Julie Wainwright

In this keynote, Julie Wainwright teaches audiences how to build a culture that not only supports your business performance but improves it.

During her career as a c-suite executive, Julie has seen some companies crumble and others achieve tremendous success. With that extensive experience, comes years of insights into what separated these high-performance cultures.

Attendees will leave this keynote speech with a deeper understanding of the importance of building a culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, and cause within their organizations. Specifically, they will gain practical strategies for empowering employees, fostering innovation, and aligning company & employee values. Ultimately, they will be inspired to create positive change within their company and drive meaningful business results.

In this engaging and informative keynote speech, Julie Wainwright provides invaluable advice and practical tips to navigate the challenging world of entrepreneurship.

Drawing from her journey as the founder and CEO of multiple successful companies, including The RealReal and Ahara, Julie delves into the key factors that contribute to success. She also addresses the common challenges and pitfalls that entrepreneurs often face and offers strategies for overcoming them. From managing finances and securing funding to marketing and branding strategies, attendees will gain invaluable insights from a career entrepreneur.

Attendees can expect to leave this keynote speech feeling motivated, informed, and equipped with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this keynote is a must-attend event for anyone looking to succeed in business.

At one of the lowest moments of her life, Julie Wainwright faced two devastating blows in a single day—her husband woke her at 4 a.m. to ask for a divorce, and hours later, she had to shut down Pets.com, one of the first major e-commerce ventures. Soon after, a top Silicon Valley recruiter dismissed her as “unemployable.”

With her personal and professional life in crisis, Julie had a choice: let others define her future or take control and redefine herself. She chose the latter. Out of that defining moment, she built The RealReal, a revolutionary luxury resale marketplace that transformed the fashion industry.

In this keynote, Julie shares the pivotal lessons she learned about resilience, reinvention, and thinking beyond conventional limits. Her story is a powerful testament to overcoming adversity, embracing risk, and building something extraordinary when the world tells you it’s impossible.

From launching and scaling billion-dollar businesses and taking it public – one of only 23 women to ever have done so – to navigating personal and professional setbacks, serial tech entrepreneur Julie Wainwright has earned her spot on the inaugural Forbes 50 over 50 list. In this candid session, Julie sits down to share her unfiltered journey and offer actionable insights for founders looking to:

• Transform Setbacks into Success: Learn when to pivot and rebuild in a tech-driven landscape, turning challenges into opportunities for innovation.
• Build Scalable Consumer Trust: Learn what works (and what doesn’t) when creating a brand that resonates globally.
• Master Strategic Fundraising: Discover what investors are really looking for and how to make your startup stand out.
• Select the Right Board and Investors: Gain insights on choosing the optimal advisors and backers to support your growth / vision at every stage.