On a recent trip to New York, I sat down with Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Gilt Groupe, a site that brings designer sample sales online. Inspired by France’s Vente Privee, Gilt is a pioneer in the U.S. and one of the leaders in the very hot e-commerce “deal space” industry (competitor Rue La La was sold last fall for $350 million). Alexandra shared with me her thoughts on founding Gilt with a trusted friend, raising over $50m in venture funding, and bringing in a new CEO.