Eileen Fisher

AFTER NEARLY 40 YEARS, THE ICONIC FASHION ENTREPRENEUR IS STEPPING DOWN AS CEO OF HER EPONYMOUS BRAND—AND EMBRACING THE LESSONS SHE’S LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.

- Christine Lagorio-Chafkin

With just $350 in the bank, Eileen Fisher founded her ready-to-wear fashion brand in 1984 in New York City. Her apparel featured clean lines and timeless silhouettes, inspired by the kimono. Her remarkably steady hand guided the reluctant leader's design sensibility and corporation for nearly 40 years-though she would run the company without a chief executive for long stretches, instead favoring collaborative leadership teams. Today, Eileen Fisher is a nearly 800-person company based in Irvington, New York, and is on track to hit $265 million in revenue this year with more than 50 stores in North America and a global presence in more than 500 department stores. With Patagonia veteran Lisa Williams secure in the chief executive role since September, the 72-year-old Fisher reflects on what has mattered most to her over the years.

1 LEAD WITH YOUR GIFT