In this episode of Boss Files, her name and her brand are known around the world.

Tori Birch now runs a global fashion powerhouse.

I spoke with a self-made billionaire to talk about her struggle with the word ambition

and her push to help elevate female entrepreneurs right here at home.

I sat down with her in October at her headquarters in New York. Let's begin

with the word ambition. Why have you struggled with the word ambition through your life?

It's funny. I didn't know I struggled with it through my life. When I first started the company,

it was the first article written on me and what we were doing.

And my friend called me and she said, I love the article, but you got shy when he said,

you're ambitious. And I said, yeah, you know, it's funny. I did shrink away from that word.

And there's a negative connotation associated with ambitious women.

What is the connotation? How did you feel?

I mean, that was back in 2004.

It was in New York Times profile on you.

You know, what were you thinking?

Why was ambition negative in your mind then?

Well, I don't think it was a thought process, and I don't think I ever knew there were gender

differences growing up.

I grew up with three brothers

with the idea that I could do anything that they did. So when I went into the workforce and

someone called me ambitious, it just seemed like it was a very negative term when addressing a woman.

And I felt that at the time, but I realized also what a good point, and that's something I

...