blakely is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Fashion & Hosiery Industry, Marketing & Public Relations, Giving Back to the Community, Women in Business and Entrepreneurship. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sara Blakely for your event is $100,000 - $200,000. Sara Blakely generally travels from Atlanta, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Daymond John, Jay Shetty, Martha Stewart, Marc Randolph and Barbara Corcoran. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sara Blakely for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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