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Show Notes
Away wasn’t just luggage—it was millennial wanderlust personified. Backed by $150 million in funding and powered by influencer buzz, Away rocketed to unicorn status in four years. But behind the minimalist branding and Instagrammable carry-ons was a workplace culture scandal, a global travel shutdown, and the hard truth that they were never a tech company… they were just selling suitcases.
Today, Sammi unpacks the stunning rise and near-collapse of Away: the Slack surveillance, the CEO whiplash, the overfunding problem, and the brutal reality check of pandemic-era travel. Plus, what happens when your brand is built on vibes… and the vibes shift?
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Here’s what Sammi covers today:
00:00 Away: A Millennial Success Story
01:04 The Broken Luggage Origin Story to Unicorn Status
03:33 The Marketing Magic of Creating a Must-Have Brand
04:56 Rocket Ship Growth and Market Competition
06:08 Toxic Culture and the Beginning of the End
07:54 … and Then There’s COVID
09:06 Post-Pandemic Strategies
12:43 Lessons From The Rise and Fall of Away
13:50 How to Show Social Currency Some Love
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