Jennifer Hyman
Co-Founder & Chief Executive, Rent the Runway
Fresh out of Harvard Business School, she created a website often described as ‘Netflix for fashion’ that rents high-end clothing and accessories.
Jennifer Hyman is the co-founder and chief executive of Rent the Runway , a fashion company with a technology soul that is disrupting the way women get dressed. In her role, she sets the strategic priorities of the business and leads the company in growing all areas of the business, including marketing, technology, product and analytics. She co-founded Rent the Runway in 2009 with Jennifer Fleiss, and has since raised over $525 million in capital, growing the business to over 11 million members and a valuation of $1 billion.
Under Hyman’s leadership, Rent the Runway’s offerings have expanded to over 600 labels, including Proenza Schouler, Marni and Victoria Beckham . Brands work with Rent the Runway via wholesale relationships, revenue share arrangements on the Rent the Runway platform, as well as co-manufacturing of designer collections exclusive to the Rent the Runway ecosystem.
Prior to Rent the Runway, Hyman was director of business development at IMG where she focused on the creation of new media businesses for IMG's fashion division. She also ran an online advertising sales team at WeddingChannel.com and was an in-house entrepreneur at Starwood Hotels, creating Starwood’s first wedding business which was recognised on the Oprah Winfrey Show for its innovation.
Hyman has been honoured with recognitions like the “TIME 100” most influential people in the world, Forbes “12 Most Disruptive Names in Business”, Fortune’s “Most Powerful Female Entrepreneurs”, “Trailblazers”, “40 under 40”, Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business” and the Tribeca Film Festival’s “Disruptive Innovation” award. Under her leadership, Rent the Runway has been named to CNBC’s “Disruptor 50” and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list multiple times. Serving as Rent the Runway’s spokesperson, Jennifer is a frequent guest on television and a regular lecturer at universities and business schools nationwide.
Hyman serves on the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies, on the Women.nyc Advisory Board and is a Founding Member of the NYSE Board Advisory Council which champions increased board diversity. She received her BA from Harvard University cum laude and MBA from Harvard Business School and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughters Aurora and Selene.
Career History
VITAL STATISTICS
Find out more
How to Make Rental Work
After years of trial and error, rental platforms have found new ways to improve margins and acquire customers, such as focussing on niche categories. Profitability remains elusive, however.
How to Make Rental Work
After years of trial and error, rental platforms have found new ways to improve margins and acquire customers, such as focussing on niche categories. Profitability remains elusive, however.
Rent the Runway’s Long Road Ahead to Profitability
The rental platform’s revenue is up from last year — with the number of active subscribers more than doubling — but figures still remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Rent the Runway’s Long Road Ahead to Profitability
The rental platform’s revenue is up from last year — with the number of active subscribers more than doubling — but figures still remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Rent the Runway’s Uphill Battle
This week, shares in the loss-making rental platform fell on their first day of trading. Can the platform convince enough women to try rental fast enough to please investors?
Rent the Runway’s Uphill Battle
This week, shares in the loss-making rental platform fell on their first day of trading. Can the platform convince enough women to try rental fast enough to please investors?
VOICES 2020: How Technology Is Shaping Culture and Consumption
Session 3 of VOICES 2020 addressed how the pandemic spiked e-commerce activity and time spent online by consumers, escalating the importance of authentic, engaging online platforms and raising more questions about the value of physical products and spaces.
VOICES 2020: How Technology Is Shaping Culture and Consumption
Session 3 of VOICES 2020 addressed how the pandemic spiked e-commerce activity and time spent online by consumers, escalating the importance of authentic, engaging online platforms and raising more questions about the value of physical products and spaces.
American Fashion Executives on What Happens Now
Post-election, industry executives sound off on what they need to focus on next.
American Fashion Executives on What Happens Now
Post-election, industry executives sound off on what they need to focus on next.
Power Moves | Swarovski Names Creative Director, Holt Renfrew Appoints President
This week, Swarovski announces its first global creative director, while Holt Renfrew taps Lane Crawford’s deputy president to lead the department store group.
Power Moves | Swarovski Names Creative Director, Holt Renfrew Appoints President
This week, Swarovski announces its first global creative director, while Holt Renfrew taps Lane Crawford’s deputy president to lead the department store group.
Report: Rent the Runway Nears Funding Below Last $1 Billion Value
The fashion rental company is said to be seeking at least $25 million in a funding round, which would value the startup at about $750 million.
Report: Rent the Runway Nears Funding Below Last $1 Billion Value
The fashion rental company is said to be seeking at least $25 million in a funding round, which would value the startup at about $750 million.
Case Study | The Next Wave of Luxury E-Commerce
Online luxury retail is now 20 years old. But after two decades of innovation, once-groundbreaking multi-brand giants face significant changes in consumer behaviour — and a growing, diverse stable of competitors — just as the coronavirus epidemic turns the world upside down. What happens now?
Case Study | The Next Wave of Luxury E-Commerce
Online luxury retail is now 20 years old. But after two decades of innovation, once-groundbreaking multi-brand giants face significant changes in consumer behaviour — and a growing, diverse stable of competitors — just as the coronavirus epidemic turns the world upside down. What happens now?
Victoria's Secret: Bargain of the Century?
Scandals aside, Victoria’s Secret has the market know-how and the retail network to remain on top — with the right guidance. Can new owner Sycamore Partners pull it off?
Victoria's Secret: Bargain of the Century?
Scandals aside, Victoria’s Secret has the market know-how and the retail network to remain on top — with the right guidance. Can new owner Sycamore Partners pull it off?
Power Moves | Miu Miu Appoints General Manager, Nike Announces Shakeup
This week, Prada appoints a former Kering Eyewear executive to the helm of Miu Miu, while Nike makes a number of changes to its C-Suite.
Power Moves | Miu Miu Appoints General Manager, Nike Announces Shakeup
This week, Prada appoints a former Kering Eyewear executive to the helm of Miu Miu, while Nike makes a number of changes to its C-Suite.
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
