Marcy Syms became the youngest female president of a publicly traded New York Stock Exchange company when she was named to the position with her family’s business in 1983.
At its peak, the Syms chain of off-price, brand-name fashion stores operated 46 outlets across 16 states, generating annual sales approaching $350 million.
The chain’s slogan — coined by founder Sy Syms, Marcy’s father — was iconic: “An educated consumer is our best customer.”
While Syms was not the very first off-price fashion retailer when it opened its original store in 1959, Sy and Marcy Syms went on to define the sector and dominate it until — faced with increased competition and a soft economy — Syms filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors in 2011 after more than 50 years.
Marcy shares her compelling story and the story of Syms Corporation in a new book, set for release on August 26th. The book is titled Leading with Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer.
“Respect,” as she explains on this week’s podcast, is the key trait — often misunderstood — of effective leadership.
Marcy is a former member of the board at Midlantic Bank and Rite Aid. She is president of the Sy Syms Foundation, which continues her family’s philanthropic legacy supporting charitable, educational, and cultural organizations, including the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University. The foundation has awarded over $60 million to worthy organizations.
Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.
Photo: Marcy Syms, Sy Syms Foundation
Posted: August 11, 2025
Monday Morning Run Time: 49:00
Episode: 14.10
RELATED EPISODES:
-
Hear How Bob Moog’s University Games Became the Largest Independent Game Company in the World
-
How Brian Scudamore, a High School Dropout, Disrupted an Industry and Forged a $600 Million Business
-
Dean Guida Bootstrapped His Way to Building a Multinational Enterprise Software Company
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.