With Embrace Ambition, Tory Burch pushes for gender equality

The Tory Burch Foundation is launching a global campaign called Embrace Ambition in honor of International Women’s Day and women’s history month. Seeking to encourage women to celebrate their ambition and address double standards in society, part of the campaign is a public service announcement featuring celebrities and leaders from diverse industries, including “CBS This Morning” co-hosts Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell.

“I think feminism is sort of misinterpreted. Being a feminist, which I am, is about equality. It’s not about disliking men. It’s about equal rights for women,” fashion designer Tory Burch said Tuesday on “CBS This Morning.”

The CEO and philanthropist first launched her eponymous brand in 2004, and it’s grown to a global business with more than 190 stores in cities like New York, Paris and Shanghai. Burch’s foundation also empowers female entrepreneurs by providing mentorship and resources.

Burch revealed she was once been uncomfortable about her own ambition.

“I’m guilty of it. The first article ever written on me, someone called me up and said, ‘I loved the article, but you shied away from the word ambition.’ And 13 years later I realized it was true,” Burch said. “And it’s something I’m not proud of back then, but I want other people to have the confidence to embrace their goals. And it doesn’t have to be in the workforce. It can be how you are as a mom.” 

Burch said when a man is ambitious, it is celebrated, but for women, it somehow can become “distasteful.”

“I think it’s such a harmful stereotype, and we need to once and for all get rid of it,” Burch said.

It’s also important to have men be part of the gender equality conversation, she said.

“Equal rights should be a given. Equal pay should be a given. It’s not a favor, and this is half the population, it’s essential for us to move forward. And it will only help the economy,” Burch said.

In 2014 and 2015, there were 24 female CEOs on the Fortune 500 list. That number dropped to 21 in 2016. So what’s behind the decrease?

“I think it’s definitely competitive, and I think, you know, not everyone is cut out to embrace ambition in that kind of way,” Burch said. “But if women are, we want to give them the equal opportunities that men have. And I think there needs to be more women. And women have a different point of view, and I think it’s so important in the workforce.” 

Burch gave some practical tips for women to embrace their ambitions.

“Own your confidence. Own your skills. Be okay to ask for a raise. It’s a learned skill,” Burch said.