Katia co-founded Birchbox in 2010, driven by a fascination with the business dynamics of the beauty industry and a mission to redefine the way people discovered and shopped for beauty online. Today she is more passionate than ever about building the destination for the everyday consumer who is not passionate about beauty and grooming. Birchbox, which is best known for its monthly subscription of personalized samples, has more than 2.5 million active customers, 500 beauty and grooming brand partners, operations in six countries, and retail experiences in select Walgreens locations across the US.

Katia holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in International Studies & Economics from Vassar College. Prior to graduating from business school, she worked in structured finance and commercial real estate. She has been honored with accolades including Advertising Age Women to Watch, CEW Achievers Award, Fortune 40 Under 40, Inc. 30 Under 30, Marie Claire’s New Guard, WWD Digital Innovator of the Year, and YMA Fashion’s Entrepreneur of the Year, among others. In 2016, Katia was featured as an investor on Lifetime TV’s “Project Runway: Fashion Startup” series. She is currently an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Harvard Business School, meeting with students and faculty as an official advisor on campus.