Tory Burch Visits LA to Mentor Women in Business

Fashion designer and businesswoman Tory Burch traveled to Los Angeles Monday to join Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in a mentoring session for female business owners.

Burch partnered with the Valley Economic Development Center and Accion LA to bring together women from different fields, with varying business experiences.

Tory Burch smiles as she listens to other business mentors at Monday's conference.

"The mentors have the experience, the knowledge, and they're giving [business owners] input on how they could grow their businesses," said Marsel Watts, director of the VEDC.

Burch was enthusiastic about the event and proud to be able to share tips about her success with other women.

"I've been able to surround myself with amazing people, and that's definitely one of my gifts," she said.

The owners' businesses ranged from food and retail to credit assistance. The experience of the business owners also contained a broad spectrum, as experienced businesswomen chatted with those who are now in the process of starting a business.

When asked about lessons she had learned over the years, Burch said her best piece of advice is to "have a very unique idea, know that it's going to be a tremendous amount of work, and know that you can't give up."