Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the inspiring journey of American designer Kendra Scott — from launching a jewelry line with $500 to leading a billion-dollar brand. Discover her life, philosophy, famous quotes, and lasting legacy.

Introduction

Kendra Scott (born March 27, 1974) is an American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist renowned for her eponymous jewelry and lifestyle brand. What began as a humble side hustle grown from her spare bedroom has evolved into a global design empire. Her story embodies creativity, resilience, and purpose: she designs striking jewelry accessible to many while channeling her success into giving back. Today, Kendra Scott is more than a name—she represents a vision of business built on values of family, fashion, and philanthropy.

Early Life and Family

Kendra Scott was born Kendra Baumgartner in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Her upbringing instilled in her a sense of adaptability and tenacity. She later reflected that her family values, and the challenges of starting anew in Texas, were formative in shaping her entrepreneurial mindset.

Kendra’s personal life, including her role as a mother and her relationships, would also deeply influence her work and her values of balancing family and career.

Youth and Education

After high school, Kendra briefly attended Texas A&M University but left after a year.

Early on in Austin, Kendra pursued small entrepreneurial efforts. Her first business was The Hat Box, a venture focused on designing soft, comfortable hats for women undergoing chemotherapy—comfort blended with style. This creative, empathy-driven beginning foreshadowed her later focus on blending aesthetics with purpose.

She also began experimenting with jewelry design at home, refining her palette of colors, stones, and settings, slowly building a debut collection.

Career and Achievements

Founding the Brand

In 2002, just months after the birth of her first child, Kendra Scott launched Kendra Scott, LLC with a modest investment of $500, designing her first collection from her spare bedroom.

Her early instinct to sell directly, to engage boutiques personally, laid the groundwork for a boots-on-the-ground growth strategy.

Growth, Recognition, and Expansion

By 2005, her designs had been selected to accessorize Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 2006 runway show—a significant recognition for a young designer.

The 2007–2008 financial crisis posed a major challenge, and her business nearly collapsed.

In 2010, Kendra opened her first flagship retail store on South Congress Avenue in Austin and launched her Color Bar® experience—allowing customers to customize and personalize jewelry.

Over the next decade, her brand expanded steadily: by 2019, Kendra Scott had over 100 stores, products carried in major retailers like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, and was in over 1,000 specialty boutiques worldwide.

In 2016, she sold a minority stake to private equity firm Berkshire Partners, valuing the company at approximately $1 billion.

Leadership Shift and Recent Moves

In February 2021, Kendra stepped down from her role as CEO but remained Executive Chairwoman, appointing Tom Nolan as the new CEO.

In mid-2025, after the departure of multiple top executives, she returned to lead the company as interim CEO.

Awards & Recognition

• EY National Entrepreneur of the Year (2017)

• Breakthrough Award from the Accessories Council Excellence Awards

• Listed among Forbes’ Self-Made Women, ranked ~#40 in 2019

• Named Texas Businesswoman of the Year, CEO of the Year by Austin Business Journal, and inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame (2019)

Her brand also gained acceptance within the fashion industry: she became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 2002: Kendra launched her brand with $500 after her first son’s birth.

• 2005–2007: Her designs enter the runway world (Oscar de la Renta, Randolph Duke).

• 2008: Financial crisis nearly derails the business; saved by a Nordstrom order.

• 2010: First retail store + e-commerce + Color Bar launch.

• 2016: Minority stake sale; milestone $1B valuation.

• 2019: Over 100 stores, wide retail distribution, philanthropic expansion.

• 2021: Leadership transition; Kendra steps down as CEO.

• 2025: Returns to interim CEO after leadership changes.

Her trajectory blends design innovation, retail expansion, resilience through crisis, and the evolution of role as both founder and steward of her brand.

Legacy and Influence

Kendra Scott’s legacy lies in more than her jewelry. She has shaped a modern model of mission-driven entrepreneurship: success grounded in values. Her philanthropic footprint is substantial:

• Kendra Cares Program: Brings the Color Bar jewelry customizing experience to pediatric hospitals, giving young patients an uplifting creative outlet.

• Kendra Gives Back: Annual events across her stores to raise funds and awareness for local causes.

• Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) at University of Texas: funded with a $1 million personal donation by Kendra, this institute supports and mentors future female leaders.

• Cumulative philanthropic giving—donations, jewelry, volunteer hours—has reached tens of millions.

Moreover, she has inspired many women entrepreneurs, showing that a business can grow large without abandoning values like flexibility, empathy, and giving back. Her story bridges the creative world of fashion with the practical world of social impact.

Personality and Talents

Kendra has often been described as having a “vibrant personality,” blending sincerity with ambition. color, natural gemstones, unique shapes, and bold statements sets her work apart.

Her talents go beyond aesthetics:

• Entrepreneurial acumen: negotiating retail deals, managing growth, scaling operations.

• Vision for culture: building a brand culture rooted in empathy, flexibility, and female empowerment.

• Resilience: weathering economic downturns and leading transitions with clarity and courage.

She is also a storyteller: sharing lessons openly (e.g. in her memoir Born to Shine) and using her platform to elevate others.

Famous Quotes of Kendra Scott

Here are some notable quotes that reflect her philosophy and mindset:

• “Do good, find your joy, and build a life you love.” — from her book Born to Shine.

• “I’d noticed a white space in the market for the jewelry I really wanted – beautiful, natural gemstone jewelry at an accessible price point.”

• “I built my company on family first.” — speaking about how she balanced motherhood and entrepreneurship.

• “When you shine, you don’t dim anyone else’s light.” — a motivational motto she often shares. (Attributed in interviews and social media)

• “Creativity is currency — trust your instincts, and invest in yourself.” — reflective of her advice to emerging creators (various speaking appearances).

These quotes reveal her worldview: success is interwoven with purpose, empathy, and bold self-belief.

Lessons from Kendra Scott

What can we learn from her journey?

1. Start small, dream big
   Kendra began with just $500 but ambitious vision—demonstrating that scale is possible from small roots.

2. Sell the story, not just the product
   Her door-to-door beginnings, personal connections, and narrative of purpose helped build brand loyalty.

3. Embed values into business
   Her integration of philanthropy, women empowerment, and family-first culture is not an afterthought—it’s central to the brand.

4. Resilience in adversity
   The 2008 crisis nearly destroyed her business. Her ability to pivot, secure key deals, and survive underscores tenacity.

5. Evolve your role
   Transitioning from CEO to executive chair, then returning to lead, illustrates adaptability in leadership.

6. Mentor and uplift others
   Through KS WELI, Kendra gives back not just materially, but by investing in future leaders—perpetuating impact beyond herself.

Conclusion

Kendra Scott is more than a designer; she is a symbol of how creativity, determination, and heart can transform a humble venture into a lasting legacy. For aspiring entrepreneurs, her life and career offer a roadmap where success is measured not just in profits but in people empowered, goods created with intention, and brightness spread into communities.

Explore more of her timeless quotes, dive into Born to Shine, or engage with her brand’s philanthropic initiatives—her journey invites you not only to admire but to act.