Woman Inc.

Kara Brothers is the President of Starface, the cult-favorite skincare brand that's reimagining acne care and inspiring a new generation to embrace their skin with confidence and joy. With 15 years of experience in the technology and beauty industries—including leadership roles at Google and Grid AI—Kara brings deep operational expertise and strategic vision to every facet of the business, from global partnerships to demand-driven product launches. Under her leadership, Starface has become a paradigm-shifting force in skincare, blending playful branding with community-driven innovation to reshape how consumers experience beauty.

Melissa Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of OSEA, has helped grow the nearly 30-year-old brand, known for its seaweed-based skincare, to impressive heights. Founded with her mother, Jenefer, in 1996, OSEA has remained profitable every year. After a brief venture away, Melissa returned in 2016 to lead OSEA's growth, reaching $100M in annual sales and expanding to over 3,000 distribution points. The brand is now a top-seller at Erewhon and Nordstrom, with celebrity fans like Victoria Beckham and Brie Larson. OSEA continues to grow at 30% annually and has increased 7600% in the past eight years. 

Alison Armstrong began studying human behavior in 1991, focusing on understanding men and how to bring out their best. Her research expanded to include women, uncovering universal human instincts that impact behavior across gender, age, and background. Alison offers practical, partnership-based solutions through seminars, books, and online programs, helping millions achieve more fulfilling lives, relationships, and productive organizations. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, her approach is widely referenced by other experts in the field.

Dr. Nikki Blacksmith is co-founder and CEO of Blackhawke Behavior Science and an adjunct faculty member at American University. With nearly 15 years of experience in psychometrics, decision-making, and entrepreneurial performance, she has published over 80 papers and been featured in top academic journals and media outlets like New York Magazine and BBC. She is also co-author of the upcoming book Data-Driven Decision Making in Entrepreneurship: Tools for Maximizing Human Capital (CRC Press, April 2024).

Mona Patel is an entrepreneur and investor with expertise in real estate, healthcare, and tech, as well as a passion for haute couture and philanthropy. She founded Couture For Cause, a charity using high fashion to support girls' education and empowerment globally. Raised in India, Mona's boldness and ambition have shaped her success. After moving to the U.S., she built a real estate firm and co-founded healthcare companies with her husband. Mona's couture collection features iconic designers like Dior and McQueen, and her philanthropic efforts have been featured in top magazines. Now based in New York, she continues her work in fashion and charity.

Heather has led Curology for over two years, driving its mission to make effective skincare more accessible. Under her leadership, the brand has expanded its team of dermatology providers, serving over 5 million patients and launching personalized prescription hair treatment. Before Curology, she was President of the Americas at Revlon and spent 10 years at Novartis leading various business lines. With 20+ years of experience, Heather speaks on topics like AI in skincare, skincare personalization, telemedicine, retail expansion, and brand growth in a competitive market.

Missy and Scott Tannen founded Boll & Branch, risking their life savings to create a sustainable, luxury bedding brand with full supply chain transparency. In 10 years, the company became the largest consumer of organic cotton, generating over $200M in annual revenue. The brand has gained a loyal following, including the Obamas, who outfitted Air Force One with their products. They've expanded into new home categories, opened stores, and partnered with Prabal Gurung for the first organic cotton dress at the Met Gala.

Katie Hunt, Co-Founder and CEO, has held pivotal roles at Warby Parker, Hinge, and Showfields, specializing in branding, product development, and operations. Drawing on her extensive startup experience, she co-founded Oh Norman! with Kaley Cuoco to create eco-friendly, durable pet products. The brand fills a significant gap in the fragmented pet care industry, offering safe, trustworthy products for pet parents. Katie's leadership and background position Oh Norman! to meet the growing demand for high-quality pet care as the industry continues to expand.

Mandy Teefey is the co-founder and CEO of Wondermind, the world's first mental fitness ecosystem, with a mission to destigmatize and democratize mental health. Launched in 2022 by Mandy and Selena Gomez, Wondermind provides inclusive content, tools, and resources to help change the narrative around mental health. Under Mandy's leadership, Wondermind quickly grew a collective audience of 2 million and attracted 3 million site visitors within its first three months.

Sarah Paiji Yoo is the CEO and Founder of Blueland, a brand focused on eliminating single-use plastic packaging in home cleaning and personal care products. Blueland aims to provide sustainable, effective, and affordable alternatives that allow consumers to clean their homes without harming the planet. Sarah has been featured in major outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and Forbes, and has appeared on shows like The Today Show and Shark Tank.

Michelle Wahler Adams is an entrepreneur who co-founded Beyond Yoga in 2005 and grew it into a global brand with a focus on inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment. As CEO, she expanded the company into a successful global business, culminating in its acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co. in 2021, where she continued to lead as CEO and joined Levi's Executive Leadership Team. Michelle was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2021 and a DEIA Visionary by the LA Times in 2023. Originally from Maryland, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and two dogs, while staying active in philanthropy and enjoying painting, reading, and travel.

Katie Rosen Kitchens is a key figure in the subscription box industry, transforming FabFitFun from a female-focused media brand into a leader in content, community, and commerce. Previously, she wrote for outlets like The Los Angeles Times and worked on TV shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Her leadership spans brand partnerships, product development, and charity work, while supporting female-founded brands. Katie also launched FabFitFun's first subscription box the same week she welcomed her daughter, and has since helped build a community of over 1 million members.

Gara's latest venture, The Now Massage Boutique, has transformed the art of relaxation by offering affordable yet elevated massage experiences. As co-founder and chief creative officer, she identified a market gap and created a chic boutique that has quickly expanded to over 50 locations nationwide. Committed to providing accessible luxury, The Now also ventured into wellness products and introduced a membership model to enhance clients' self-care routines. These products have gained a dedicated following, complementing the boutique's unique massage offerings. Leveraging her success, Gara launched Bowie Barker in 2022, a full-service pet-grooming business with plans for 200 franchise locations by 2028, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit across diverse ventures.

Anda Pho is the President of Evite, the first and leading digital platform for bringing people together. She joined Evite in 2022 as Chief Product Officer, where she focused on modernizing the customer experience through ease and customization. Before Evite, Anda was the Chief Marketing Officer at True&Co., a lingerie start-up that sold to PVH, where she created an online bra fit quiz that attracted over 9 million users. This innovation helped establish the modern wirefree bra category, making it the #1 franchise for Calvin Klein. Anda has also held executive roles at POM Wonderful and Teleflora and earned her MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, after graduating from UCLA.

Deb Liu became the President & CEO of Ancestry in March 2021, bringing over 18 years of tech leadership experience from companies like PayPal, eBay, and Facebook. Recognized as one of Business Insider's most powerful female engineers, she played a pivotal role in developing Facebook's Marketplace and its mobile advertising initiatives. Under her leadership, Ancestry is embracing a new vision focused on inclusivity, aiming to create a product that reflects diverse family dynamics and backgrounds. Her strategic initiatives include the release of Ancestry's inaugural Impact Report and the acquisition of Geneanet, enhancing the company's offerings. Additionally, Liu is committed to promoting diversity in tech through her nonprofit, Women In Product, which supports women in product management.

Gwen Whiting is renowned for founding and scaling The Laundress, a premium eco-friendly laundry brand, into a global lifestyle company. She launched it in 2002 with a grassroots event called “The Soap Splash,” growing the brand for 17 years without outside capital until its acquisition by Unilever in 2019. Gwen is now reinventing home cleaning and laundry with her recent venture, The Fill, a private members cleaning community offering a luxury collection of aromatherapy-infused home cleaning and laundry products. Her passion for mentoring future entrepreneurs has been a significant part of her journey, and she supports them through organizations like Cornell's Entrepreneurship Council and YPO's Global Leadership Community. Gwen's core values and her motto, “Let life work for you,” are inspired by her recent wellness journey. www.gwenwhiting.com   www.thefillclub.com

Gail is the Co-Founder of John Frieda Hair Care, which sold for $450 million to Kao in 2002, and the Founder and CEO of Color Wow. She has revolutionized the traditional hair care routine by creating pioneering products, such as one of the first frizz serums with John Frieda and one of the first at-home root cover-ups with Color Wow. Gail's ability to collaborate with top professional and celebrity hair stylists, including John Frieda and Chris Appleton, has been crucial in bringing these innovative formulas to life. Color Wow has achieved remarkable success in 2023, with 100% year-over-year growth in product sales and a nearly threefold increase in social media impact. The Color Wow Dream Coat, one of the brand's most iconic products, is sold every 12 seconds.

Rachel Jarrett is the co-CEO of Zola, a leading platform for wedding planning that has experienced explosive growth under her leadership. With over 2 million couples choosing Zola for their wedding journey, Rachel is renowned for her innovative approach and collaborative leadership style. Her achievements have been highlighted in Inc Magazine and studied at Harvard Business School. Rachel brings extensive experience from traditional retail and ecommerce, previously leading Baby & Kids at Gilt Groupe and holding senior roles at Barnes & Noble.com, FAO Schwarz, and Toys “R” Us. She holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and is actively involved in advising startups and serving on boards, including Tech.

Jenna Fagnan is a leader in luxury and lifestyle brands, known for launching Tequila Avión and co-founding Teremana Tequila with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. With experience at Dom Pérignon USA and TAG Heuer, she holds an MBA from Harvard and actively supports charitable causes through organizations like Girls Inc. and her Elevado Foundation. Teremana Tequila, founded by Dwayne Johnson, offers blanco, reposado, and añejo expressions made from mature agave, distilled in Jalisco with a name meaning 'spirit of the earth' in Latin and Polynesian.

Lauren Cooks Levitan is the President and former CFO of Faire, a Sequoia-backed billion dollar retail startup. Lauren has more than 30 years of strategic, financial, and operational experience at some of the most transformative brands in the retail industry. Prior to joining Faire, Lauren served as CFO at Fanatics, where she oversaw accounting, financial planning, strategic analysis, and investor relations to drive multi-channel growth across all divisions. Lauren co-founded Moxie Capital LLC, a private equity firm that specialized in advising consumer-facing businesses in the wholesale, retail, and e-commerce industries. Earlier in her career, she was a Managing Director at Robertson Stephens and built the consumer retail franchise of Cowen & Co. Lauren has served on the board of directors (Audit Committee Member) for e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE: ELF) since 2016. She also spent time in her career at Crate & Barrel, the Gymboree Corporation, and Goldman Sachs. She holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BA in Political Science from Duke University.

Little Words Project, founded by Adriana Carrig, is the original word bracelet community inspiring kindness through wearable affirmations. Each Little Word® bracelet is crafted to spread positivity, meant to be cherished and passed on to others. Started in 2013 after Adriana's own experiences with bullying, the brand recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. It has gained a devoted following, including celebrities like Lance Bass and Kourtney Kardashian. With over 1,000 retail partners, including Target and Nordstrom, and plans for 12 stores by year-end, Little Words Project also gives back through its initiative, Little Words Big Impact, contributing approximately $700k to charitable causes.

Sarah has made CULTURED a standout in independent publishing, focusing on art, design, and Hollywood. She excels in talent discovery and industry connections, boosting artists like Jordan Casteel and Christina Quarles to major galleries. With nearly 40 bespoke events annually, CULTURED collaborates with top brands such as Bottega Veneta and Prada. Sarah pioneers innovative editorial approaches, including A.I.-generated features for major fashion houses, while exploring social issues in art and capturing intimate portraits of figures like Chloe Sevigny and Emily Ratajkowski.

Lydia Fenet, CEO of the Lydia Fenet Agency, has revolutionized charity auctions, raising over $1 billion for 800 organizations. Formerly at Christie's, she's a trailblazing auctioneer who breaks gender barriers and collaborates with celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and Hugh Jackman. Lydia is also a bestselling author ("The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You"), and hosts the podcast "Claim Your Confidence."

Alexandra Fine, co-founder and CEO of Dame Products, is a leading figure in sexual health and sextech. A credentialed sexologist and member of Forbes' 30 Under 30 2018, she's dedicated to fostering essential conversations and creating innovative intimacy-enhancing products. With a Master's in Clinical Psychology specializing in sex therapy from Columbia, Fine has propelled Dame Products and its acclaimed vibrators into the spotlight since 2014, earning praise from top media outlets worldwide.

Melissa helped to create Frame, a beautifully designed, at-home, digitally-connected Pilates reformer that offers live and on-demand workouts. Unlike other reformers, Frame utilizes the latest in technology and design for a sleek, lightweight Frame with a built-in touchscreen for streaming workouts in the comfort and convenience of home.

Amanda's passion for wellness began with her online fitness and nutrition magazine, Vital Juice, while studying at Harvard Business School. In 2011, she founded SLT to offer affordable, results-driven, pilates-inspired workouts. SLT has since become a leader in boutique fitness with 15 studios and the innovative SLT Tread workout, combining HIIT and pilates. Amanda's entrepreneurial journey includes Vital Juice, SLT, and her latest venture, Stretch*d, which offers 1:1 assisted stretch sessions to improve health.

Deborah entered the Space Industry in 2016 as Co-CEO of Space Hero, a global competition offering a $55m ticket for a 10-day stay on the ISS to non-astronauts. She has established ties with over 42 Space Agencies and a community of 800+ supporters worldwide. With 25+ years in entertainment, Deborah helped launch Shazam and Spotify and formed partnerships with Amazon and iTunes. As a female entrepreneur of color, she champions diversity and supports women across all backgrounds. She also advises and invests in Space and media startups.

Rachel Krupa, a 20-year veteran in the CPG space, created The Goods Mart to offer healthier, environmentally friendly products. Featured on the Today show for her “snack swaps,” Rachel's journey from personal passion to establishing a community-based enterprise is inspiring. Since 2018, The Goods Mart has grown to three NYC locations, showcasing sustainable, better-for-you products from lesser-known brands.

Rachel Krupa, a 20-year veteran in the CPG space, created The Goods Mart to offer healthier, environmentally friendly products. Featured on the Today show for her “snack swaps,” Rachel's journey from personal passion to establishing a community-based enterprise is inspiring. Since 2018, The Goods Mart has grown to three NYC locations, showcasing sustainable, better-for-you products from lesser-known brands.

Natalie Mariduena is a 27 year old lifestyle creator and entrepreneur who has become the "Internet's Girl Next Door," accumulating over 3.5 million Instagram followers @NatalieNoel and was just appointed President of YouTube sensation David Dobrik company, David Dobrik LLC. She has a great story of being childhood friends with the YouTube star, moving to LA to be his assistant, and making a name for herself.

Mari began sharing her fitness journey online in 2017, using proceeds from a $5 Instagram workout guide to launch Bloom. The brand gained fame for its Greens & Superfoods Blend, going viral on TikTok and securing top spots at retailers like Target and Walmart. With a rapidly growing social media following and top-selling status on Amazon, Bloom is celebrated on LinkedIn's Top Startups 2023 list. Mari continues her wellness mission through her podcast, Pursuit of Wellness, exploring topics from nutrition to mental health.

Tammy's mission with Carrot is to make fertility care accessible and affordable, especially in the workplace. In just six years, Carrot has transformed the fertility healthcare landscape, nearly doubling its customer base to over 800 by the end of 2022. This growth highlights the rising demand for fertility healthcare and its resilience despite economic challenges.

Jan & Coabi, formerly of Trunk Club, launched a travel app in 2020 that simplifies trip planning with recommendations from friends and influencers. Inspired by a taxing trip to London, Out of Office aims to enhance travel experiences with ease and beauty. In 2022, they saw an 11,000% user base growth and secured $3.5 million from investors including Brian Kelly, Steven Galanis, and Chris Brown to democratize travel planning further.

Since her teenage years, Tonya has pursued a healing journey focused on natural empowerment through nutrition and lifestyle. Her passion lies at the crossroads of science and spirituality, merging western and eastern modalities. With studies in holistic nutrition, yogic science, and a B.Sc. in Nutrition and Nutraceutical Sciences, Tonya embodies a holistic approach to well-being. Certified in Kundalini yoga, meditation, and Reiki healing, she founded Rainbo in 2018, driven by her belief in the transformative power of mushrooms and nature. Tonya aims to showcase the symbiotic relationship between fungi and human health, advocating for their pivotal role in fostering long-term harmony for individuals and the planet.

Mia Funt, Co-Founder & President of ByHeart, leads the only female-led infant formula company in the US. Amidst a formula shortage crisis in March 2022, Mia and her brother Ron Belldegrun launched ByHeart. Mia's leadership has been pivotal, providing support to parents and engaging with President Biden on lasting solutions. With three children of her own, Mia oversaw ByHeart's rapid production expansion, meeting 15 times the initial demand projection. Opting for a five-year investment in their production facility distinguishes ByHeart from other new entrants relying on third-party manufacturers.

Amy Spurling is the Founder and CEO of Compt, a company specializing in HR software. Their platform enables companies to offer personalized perks that comply with tax regulations and cater to global teams. With extensive experience, including three CFO and two COO roles, Amy emphasizes the importance of supporting employees for enhanced company performance. Over her nearly two-decade career in executive positions at venture-backed firms, she has successfully secured over ten rounds of financing totaling more than $200 million and completed two acquisitions.

Aye Moah, CEO and co-founder of email and calendar productivity suite Boomerang, bootstrapped her business more than ten years ago, foregoing the initial ‘rat race' tech start-ups had to endure to secure a meeting with established VC's, and it worked - Boomerang now has 2M+active users, 7 secured patents, corporate customers like Square, Twitter, and Lyft, and years of profitability.

After years of DJ gigs and late-night events, Jilly was on the search for a lower-alcohol version of her favorite spirit. With few, better-for-you, unflavored versions on the market, she founded BODY with the idea that not all vodka needs to be 40% alcohol volume. Jilly has set out to redefine the drinking experience and is creating a unique opportunity for low-proof vodka to step into the spotlight. BODY leads with taste over alcohol. By prioritizing premium, pure ingredients over ABV, Hendrix is helping to shine the spotlight on a shift in drinking culture toward lighter, cleaner and low-ABV options. 

Inspired by a frustrating online shopping experience while searching for products for their children, best friends and new mothers Sylvana and Luisana founded Maisonette in 2017. As CEO, Sylvana leverages her 14 years of experience at Conde Nast's Vogue magazine to lead the company's business strategy and operations. Maisonette quickly grew to become a leading innovator in the children's market, experiencing a 3x growth in 2020 and raising $50 million in total funding. In just four years, Maisonette has become a trusted destination for families and brands alike, known for its expertly curated marketplace featuring the best children's products from around the world.

Durana Elmi, Founder & COO of Cymbiotika If not quite a story of rags to riches, the story of Durana Elmi's rise to success certainly comes close. Born in Afghanistan, Durana witnessed poverty, injustice, and oppression everywhere she turned, especially towards women who sought freedom and equality. Wanting more for herself and her future family, Durana immigrated to the United States to pursue her creative passions and make a name for herself. Durana quickly climbed the corporate ladder and became the Director of Marketing at AT&T. With her invaluable experience and business and relationship management skills, Durana decided to change course and pursue her passion for health and wellness. Shortly after, Durana became the Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Cymbiotika, where she transformed the company inside and out. Incredibly innovative, Durana created the world's first custom subscription bundle platform and broke massive records. Under Durana's leadership, Cymbiotika's growth skyrocketed. In just the last four years Cymbiotika has achieved record-breaking numbers, doubling their customer subscriptions to a total of over 150,000 subscribers and increasing annual revenue from $1 million to over $100 million. Furthermore, Cymbiotika added over 40 SKUs to the company's product offering in the last three years. Always looking for ways to improve, Durana transformed Cymbiotika's call center from an offshore facility to entirely in-house and moved its headquarters to a state-of-the-art facility in San Diego, CA. Cymbiotika has been awarded Fortune's Great Places To Work for three consecutive years. The company also achieved the 187th position on Inc. Magazine's 2023 list of America's Fastest Growing Companies for two consecutive years within its first two years of eligibility. With over 150,000 subscribers and a rapidly expanding team, Durana is, and always will be, a people-first leader. She has garnered recognition through prestigious awards, including San Diego Business Journal Business Woman of the Year, Female Executive of the Year, Globee Female Leader of the Year, and Dynamic Woman of San Diego. Despite her challenging upbringing as an Afghan immigrant, she remained focused on her goals and passions. As a champion for women, her unwavering dedication creates an environment where women thrive and lead with confidence.

Nicole Wegman, Founder and CEO, Ring Concierge (https://ringconcierge.com/), a NYC-based DTC luxury jeweler that has built an impressive company on a bespoke bridal business alongside a more accessible fine jewelry collection. Nicole launched the company back in 2013 when she was in her late 20s after realizing the diamond and jewelry industries have historically been dominated by men. She was profitable from year one, and over the past 8+ years, she has never taken outside funding. Ring Concierge aims to be the Tiffany's of this generation. 

Meet Maren Jensen, an AAPI beauty maven and business entrepreneur. As a pioneer in the color cosmetics revolution in the ‘90s with Stila Cosmetics, Jensen is on a mission to replicate this in the beauty-focused functional food space, which is expected to reach $586 billion by 2030, with the launch of Glow Beauty Fuel. Alongside her business partner and co-founder Laura Shoemaker, the two are on a mission to combat pill fatigue and create a brand that intersects wellness, beauty and nutrition, targeting women in their 30's and 40's. 

Sallie Krawcheck, CEO of Ellevest, pioneers women's financial empowerment. Ellevest, a women-centric financial company, earned spots on CNBC's Disruptor 50, LinkedIn's Most Sought-After Startups, and Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Brilliant Ideas. Krawcheck, a bestselling author ('Own It'), led major financial institutions before Ellevest. Recognized for her impactful work, she's a proud recipient of The Motley Fool's 2022 Women in Investing Awards.

Alicia Silverstone, a dynamic presence in acting, politics, and science, extends her influence as a dedicated health and wellness activist. Co-founder of the groundbreaking mykind Organics vitamin line, the first-ever food-based, organic, non-GMO vegan supplement, Silverstone champions innovation and sustainability in providing multivitamins, herbals, nutrients, and gummies. Recently debuting her iHeartRadio podcast, "The Real Heal," she aims to guide listeners through genuine healing. Silverstone's bestselling books, "The Kind Diet" and "The Kind Mama," recount her journey to conscious eating, while her website, thekindlife.com, remains a valuable resource for all things healthy, green, and eco-friendly, fostering a kinder lifestyle.

Carly Zakin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-zakin-69942aa/) and Danielle Weisberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-weisberg-3192538/) are co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm (https://www.theskimm.com/), a mission-driven media company empowering millennial women with the resources and confidence to maneuver through life's necessities – from their finances, health, and career to how they vote. The two former NBC news producers met while studying abroad in Rome. Unbeknownst to them, what began as a product launch from their Manhattan couch has since become a media empire harnessing the power of this generation of women. Carly and Danielle developed a product that delivers digestible, conversational information - from politics and breaking news to pop culture - to help Skimm'rs feel more informed about the world around them. Since theSkimm's inception in 2012, Carly and Danielle have expanded the company's product suite to include three top-rated podcasts (Skimm This, 9 to 5ish, and Pop Cultured), theSkimm app, Skimm Money and Skimm Your Life newsletters, and Skimm Studios. theSkimm's first book, How to Skimm Your Life, was released in June 2019 and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Seasoned entrepreneur and health visionary Lisa Odenweller has redefined the wellness industry over the last decade. Lisa is Founder and CEO of Kroma Wellness, (https://kromawellness.com/) a functional superfood nutrition company. Kroma and her earlier venture, Beaming Wellness, are considered two of the most successful cult brands in the history of the industry. Lisa is known for her ability to design innovative health food concepts and build robust ecosystems of influential investors and loyal customers. Lisa's wellness endeavors are rooted in her passion for superfoods, which she began championing long before they were mainstream. Lisa entered the wellness space in 2011 with the founding of Beaming Wellness, an organic superfood café concept with locations throughout Southern California. The brand quickly attracted a cult following that established it as a trailblazer in the culinary and wellness industries. After exiting Beaming in 2018, Lisa began developing a larger-scale project with more ambitious reach: a direct-to-consumer superfood program offering functional, delicious products that simplify nutritional wellness. Out of this vision, Kroma Wellness was born. Lisa launched Kroma in July 2021 after conducting one of the most impressive capital raises in the history of the wellness industry. The brand's early angel investors, assembled by Lisa during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic consisted of celebrities, entrepreneurs, and notable public figures. Today, Kroma is 90% funded by women. Kroma offers delicious, high-quality on-the-go foods and beverages that deliver maximum nutrition and require minimal preparation. Kroma's menu of just-add-water bone and veggie broths, adaptogen superlattes, elixirs, snacks, and teas incorporate nutrient-dense superfoods and are known for their incredible flavor. The brand's hero product is the 5 Day Whole Body Reset that is revolutionizing the way people think about cleansing and detoxing. Focusing on nourishment over starvation, the Reset allows users to customize the program according to their needs and goals. Since its launch, Kroma has experienced astronomical growth and has become a go-to health optimization tool among celebrities and health-minded individuals worldwide. Customer retention is extraordinarily high and projected revenues continue to climb year-to-year. Beyond her reputation for architecting transformative wellness concepts, Lisa's ability to grow brands from capital raise to consumer zeitgeist has landed her on MindBodyGreen's list of “100 Women to Watch in Wellness.” She has also been profiled in Forbes, Vogue, Glamour, The Skinny Confidential, and The Art of Being Well, among other top publications and podcasts. With uncommon energy, perseverance, and conviction, Lisa continues to grow Kroma alongside her daughter Lexi. She also tours the country as a keynote speaker and mentors other female entrepreneurs. Lisa is a lifelong Californian and currently resides in Santa Monica.

SASHA PLAVSIC, FOUNDER, ILIA BEAUTY (https://iliabeauty.com/)  Topics: clean beauty industry, growing and scaling a business, sustainable production, minimalist beauty  Born in Vancouver and raised in a rural, ocean-side setting just outside the city, Sasha has always been close to nature. Her younger brother and now business partner, Zac, suffered from acute asthma and allergies as a young child. Her mother, a true pioneer in health and wellness at that time, sought out homeopathic remedies to help heal her son. This included co-founding an organic food co-op with several families in the area, as organic food did not yet exist in the grocery stores. Through trial and error, Zac was healed primarily through diet, and went on to compete in sailing in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. This was an amazing accomplishment, especially after the doctors had predicted he would never be able to play sports.   Sasha's interests fell into design, studying Typography in London and New York. She found herself in Los Angeles in 2006 and spent several years working as a branding executive within the fashion and beauty industries. After moving home to Vancouver for a brief sabbatical, her mother encouraged her to read the ingredient list on her favorite lip balm. Sasha was shocked to discover many of the ingredients were not safe, and it's something she used daily. The challenge was set –recreate her favorite lip balm so that it would be safe, effective and natural. And so the story of ILIA begins.

Catherine Powell is the Global Head of Hosting at Airbnb. In her role, Catherine leads Airbnb's global hosting organization, helping 4 million+ Hosts of Homes and Experiences deliver best-in-class, quality hosting. Catherine's responsibilities include overseeing the Host insights and research team and the Experiential Creative Product team, as well as developing standards, education, products and features for Airbnb's Host community. Catherine also serves as executive sponsor of Airbnb.org, the company's independent nonprofit, leading the team's collaboration with the company to ensure Airbnb.org has the resources it needs to scale its impact in support of people in need of emergency stays.   Prior to joining Airbnb, Catherine held a number of leadership positions at The Walt Disney Company, most recently serving as President of Disney Parks Western Region with a team of 120,000 cast members reporting into her, which included Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida; Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California; and Disneyland Paris in Coupvray, Marne La Vallee, France. Before that, she served as Présidente for the Euro Disney group, operator of Europe's leading tourist destination, Disneyland Paris. She also held the positions of Senior Vice President in charge of media distribution for EMEA, and General Manager for The Walt Disney Company in Australia and New Zealand.   Catherine is Airbnb's first Global Head of Hosting. As a leader, she is passionate about employee development and creating an equitable and inclusive culture that empowers people of all backgrounds to be great at what they do. She has pioneered a number of integrated and innovative strategies to drive revenue, reach and results across businesses and territories worldwide. A strong collaborator, Catherine is an experienced communicator and has worked to bring together and coordinate a wide variety of businesses and teams.   Catherine is a mentor and board member at Ceresa, a non-profit leadership development and mentoring platform. She also sits on the board of Pophouse Entertainment, which operates in the fields of music, live entertainment, podcast, gaming and hospitality.