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United States Jennifer Hyman is recognized for co-founding Rent the Runway, where she redefined fashion consumption and led the company through significant growth and a public offering.
Jennifer Hyman co-founded Rent the Runway in 2009, creating a new category in the fashion industry by offering designer clothing and accessory rentals.
Jennifer Hyman served on the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2018.
Jennifer Hyman is noted as the incoming CEO of Babylist.
Jennifer Hyman is listed as a Board of Directors member for PjtEntrepreneur.
Jennifer Hyman is listed as a Board of Directors member for Zalando.
Jennifer Hyman grew up in New Rochelle, New York, and earned her BA in social sciences from Harvard University in 2002. She continued her education at Harvard Business School, where she met Jennifer Fleiss, and they both graduated with an MBA in 2009. The idea for Rent the Runway emerged in November 2008 after Hyman observed her sister’s frustration with buying an expensive dress for a one-time use. This insight led Hyman and Fleiss to co-found Rent the Runway in 2009, with a mission to disrupt the fashion industry by offering high-end clothing and accessories rentals.
Under Hyman’s leadership as CEO, Rent the Runway introduced the “Closet in the Cloud” concept, which gained significant traction. A key career achievement occurred when Hyman took Rent the Runway public, making her one of 30 women in history to take a company public. This event was also notable as Rent the Runway was the first company to go public with a female founder/CEO, COO, and CFO. Before establishing Rent the Runway, Hyman managed an online advertising sales team for weddingchannel.com and served as an in-house entrepreneur for Starwood Hotel, where she developed the hotel’s wedding business. She also held the position of director of business development for IMG’s fashion division.
Hyman has actively participated in national conferences and panel discussions, focusing on topics such as the economy, women in business, and company culture. Her speaking engagements have included the NRF Foundation’s “Retail’s Big Show,” WWD’s Digital Forum, and the 99U Conference. She has also publicly addressed issues like sexual harassment in the tech industry, sharing her own experiences on CNBC’s Squawk Alley in July 2017. Hyman served on the Board of Directors for The Estée Lauder Companies from 2018 until her resignation in July 2026, and she is also a member of the Women.nyc Advisory Board. In May 2026, Hyman stepped down from her role as CEO of Rent the Runway, transitioning to an advisory role until January to assist with the leadership change.
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