From Success to Significance: Building a Legacy with Purpose
LILY KANTER knows what it takes to climb to the top — and what it means to walk away and build something even more meaningful. After nearly two decades in leadership roles at Microsoft and Deloitte, she co-founded Serena & Lily, transforming a bold idea into an iconic lifestyle brand. Her journey from corporate success to entrepreneurial significance offers a powerful, real-world roadmap for anyone ready to lead with greater clarity, courage, and purpose.
In this inspiring talk, Lily challenges audiences to rethink their definition of success. Drawing on candid stories and strategic insights, she shares how leaders can move beyond short-term wins to create companies — and lives — that truly matter. She explores the intersection of meaning and business, the power of conscious leadership, and what it really takes to pivot with purpose in a world that demands constant reinvention.
As Lily puts it: “Success is what you build. Significance is what you leave behind.” This session leaves audiences not just motivated, but equipped to build lasting impact — at work, in their communities, and in their own lives.
Lily Kanter is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive leader with over two decades of experience building consumer brands at the intersection of design, commerce, and social impact. She is the co-founder and former CEO of several successful ventures, including Mill Valley Baby & Kids, Serena & Lily, Boon Supply, and most recently, Averylily—a lifestyle brand rooted in soulful design, offering interior design services and curated home collections inspired by Hawaii and global artisanry.
Lily began her career in accounting and technology, holding leadership roles at Microsoft where she was honored with the Chairman’s Award by Bill Gates for pioneering the company’s first retail presence in San Francisco. In 2000, she left the corporate world to focus on becoming a mother, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. That same year, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine as part of its “New Philanthropists” issue, highlighting her efforts to mentor underrepresented youth into careers in tech.
As CEO of Serena & Lily, Lily led the brand for thirteen years, scaling it into a nationally recognized name in home furnishings. She later launched Boon Supply, a cause-driven commerce platform that donated over $104 million to schools and nonprofits nationwide. Her latest venture, Averylily, blends high-end design with purpose, emphasizing partnerships with local Hawaiian makers and global women-led artisan communities.
Lily is also the founder of Empower Her, an impact investing collective focused on deploying philanthropic capital—particularly from Donor Advised Funds—into early-stage, female-led ventures with measurable social outcomes.
She is a Wexner Heritage Fellow and a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute. Lily regularly guest lectures at Stanford University, where she teaches the Serena & Lily case study, and currently serves as Chair of the Diller Tikkun Olam Awards. She lives in Mill Valley, California, with her husband Marc Sarosi and their three college-aged sons. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to Africa and playing tennis with her family.
My Speaker List
