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Jun 4, 2020 · 23m · how-i-built-this

How I Built Resilience: Live with Jenn Hyman

Jenn Hyman · 16m spoken Guy Raz · 5m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

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In this live episode of 'How I Built This: Resilience Edition,' Guy Raz interviews Rent the Runway co-founder and CEO Jenn Hyman on navigating the severe disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hyman details her financial restructuring strategies, transparent crisis management, defense of fashion's social value, and vision for a more flexible, sustainable future.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Guy holds 24.9% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Guy as informed peer 2.8 Guest teaching 3.4 Guest disagreement 1.4 Guy pushing back 1.0
05100:0010:0020:000:49–5:13 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 The Impact of Staying Home on Clothing Rental Guy Raz prompts Jenn Hyman to explain the immediate operational realities of the pandemic lockdown on Rent the Runway. Jenn outlines the severe impact on clothing rental and details the gut-wrenching decision to execute furloughs and restructuring.5:14–9:11 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 Post-Crisis Economic Shifts and Transparent Leadership Guy asks about post-crisis business adaptations, and Jenn articulates macro trends accelerating toward sustainability, the circular economy, and radical leadership transparency with employees.9:12–12:04 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Coping with Stress, Peer Support, and Empathetic Management Guy relays listener questions about maintaining emotional resilience during the crisis. Jenn shares candid reflections on vulnerability, peer empathy, and connecting personally with team members.12:09–17:56 · Guy as informed peer 4/10 Returning to Scrappy Roots and Planning for the New Normal Guy presses Jenn on public criticism regarding fashion being trivial during lockdowns and warehouse operations continuing during COVID. Jenn forcefully rejects the criticism, labeling the dismissiveness of fashion an anti-feminist crusade and explaining warehouse survival needs.17:57–22:34 · Guy as informed peer 2/10 Long-term Reflections on Work-Life Balance and Empowerment Guy asks how this period will shape leadership long term. Jenn reframes the discussion to show how remote work can redefine work-life balance and ultimately level the playing field for working mothers.0:49–5:13 · Guest teaching 3/10 The Impact of Staying Home on Clothing Rental Guy Raz prompts Jenn Hyman to explain the immediate operational realities of the pandemic lockdown on Rent the Runway. Jenn outlines the severe impact on clothing rental and details the gut-wrenching decision to execute furloughs and restructuring.5:14–9:11 · Guest teaching 4/10 Post-Crisis Economic Shifts and Transparent Leadership Guy asks about post-crisis business adaptations, and Jenn articulates macro trends accelerating toward sustainability, the circular economy, and radical leadership transparency with employees.9:12–12:04 · Guest teaching 2/10 Coping with Stress, Peer Support, and Empathetic Management Guy relays listener questions about maintaining emotional resilience during the crisis. Jenn shares candid reflections on vulnerability, peer empathy, and connecting personally with team members.12:09–17:56 · Guest teaching 5/10 Returning to Scrappy Roots and Planning for the New Normal Guy presses Jenn on public criticism regarding fashion being trivial during lockdowns and warehouse operations continuing during COVID. Jenn forcefully rejects the criticism, labeling the dismissiveness of fashion an anti-feminist crusade and explaining warehouse survival needs.17:57–22:34 · Guest teaching 3/10 Long-term Reflections on Work-Life Balance and Empowerment Guy asks how this period will shape leadership long term. Jenn reframes the discussion to show how remote work can redefine work-life balance and ultimately level the playing field for working mothers.0:49–5:13 · Guest disagreement 1/10 The Impact of Staying Home on Clothing Rental Guy Raz prompts Jenn Hyman to explain the immediate operational realities of the pandemic lockdown on Rent the Runway. Jenn outlines the severe impact on clothing rental and details the gut-wrenching decision to execute furloughs and restructuring.5:14–9:11 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Post-Crisis Economic Shifts and Transparent Leadership Guy asks about post-crisis business adaptations, and Jenn articulates macro trends accelerating toward sustainability, the circular economy, and radical leadership transparency with employees.9:12–12:04 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Coping with Stress, Peer Support, and Empathetic Management Guy relays listener questions about maintaining emotional resilience during the crisis. Jenn shares candid reflections on vulnerability, peer empathy, and connecting personally with team members.12:09–17:56 · Guest disagreement 4/10 Returning to Scrappy Roots and Planning for the New Normal Guy presses Jenn on public criticism regarding fashion being trivial during lockdowns and warehouse operations continuing during COVID. Jenn forcefully rejects the criticism, labeling the dismissiveness of fashion an anti-feminist crusade and explaining warehouse survival needs.17:57–22:34 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Long-term Reflections on Work-Life Balance and Empowerment Guy asks how this period will shape leadership long term. Jenn reframes the discussion to show how remote work can redefine work-life balance and ultimately level the playing field for working mothers.0:49–5:13 · Guy pushing back 1/10 The Impact of Staying Home on Clothing Rental Guy Raz prompts Jenn Hyman to explain the immediate operational realities of the pandemic lockdown on Rent the Runway. Jenn outlines the severe impact on clothing rental and details the gut-wrenching decision to execute furloughs and restructuring.5:14–9:11 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Post-Crisis Economic Shifts and Transparent Leadership Guy asks about post-crisis business adaptations, and Jenn articulates macro trends accelerating toward sustainability, the circular economy, and radical leadership transparency with employees.9:12–12:04 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Coping with Stress, Peer Support, and Empathetic Management Guy relays listener questions about maintaining emotional resilience during the crisis. Jenn shares candid reflections on vulnerability, peer empathy, and connecting personally with team members.12:09–17:56 · Guy pushing back 3/10 Returning to Scrappy Roots and Planning for the New Normal Guy presses Jenn on public criticism regarding fashion being trivial during lockdowns and warehouse operations continuing during COVID. Jenn forcefully rejects the criticism, labeling the dismissiveness of fashion an anti-feminist crusade and explaining warehouse survival needs.17:57–22:34 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Long-term Reflections on Work-Life Balance and Empowerment Guy asks how this period will shape leadership long term. Jenn reframes the discussion to show how remote work can redefine work-life balance and ultimately level the playing field for working mothers.

speaking balance: gold is Guy, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Guy 43.8% · guest 56.2%0:00 · Guy 43.8% · guest 56.2%3:00 · Guy 13.7% · guest 86.3%3:00 · Guy 13.7% · guest 86.3%6:00 · Guy 0% · guest 100%6:00 · Guy 0% · guest 100%9:00 · Guy 18.9% · guest 81.1%9:00 · Guy 18.9% · guest 81.1%12:00 · Guy 47.6% · guest 52.4%12:00 · Guy 47.6% · guest 52.4%15:00 · Guy 13.6% · guest 86.4%15:00 · Guy 13.6% · guest 86.4%18:00 · Guy 16.9% · guest 83.1%18:00 · Guy 16.9% · guest 83.1%21:00 · Guy 50.9% · guest 49.1%21:00 · Guy 50.9% · guest 49.1%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 15:45 Jenn forcefully counters social media critics of the fashion industry

Jenn strongly rejects the narrative that fashion is trivial during a crisis, labeling the criticism an anti-feminist crusade against an industry that provides joy and identity.

 Hardest push from Guy ▶ 16:16 Guy presses on warehouse operations and worker safety controversy

Guy raises sharp public criticism and journalistic reports targeting e-commerce companies for keeping warehouse facilities open amidst health risks.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 19:23 Jenn redefines long-term resilience away from business metrics

When asked about business lessons from the pandemic, Jenn pivots the entire premise to state that the real long-term takeaway will be re-evaluating human relationships and societal overwork.

 Guy holds their own ▶ 12:20 Guy contextualizes current crisis response with early company history

Guy demonstrates deep knowledge of Jenn's founding journey by citing specific early tactics like surveying moviegoers outside rom-coms to question if she has returned to that scrappy mindset.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicGuy as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementGuy pushing backWhy
The Impact of Staying Home on Clothing Rental 3311 Guy Raz prompts Jenn Hyman to explain the immediate operational realities of the pandemic lockdown on Rent the Runway. Jenn outlines the severe impact on clothing rental and details the gut-wrenching decision to execute furloughs and restructuring.
Post-Crisis Economic Shifts and Transparent Leadership 3411 Guy asks about post-crisis business adaptations, and Jenn articulates macro trends accelerating toward sustainability, the circular economy, and radical leadership transparency with employees.
Coping with Stress, Peer Support, and Empathetic Management 2200 Guy relays listener questions about maintaining emotional resilience during the crisis. Jenn shares candid reflections on vulnerability, peer empathy, and connecting personally with team members.
Returning to Scrappy Roots and Planning for the New Normal 4543 Guy presses Jenn on public criticism regarding fashion being trivial during lockdowns and warehouse operations continuing during COVID. Jenn forcefully rejects the criticism, labeling the dismissiveness of fashion an anti-feminist crusade and explaining warehouse survival needs.
Long-term Reflections on Work-Life Balance and Empowerment 2310 Guy asks how this period will shape leadership long term. Jenn reframes the discussion to show how remote work can redefine work-life balance and ultimately level the playing field for working mothers.

Statements from this episode (7)

Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jenn Hyman: Consumers focus far less on clothing when sheltered at home
“So much of our business is based around people leaving their homes. Whether you are going to work or you're hanging out with friends, you know, often the act of getting dressed is somewhat an external act. Where you're getting dressed for something, and we def…”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 1:04
Disclosure
Hyman: Rent the Runway executed small layoff and broad company furloughs
“We had to execute a small layoff, but a much larger furlough of our employee base across every single division of the company.”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 3:43
Prediction Didn’t hold up
Hyman: Retail will not return to majority offline purchases
“I don't think that we're going back into a world where the majority of what we buy is done offline.”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 5:43
Opinion
Hyman: Dismissing fashion as trivial during the pandemic is an anti-feminist crusade
“And I'm very troubled by what I think is this anti-feminist crusade Around one of the most important and largest industries on earth, fashion, being considered trivial.”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 16:04
What-if
Hyman: Rent the Runway would not survive closing its fulfillment warehouses
“Like, to us, if you close down your warehouse, you're essentially, rent the runway wouldn't survive. And the work that we've been doing over the last 11 years to build the company would just disappear.”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 17:14
Assertion Contradicted
Hyman: 50% of women leave the workforce after having children
“One of the biggest challenges for women has been that 50% of women leave the workforce after they have kids”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 21:32
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Hyman: Remote work may be the best thing for women's empowerment
“This actually may be the best thing to ever happen to women's empowerment. You know, the idea of more remote work and to trust that we can do it in a more livable, thoughtful way. This actually may be the thing that levels the playing field.”
Jenn Hyman Jun 4, 2020 ▶ 21:59
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