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Kendra Scott

  • Founder & Chairwoman of Kendra Scott, LLC
  • Self-Made Billionaire & Philanthropist
  • Author: 'Born to Shine'
  • EY Entrepreneur of the Year

Founder, chief creative officer, best-selling author, and philanthropist, Kendra Scott, started her company in 2002, just three months after her first son was born. With only $500 and a tea box to carry her collection, she went store to store selling her designs. Her dedication to innovation, quality, customer service, and attention to detail has since transformed her small startup into a billion-dollar brand. Today, with over 2,600 employees and more than 140+ standalone stores, Kendra Scott is celebrated for its design and material innovation, vibrant use of color, and signature shapes. The lifestyle brand offers a diverse range of products, including fashion, demi-fine and fine jewelry, watches, engagement rings, home accessories, a men’s collection (Scott Bros. by Kendra Scott), and a western-inspired brand (Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott).

 As the brand continues to grow, Kendra and her company remain true to their founding philosophy of “Family, Fashion, and Philanthropy,” benefiting both customers and employees. Since 2010, Kendra Scott has donated over $70 million to local, national, and international causes supporting women and youth.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion for empowering the next generation of leaders, Kendra founded the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) at The University of Texas at Austin in 2019 to empower women and creatives looking to change the world through entrepreneurship. This interdisciplinary program, involving the College of Fine Arts, the McCombs School of Business, the College of Natural Sciences, the Cockrell School of Engineering and School of Undergraduate Studies, empowers, equips, and builds a community for creatives, founders and leaders.

 In 2023, Kendra furthered her commitment to philanthropy by launching the Kendra Scott Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to empowering women and youth in the areas of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship. Notable programs supported by the foundation include initiatives around breast cancer research and awareness, pediatric hospitals, and early education literacy.

Kendra is a reoccurring investor/guest Shark on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show “Shark Tank”. Kendra also serves on the board of directors for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, while maintaining her role as Executive Chairwoman and Chief Creative Officer of Kendra Scott, LLC. Today, the company continues to operate out of Austin, Texas, where Kendra resides with her family.

 
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Kendra Scott gives commencement speech to UT business students - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Kendra Scott
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Billion-Dollar Leadership: Building Sustained Value

Billionaire founder and entrepreneur KENDRA SCOTT knows that transformative value creation may start with a dream and a brand vision but requires sustained, dynamic leadership. In this talk, Scott discusses her style of adaptable and bold entrepreneurial leadership which fostered an empire and led the Wall Street Journal to describe her business as a "retail behemoth." Scott shares how she drives her business performance with purpose, how she creates a culture of loyalty and innovation, and the business risks she’s taking now.

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Author Talk: “Born to Shine”

KENDRA SCOTT’s memoir Born to Shine: Do Good, Find Your Joy, and Build a Life You Love is a joyful tribute to life and purpose.  In a vulnerable, wise, laugh-out-loud engagement, Scott shares her personal stories and hard-earned life lessons to inspire audiences to live authentically.

Information on book buys and signings is available upon request.

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Building a People-First Culture

Self-made entrepreneur KENDRA SCOTT has always said, “Connection before transaction.” In this enlightening engagement, Scott educates organizations on building a people-first culture.

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Building a Life Worth Billions

Creative mogul KENDRA SCOTT built her eponymous jewelry company from a hobby and an idea into a company worth more than a billion dollars. By any measure, she’s the woman who has it all: a self-made billionaire, a generous philanthropist, and a mother of three with a squad of strong female friendships. Today, Scott is here to share how she did it with your audience.

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Perfection is a Myth

With heart and humor, KENDRA SCOTT reminds us that not all that glitters is gold, and that no level of success can insulate you from what it means to be a human being: that life is as messy as it is magical. Perfection isn’t just a lie, it’s exhausting, and Scott is tired of it. In this live conversation, Scott inspires audiences to live authentically aligning with values.

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For Women Audiences

Self-made business mogul KENDRA SCOTT is undoubtedly a woman who supports women, through her philanthropic endeavors, the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, and more. In this conversation, Scott shares how her experiences as a woman in business have empowered her to be a better leader in entrepreneurship, community, and life. 

Books by Kendra Scott
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Biography
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