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Julie Wainwright

Pioneer in Tech & Luxury | Author of Time to Get Real | Reinvention Through Radical Leadership

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Book Julie Wainwright

Julie Wainwright is a trailblazing entrepreneur, e-commerce innovator, and seasoned C-suite executive whose career spans more than 25 years. Best known as the founder of The RealReal, the premier online marketplace for authenticated luxury goods, and Ahara, a groundbreaking personalized nutrition company, Julie has consistently redefined industries with her visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.

 

Julie’s career began at Clorox, where she honed her skills in brand management before transitioning to the technology and e-commerce sectors. As CEO of Berkeley Systems, she transformed the company into a leader in interactive entertainment. She later became CEO of Reel.com, leading it to a $100 million acquisition by Hollywood Video. In the early 2000s, Julie helmed Pets.com, where she gained invaluable lessons on resilience and the entrepreneurial spirit despite the company’s challenges during the dot-com era.

 

In 2011, Julie founded The RealReal, revolutionizing the luxury goods market with a commitment to sustainability and circular fashion. Under her leadership, the company grew to become the first luxury resale member of the UN Climate Change’s Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. In 2019, Julie made history as the 23rd woman to take a company public, solidifying her legacy as a pioneering business leader. She stepped down as CEO in 2022 to focus on new ventures and speaking engagements.

 

Julie’s latest endeavor, Ahara, merges technology, nutrition science, and data analytics to deliver personalized health solutions. Co-founded in 2022 with Dr. Melina Jampolis, Ahara reflects Julie’s dedication to innovation and her passion for improving health outcomes through food-first strategies.

 

Throughout her career, Julie has received numerous accolades, including recognition on Forbes’ 50 Over 50 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business lists. Her insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and overcoming adversity have made her a sought-after speaker for events including Forbes Women’s Summit, Vanity Fair, Stanford University, and more.

 

Julie’s keynotes inspire audiences with lessons from her journey—turning failures into stepping stones, fostering high-performance cultures, and empowering entrepreneurs. Whether addressing corporate teams, aspiring business leaders, or global audiences, Julie delivers actionable strategies infused with authenticity and wisdom.

Speaking Topics

The Power Of Failure

In this captivating keynote speech, Julie Wainwright delves into the transformative power of failure. Drawing from her own experiences in the business world, Wainwright shares invaluable insights on how failure can be a catalyst for growth, innovation, and ultimately, success.


With the wealth of knowledge gained from her impressive career, Julie explores the importance of embracing failure as a necessary stepping stone toward achieving greatness. She highlights how failures can provide invaluable lessons, fuel resilience, and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within individuals and organizations.


Through captivating storytelling and real-life examples, Wainwright inspires audiences to shift their perspective on failure. She challenges conventional notions of success and encourages attendees to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and personal development. By reframing failure as a powerful tool rather than a source of shame or disappointment, Julie empowers individuals to take risks, push boundaries, and unlock their full potential.


Explore The Power of Failure and discover how embracing setbacks can lead to unparalleled success in the ever-evolving world of business by hiring Julie Wainwright today.

Collaboration, Creativity, & Cause: Building A Culture And Getting Results

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.

Think You Want To Start A Company? Here’s What You Need To Know

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.

Thinking Big

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.

Fireside Chat: Reinvention, Resilience, And The Future Of Consumer Tech

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.

Take the Next Step with Julie Wainwright

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Virtual In-Person

Experience Details

Virtual In-Person
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