Disrupting Retail: Jennifer Hyman on Building and Leading Rent the Runway

Jennifer Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, joins the Dean's Speaker Series podcast to share how she transformed a classroom idea into a publicly traded company that redefined the way people shop for fashion. From launching the world’s first “living closet” to becoming the first woman to IPO a company with an all-female executive team, Jennifer reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her entrepreneurial journey. In this conversation, she discusses what it takes to lead through different stages of growth, how to scale a mission-driven business, and why sustainability remains at the core of Rent the Runway’s model. Jennifer also shares lessons from her early career and insights on building with conviction in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. The Dean's Speaker Series Podcast is produced by the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Read more about the UC Berkeley Haas Dean's Speaker Series. Learn more about the Haas School of Business.