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Meghan Whitney Higney
Founder at Message
Meghan Whitney Higney is the founder of Message, a footwear brand that launched in April 2023.2 She is an experienced strategic leader and growth catalyst with a background in building effective teams and driving operational efficiencies.
Professional Background
Higney's career spans various roles in consumer brands and finance:
- Founder at Message (August 2021 - Present): She started Message, a brand that creates innovative slide sandals using upcycled wine corks.23
- President at Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces (August 2020 - September 2021)1
- President & COO at True Botanicals (January 2017 - July 2020): She led this leading skincare brand.13
- Investor at The Tugboat Group (September 2014 - February 2016)1
- Founder of AJENT (July 2012 - June 2014)1
- Associate at TA Associates (August 2009 - July 2012)1
- Analyst at Credit Suisse (July 2007 - June 2009)1
Education
Higney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Occidental College.1
Message Brand
Higney founded Message with the goal of creating a modern alternative to traditional cork-based sandals like Birkenstocks.3 The brand focuses on:
- Sustainability: Using upcycled wine corks from Portugal2
- Comfort: Developing a patent-pending footbed that molds to the foot3
- Style: Designing versatile slides that can be dressed up or down3
- Affordability: Offering products at around $160, positioning between luxury and performance brands2
Higney invested $500,000 of her own money to start the brand and has since raised under $1 million from angel investors.2 Her approach is to grow the business sustainably, focusing on profitability and retaining autonomy rather than seeking rapid expansion.2
