Book Julie Wainwright through The Keynote Curators
Biography
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 is also the author of Time to Get Real, a highly-acclaimed memoir about her entrepreneurial journey creating The RealReal, which shares the lessons, triumphs, and setbacks she faced along the way.
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 ForbesWomen’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.
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Videos
Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more
In this compelling keynote, Julie Wainwright reframes failure as a powerful driver of growth, resilience, and innovation. Drawing from the highest highs and lowest lows of her entrepreneurial journey, she shares real-world stories and hard-won insights that challenge traditional definitions of success. This talk will empower audiences to see failure not as defeat, but as an essential ingredient for reinvention and impact.
Takeaways:
Reframe personal and professional failures as launching pads for growth and innovation.
Discover how to build resilience and confidence through adversity.
This keynote is perfect for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams navigating change or high-stakes environments.
What separates high-performing organizations from those that fall short? According to Julie Wainwright, it’s culture—and she’s seen it firsthand from the executive suite. In this actionable keynote, Julie unpacks the essential elements that make up a thriving workplace: collaboration, creativity, and a shared sense of purpose. With stories from the front lines of startups and scale-ups alike, she shows how building the right culture is not only possible—but critical to business results.
Takeaways:
Learn strategies to foster team collaboration, innovation, and values alignment.
Discover how purpose-driven cultures outperform by inspiring employee engagement.
Julie’s insights resonate with executives, people leaders, and founders committed to sustainable, high-impact growth.
Join Julie Wainwright in a candid, conversational session as she unpacks the lessons of her storied career—from failures to billion-dollar successes. One of only 23 women to ever take a company public, Julie shares unfiltered insights on what it takes to build trust, raise capital, and choose the right people to scale your vision. This fireside chat blends founder wisdom, investor strategy, and the human side of tech leadership.
Takeaways:
Transform setbacks into innovation by knowing when—and how—to pivot.
Learn what investors, boards, and consumers truly value in high-growth companies.
This session is tailored for startup founders, growth-stage leaders, and anyone shaping the future of consumer tech.
Testimonials
Booksby Julie Wainwright
Time to Get Real
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