Andrew Rosen Built Theory and Backed SKIMS – Here’s What He’d Tell Every Founder

About this episode

<p>Andrew Rosen has spent nearly five decades building, investing in, and shaping some of the most influential brands in American fashion. As the co-founder of Theory and an early investor in brands like TWP, rag and bone, Veronica Beard, Alice + Olivia, Good American and SKIMS, he’s also one of Emma's closest mentors.&nbsp; His advice comes from doing the work — and learning what happens when things don't go to plan.</p><p>In this conversation, Andrew shares the lessons he took from his father, the setbacks that shaped how he built Theory, and the advice he gave Emma when she was becoming a brand owner. They explore how to trust your instincts, choose the right investors, and build a profitable business with staying power.</p><p>They get into:</p><ul><li>Taking over as CEO of the family business in his twenties</li><li>Losing control of the company — and what he did next</li><li>Getting fired, and why he never saw it as failure</li><li>The experience he brought to starting Theory at 40</li><li>Why profitability has to be part of the plan from the start</li><li>What founders should actually look for in an investor</li><li>The lessons he took from his father that still shape how he does business</li></ul>