All Segments
Sonia Syngal, MSE ’95, CEO of Gap Inc.
22 segments available
Sonia Syngal, CEO of Gap Inc., sat down with Adriann Negreros, MBA ’21, to discuss how an empathetic and inclusive leadership team can set up an organization to best serve their customers, the importance of symbiotic mentorship, and the future of the fashion industry. Syngal was interviewed on February 23, 2021, as part of the View From The Top speaker series.
Segments Timeline
Introducing Sonia Syngal
In this segment, Dean Levin introduces Sonia Syngal, the CEO of Gap Inc., highlighting her impressive background, including her education at Stanford and her extensive career at Gap. The introduction sets the stage for a discussion on leadership and the challenges faced during the pandemic.
"[Music] hi i'm jessica lawson one of the view from the top student leaders on behalf of the leadership team thank you for joining us today we are excited to bring you yet another outstanding speaker t..."
Sonia's Creative Roots
Sonia Syngal shares her early passion for fashion, rooted in her childhood experiences of making her own clothes due to a lack of fitting options. She discusses the support from her parents, particularly her mother's encouragement of her creativity and social skills, which shaped her confidence in various environments.
"today's conversation with adrian negros nba 2021 we are always so grateful to have alums back with us thanks for joining today it's good to be here adrian nice gap t-shirt too thanks for that apprecia..."
Lessons from the Auto Industry
Reflecting on her early career, Sonia recounts her challenging job at Ford, where she evaluated productivity among older workers. She emphasizes the importance of human connection and observation in the workplace, highlighting how these experiences taught her valuable lessons about leadership and productivity.
"um in addition one of the things i'm really grateful for for her is she made sure that i could be highly functional in any room and she insisted that um you know every weekend we socialize with with h..."
The Decision to Move West
Sonia discusses her decision to move to California for graduate school, motivated by the lack of diversity in leadership roles at Ford. She reflects on her experiences at Kettering University and how they influenced her desire for a more inclusive environment, ultimately leading her to Stanford.
"um you know union shift union workers midnight shift um and my job was to make them more productive some you know a 21 year old fresh engineer that really didn't know a lot and uh that was fun you kno..."
Stanford Memories and Challenges
In this segment, Sonia shares a light-hearted memory from her time at Stanford, including a fun engineering project. She reflects on the male-dominated environment in both the auto and tech industries, discussing how these experiences shaped her professional journey and resilience.
"things watching product at scale happen in the auto industry was incredibly stimulating exciting so much complexity and uh that was one of the many jobs that i did there at this time sonia you also re..."
Finding Love at Stanford
Sonia recounts meeting her husband on her first day at Stanford, emphasizing the importance of shared values and connections. She shares insights on the significance of choosing the right partner and how this relationship has been a cornerstone of her success.
"taking in is the objective here was a race around the quad and we were in partner teams and we had to make this vehicle of using materials that were predescribed and whoever got there fastest around t..."
Transitioning to Gap Inc.
Sonia reflects on her decade-long experience at Sun Microsystems before joining Gap Inc. She discusses the company's origins and her excitement about leading Gap during a transformative time, setting the stage for her insights on the fashion industry.
"success absolutely completely agree sonia you've been, on the, west, coast, for, a, while, now you're at a decade with sun microsystems and then join gap inc let's do it let's talk about gapping, for,..."
Thinking Big at Gap
Sonia reflects on her career journey, including her decade at Sun Microsystems, and how it inspired her to think big. She shares her motivations for joining Gap Inc. and her passion for fashion at scale, highlighting the importance of connecting with the brand's legacy and values.
"and you know uh it was a a wonderful decade for me motivated by his inspiration and for me really that what that taught me was um think big really think big you know but then you know when i joined ga..."
Old Navy's Mission
Sonia discusses her role at Old Navy and how the brand aims to create a respectful and aspirational environment for families. She explains the brand's commitment to inclusivity and value, emphasizing the importance of making everyone feel welcome and proud of their clothing choices.
"in 1969 they each put in 21 000 of their respective monies and thank god doris uh took over the naming of the company because you know uh pants and discs versus it started as the generation gap and th..."
Driving Growth Through Inclusivity
Sonia outlines her strategy for growing Old Navy from $7 billion to $8 billion by sharpening the brand's focus on inclusivity and differentiation. She emphasizes the importance of reflecting the diversity of America in their offerings and ensuring that the brand resonates with its customers.
"billion dollars their motto starts with imagine that the world runs right how did you help old navy run right so you know i think old navy plays a special, part, in, people's, lives, and and uh it's a..."
Defining Company Purpose
As CEO, Sonia reflects on the need for Gap Inc. to articulate its purpose clearly. She shares how the company landed on 'inclusive by design' as its north star, which has provided a strong focus for decision-making and aligns with the brand's legacy and values.
"around fashion around the fun of the brand the family essence of the brand and the value that that brand created so you know i stepped back and looked around and i felt like okay our strength at, the,..."
Creating with Audacity
Sonia discusses the cultural tenants of Gap Inc., emphasizing the importance of boldness and risk-taking in their future strategy. She highlights the need for a strong company culture that supports innovative thinking and aligns with the brand's mission.
"acceleration towards growth and as i reflected on the past 50 years and and think about the next 50 at this juncture that's really what i think about and while we had all these attributes we had great..."
Partnerships and Cultural Relevance
Sonia talks about the significance of being at the intersection of culture and commerce. She shares insights on new initiatives and partnerships that reflect the zeitgeist, emphasizing how these collaborations will help Gap Inc. remain relevant and innovative in the fashion industry.
"right now at gap inc well part of it is just good business sense i mean we want to reflect customers our customers our customers are 75 female er we reflect uh the diversity of america and we want to ..."
The Heart of Gap Inc.: Doris Fisher
Sonia reflects on the legacy of Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap Inc., and her influence on the company's culture. She describes Doris as a role model who exemplified leadership, activism, and philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and the impact of those who came before.
"both of those dimensions super exciting i think all of us consumers can't wait to see what, we, can, purchase, in, the next, few years at the gapping stores let's talk a little bit about mentorship an..."
The Importance of Mentorship
In this segment, Sonia discusses her approach to mentorship, both as a mentee and a mentor. She shares insights on the value of learning from direct bosses and the importance of seeking mentors who complement one's skills, highlighting the symbiotic nature of mentor-mentee relationships.
"of many that i look to for inspiration incredible sonia i'd love to hear more about mentorship i guess broadly as well so have you thought about finding mentors throughout your career and maybe even t..."
Overcoming the Fear of Asking for Help
Sonia addresses the common discomfort in seeking help and emphasizes that people are generally willing to assist. She encourages individuals to recognize their gaps and choose mentors who can help them grow, reinforcing the idea that mentorship is a two-way street.
"i mentor it's a tough one i mean i think that i'm personally drawn to uh mentees that have a lot of fire and a lot of ambition and that perhaps i can help guide and accelerate that um but to me um you..."
Leading Through Crisis
Sonia recounts her experience as CEO during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing the challenges of leading Gap Inc. through unprecedented times. She reflects on the clarity that crisis brings and how her past experiences prepared her for decisive leadership in a moment of uncertainty.
"i've always found that i give as much as i get in both of those um relation on both sides of that relationship it's wonderful advice sonia i want to close by talking a little bit about leadership over..."
The Impact of the Fashion Industry
In this closing segment, Sonia highlights the significant role of the fashion industry in the global economy, noting its ability to create jobs and its complexity. She shares her excitement about the future of Gap Inc. and the fun of navigating the intersection of culture and business.
"anyone can be prepared incredible i'm glad you're having fun now i just saw your generation good campaign yesterday that sounds incredible super exciting so glad we're back on the offense at gap inc y..."
The Future of Retail
In response to a question about the future of retail post-COVID, Syngal stresses the importance of physical stores and the human experience in shopping. She discusses the need for retail environments to be relevant and engaging, particularly for younger generations who seek experiences beyond online transactions.
"female ceo right and i was sort of adamant about that but it is inevitable because that is what i am and there's not many of us in fact there's there's none as you as you point out um or there's a cou..."
Emotional Purchases
Sonia highlights that 86% of apparel purchases are emotional, emphasizing the importance of creating a compelling in-store experience. She encourages consumers to engage with physical stores to support the retail industry, reinforcing the connection between emotional shopping and revenue generation for Gap Inc.
"important it's incumbent on us to make it good thank you i think there's something exciting sonia about the physical store still i i always get excited when i walk into a gap store i could probably ne..."
Advice for Stanford Students
In a lightning round segment, Syngal shares her best advice for Stanford students, urging them to know themselves and embrace hands-on experiences. She encourages students to follow their passions and actively participate in shaping their futures, rather than just observing from the sidelines.
"which is why i have too many black sweaters you can never have too many you should see my closet i want to close with our lightning round on you from the top it's a tradition are you, ready, for, it, ..."
Choosing Between Brands
Sonia playfully compares Gap Inc.'s brands to characters from 'Sex and the City,' illustrating how consumers relate to different brands at various times in their lives. She emphasizes the unique value of each brand under Gap Inc., showcasing the diversity of consumer needs and preferences.
"is not nearly as fun agree so the last one is very easy none of this open-ended situation so i'm gonna give you some options okay so the best brand banana republic old navy gap or athleta oh boy it's ..."