Authors at Google: Alexis Maybank, "By Invitation Only"

Alexis Maybank, co-founder of Gilt Groupe, discusses her new book "By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop" with Sandra Leung Li at Google's New York, NY office. This event took place on June 1, 2012, as part of the Authors@Google series.
Gilt Groupe -- launched by Alexis, Alexandra, and three colleagues in 2007 -- is one of the most fascinating startups of recent years, with a valuation of more than $1 billion. And it all began with one bold idea: to bring sample sales online and change the way millions shop.
As Alexis and Alexandra write about the day Gilt.com went live: "We had created a website that could potentially change the rules of retail, for both shoppers and brands. If shopping was traditionally a slow, leisurely activity that might consume an entire day, it would now be competitive, addictive, urgent, thrilling—a rush delivered at the same time each day. Shopping would become not just easier, but so much fun."
Alexis Maybank is Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Gilt Groupe. Alexis has dedicated her career to building and launching innovative and compelling ecommerce experiences for consumers. In 2007, Alexis became a founding CEO of Gilt Groupe, working to expand the company's sales categories from women's brands to include lifestyle categories such as sporting goods, home decor, children's apparel and luxury travel services.
Prior to founding Gilt Groupe, Alexis served as general manager and business development director for AOL's ecommerce businesses. In 1998, she became an early member of the eBay team, where she helped launch the company's first strategic planning group and also launched eBay Canada, which grew to become Canada's largest ecommerce business. She later helped found eBay Motors, which grew to over $2.5 billion in gross sales and continues to be the largest category of goods sold on eBay today.
Alexis holds a B.A. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.