Louisa Schneider

Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Rowan - Inc 100 Female Founder - Board Member

Louisa Schneider is the founder and CEO of Rowan, a company that has revolutionized the ear piercing industry by focusing on safety, celebration, and a positive customer experience.1 2 3 She founded Rowan in December 2017 after identifying a gap in the market for safe and celebratory ear piercing experiences, particularly for young children.2 3

Professional Background

Schneider has an extensive background in finance and business:

She began her career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley in 2000, working in M&A and distressed equities departments.1 2
She worked as a Fixed Income Research Analyst at JPMorgan from 2002 to 2004.2
After completing her MBA at Columbia Business School, she returned to Morgan Stanley as a Distressed Research Analyst/Distressed Equities Trader.1 2
From 2010 to 2015, she served as the Senior Director of the Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing at Columbia Business School.1 2
Prior to founding Rowan, she was the Chief Administrative Officer and Head of Investor Relations at Alder Hill Management LP from 2015 to 2017.1 2

Rowan

Schneider's inspiration for Rowan came from her personal experience as a mother seeking a safe and celebratory piercing experience for her young daughter.3 Key aspects of Rowan include:

Ear piercings are performed exclusively by licensed nurses.2 3
The company uses hypoallergenic earrings made from premium materials.2
Rowan has grown rapidly, with almost 40 locations throughout the US as of 2023.3
The company has raised $35 million in venture funding.3

Leadership Style and Business Philosophy

Schneider's approach to business is characterized by:

Adaptability: She emphasizes the importance of remaining open to change and being willing to pivot when necessary.4
Having a "North Star": Schneider believes in maintaining a core element of the business to guide decision-making during challenging times.4
Empowering women: As a female founder, she is passionate about inspiring and supporting other women in business.4

Louisa Schneider's journey with Rowan demonstrates her ability to identify market opportunities, overcome challenges in fundraising, and build a successful, innovative business in a niche industry.