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Shilpa Shah
Co-Founder at Cuyana
Shilpa Shah is the Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Cuyana, a luxury fashion brand known for its "fewer, better things" philosophy.1
Background and Education
Shilpa holds a BA in Human Computer Interaction and Computer Science from UC Berkeley, as well as an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Career
Before co-founding Cuyana in January 2012, Shilpa had over 20 years of experience in design and development:
- She worked as a Design Director at Punchcut, leading interaction and visual design projects for clients like Motorola and AT&T.
- She was the Director of Interactive Design at the Coalition of Essential Schools.
- At Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online, she served as the Manager of Information Architecture.
- She also held roles at companies like Scient and TBWA/Chiat Day.
Founding Cuyana
Shilpa co-founded Cuyana with Karla Gallardo in 2012 while completing her MBA.12 The brand focuses on offering high-quality, luxury-level apparel and accessories at accessible price points.1 Cuyana has grown to include 7 brick-and-mortar locations and over 150 employees, raising $30 million in funding in 2019.2
Philosophy and Approach
Shilpa and her co-founder built Cuyana on the concept of "fewer, better things," encouraging customers to invest in fewer but higher-quality essentials.2 This philosophy stems from their observations of American consumerism and a desire to create a more sustainable approach to fashion.2
Personal Life
Shilpa is a mother and has spoken about balancing entrepreneurship with family life, noting that she started her MBA at age 32 with a young child at home.34
