Episode 91 From Spelling Bee Rivals to Kitchen Revolution: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Skura Style Founders with Alison Matz and Linda Sawyer
Childhood friends Linda Sawyer and Alison Matz prove that lifelong partnerships can create revolutionary businesses. After meeting at age seven during a second-grade spelling bee, these two women built impressive corporate careers—Linda as chairman of Deutsch advertising agency and Alison in publisher roles at Condé Nast and Meredith—before pivoting to entrepreneurship in their second act. Their frustration with ugly, bacteria-laden kitchen sponges sparked the creation of Skura Style, a disruptor brand that's transforming the $2 billion cleaning products industry with antimicrobial sponges that fade to indicate when it's time to replace them.
What started as a passion project between two perfectionist friends has evolved into a premium brand partnership with actress Eva Mendes, who discovered their products during the pandemic and became a co-owner. Linda and Alison share candid insights about transitioning from corporate executives to hands-on entrepreneurs, the challenges of raising money as women, and why you can't have it all simultaneously—but you can build a "portfolio of experiences" that creates fulfilling career chapters. Their story offers inspiration for female business partnerships and practical advice for anyone considering an entrepreneurial leap later in life.
Episode recorded May 9, 2025, at the LMC Media studio.
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Reference:
Eyal, Nir (2016, September 20), “The Larry Page Toothbrush Test”. medium.com