The Woman Behind the Scenes: From Warby Parker, Hinge, Showfields, (and Now) Your Favorite Pet Brand with Katie Hunt, Co-Founder and CEO

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 70 boutiques 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.