[with company culture] if you don’t start those things when you’re small, you’re not just going to magically feel like doing them one day when you’re successful.
Welcome to the the 97th Floor Mastermind Interview Series where each week we sit down with one of the makers, thought leaders, and visionaries behind the biggest and/or up-and-coming brands around. We talk about everything from business and marketplace insights to personal journeys and successes, to failures and legacy.
In this episode we’re talking to Taft CEO Kory Stevens about what it took to find startup success on a dime. From his own experiences, Kory shares the ups, the downs, and the secrets of funding a startup (without the startup funds). With humor, confidence, and heart, Kory gives viewers a sample of what it’s like to start a business when the cash distribution isn’t totally in your favor.
Show Notes
0:010 From Criminal Intelligence to starting a clothing brand
4:09 Social media as a backbone of selling and selling points
7:44 Being unique vs trendy
9:10 The learning curve of starting a company; testing on a smaller price point item
10:35 Starting a company with a significant other
15:53 Leveraging following to be featured on Forbes
19:23 Fundraising and sharing the burden of being a founder
26:09 Giving back from the start while creating a legacy brand
30:04 Finding the people that align with your values
32:08 Leadership style; being the boss vs inspiring and being real
35:15 Being intentional about the culture you want to create
38:00 Kory’s legacy
Links and Resources Mentioned
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