Why Supermodel Karlie Kloss Quit Victoria’s Secret to Build a Tech Empire

Model, investor, activist, founder—Karlie Kloss has worn a lot of hats (and a lot of couture).

In this episode of The Burnouts, Karlie sits down with Phoebe and Sophia to talk about what happens when your “dream job” turns into something more. From getting scouted at 13 and walking Dior at 15, to launching Kode With Klossy and acquiring i-D magazine, Karlie shares the real story behind the headlines—and how she’s used her platform to build power on her own terms.

She opens up about early burnout, learning to trust her instincts, and the pressure of growing up in public. Plus: how she used brand deals to fund a coding nonprofit, why she angel invested in tampons, and what she’s learned about failure, focus, and building a career that actually lasts.

Also: how she made $10k flying economy???

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CHAPTERS
02:15 – Getting scouted at 13
04:10 – Saving every dollar (even mid-Fashion Week)
06:30 – Modeling as a means, not the end
09:20 – Using social media as a business tool
11:00 – Starting Kode With Klossy
15:10 – Investing in women-led companies
18:45 – Mistakes, pivots, and building something real
24:00 – Why she uses her dinner parties to fund reproductive rights
29:20 – Reimagining i-D for the next generation
33:00 – Advice for young women entering fashion
35:00 – Letting go of the pressure to have it all figured out

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Phoebe Gates
Sophia Kianni
Karlie Kloss

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Subscribe to The Burnouts for exclusive conversations with today’s top founders and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by former Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, this isn’t just another founder podcast—it’s untold conversations and the unfiltered reality of what it takes to build your dream career in your 20s. Guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more visionaries defining the brands—and blueprints—of our time. Whether you’re dreaming big or building now, these are the conversations that will show you how it’s done (and what no one else tells you). 

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