The vision for Dormify was born out of founder Amanda Zuckerman's own experience shopping for her freshman dorm at Washington University in St. Louis. While double majoring in graphic design and marketing, Amanda created Dormify as a dorm lifestyle blog supported by a college ambassador community. After graduation, she launched Dormify as a DTC brand and one-stop shop for small-space living.

With her mom, Karen Zuckerman, as her partner, Amanda has grown Dormify to a multi-million-dollar success with triple-digit annual revenue growth, earning a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2018. Following a successful acquisition in 2022, Dormify is now the largest retailer of college dorm and apartment essentials, with nearly 800 college and university partners across the country and a thriving community of student ambassadors.

Karen Zuckerman is a serial entrepreneur, creative director, and marketing executive known for taking bold risks and her brand-building expertise. As a graphic designer by trade, she scaled her first business, HZDG, into an award-winning creative agency with Fortune 500 clients, eventually selling it to WPP in 2018 and retiring in 2021.

Currently, Zuckerman serves as a board director of Dormify. Zuckerman played a crucial role in developing Dormify’s omnichannel marketing strategy and content platform, creating a space for young people to connect and navigate an exciting stage of life.

Interviewed by Kate Doerge.

Elyce Arons is the founder and CEO of Frances Valentine, a New York-based luxury apparel and accessories company. Frances Valentine celebrates the power of personal style through clothes and accessories that boost your mood and tell a story.

A 35-year fashion veteran, Elyce famously chased her passion for fashion all the way from Kansas to New York City alongside her best friend, Kate, and co-founded Kate Spade in 1993. Elyce shepherded the company from inception to international success, growing it into one of the most iconic brands in modern fashion history—and was instrumental in its 2006 sale to Neiman Marcus Group. In 2016, Elyce, Kate, and Andy Spade launched Frances Valentine as an evolution of their joyful style aesthetic; a brand with heart, soul, and a story to tell.

Interviewed by Kate Doerge.

Kendra Kolb Butler transitioned from a high-powered NYC life to founding Alpyn Beauty in Jackson Hole, drawing from her vast experience with luxury beauty brands and her new environment’s natural resources.

Alpyn Beauty uniquely combines locally wild-harvested plants with clinical ingredients, establishing a skincare line that mirrors the efficacy of nature with scientific backing.

Committed to sustainability, the brand supports the Grand Teton National Park Foundation by donating a portion of every sale to its rewilding efforts, underscoring Butler’s dedication to environmental conservation.

Interviewed by Kate Deorge.