Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and attended Whittier, Lance and Tremper schools there before moving to Texas with her family at 16.⁠[1]

She graduated from Klein High School in the Houston area.⁠[2]

She attended Texas A&M University but left at 19 to move to Austin and help care for her ill stepfather. She subsequently opened Hat Box; in an interview, she recalled that the hat shop failed after about five years.⁠[3][4]

She started Kendra Scott at home with $500, offering her jewelry to local stores. She recalled selling her samples for $1,265 and using the proceeds to buy materials for her orders.⁠[4][5]

According to The Alcalde, the business faced financial pressure during the recession when its existing bank withdrew credit support. Kerry Hall at Texas Capital Bank subsequently supported financing that helped it continue operating.⁠[3]

The brand opened its first retail store on South Congress Avenue in Austin, later developing a store network and its customizable Color Bar jewelry experience.⁠[6]

The company announced a minority investment from Norwest Venture Partners to support expansion in retail, wholesale and ecommerce.⁠[7]

The company launched Kendra Cares at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston, bringing jewelry customization activities to patients and their families and later expanding to other hospitals.⁠[8]

Berkshire Partners announced completion of its investment in the company. Scott retained majority ownership and continued to lead the business.⁠[9]

She received the US national EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the Consumer Products and Retail category.⁠[10]

She was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.⁠[11]

The University of Texas at Austin announced the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, supported by her initial $1 million gift.⁠[3]

In an interview, she said the company closed its 108 stores during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently began offering curbside pickup at some locations.⁠[4]

The University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts announced her appointment as a professor of practice, co-teaching a women’s entrepreneurship course with Jan Ryan.⁠[12]

She first appeared as a guest investor on season 12 of ABC’s entrepreneurship series Shark Tank.⁠[13]

Tom Nolan became chief executive officer. Scott remained executive chair and majority owner, focusing on design, customer experience and philanthropy.⁠[14]

The company launched its first men’s jewelry collection, Scott Bros., developed with design input from Scott and her sons.⁠[15]

She and the company announced a $13.25 million endowment for the university’s women’s entrepreneurial institute: $10 million from Scott and $3.25 million from the company.⁠[16]

She published the memoir Born to Shine, recounting her upbringing, business setbacks, family life and development of the brand. The hardcover ISBN is 9781546002321.⁠[17]

She established the Kendra Scott Foundation to support women and young people in health, education and entrepreneurship. Her ABC biography also lists service on the Breast Cancer Research Foundation board.⁠[5]

65 Equity Partners announced a minority investment, with Scott’s ownership stake increasing in the transaction. Preferred equity held by Berkshire Partners and Norwest was fully redeemed.⁠[18]

Yellow Rose, the Western lifestyle brand she launched in 2023, opened its first store on South Congress in Austin, extending into boots, apparel and home products.⁠[19][20]

Following Tom Nolan’s departure, she returned to the chief executive role on an interim basis.⁠[21]

School of Hard Knocks released an interview with her about leaving college, early business failure, building the brand and philanthropy.⁠[22]

The company announced Chris Blakeslee as chief executive officer. Scott continued as executive chair and chief visionary officer, retaining majority ownership.⁠[23]

She married musician Zac Brown in Santorini, Greece.⁠[24]

ABC announced that she would become a permanent investor on Shark Tank from season 18, joining the regular lineup alongside Rashaun Williams.⁠[25]

The Kendra Scott brand’s X account is https://x.com/KendraScott (opens in a new window), and its YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry channel is https://www.youtube.com/@KendraScott (opens in a new window). Both correspond to links on the brand website and are operated as brand accounts.⁠[26][27]