# Julie Wainwright

> Julie Wainwright founded The RealReal in 2011 and led the luxury consignment marketplace through its 2019 Nasdaq IPO before stepping down in June 2022. A former CEO of Berkeley Systems, Reel.com and Pets.com, she wrote the 2025 business memoir Time to Get Real. Her public work also includes speaking, scholarships, arts patronage and an investment in Bay FC.

- **Role:** Founder of The RealReal; author and speaker
- **Organizations:** The RealReal, Pets.com, Reel.com, Berkeley Systems, Software Publishing Corporation, Clorox, Ahara, The RealReal Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Bay FC
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in General Management, Purdue University
- **Known for:** Founded The RealReal and led its 2019 Nasdaq IPO., Named to the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50 list in 2021., Published the business memoir Time to Get Real in June 2025.

## Career timeline

- **1979** — Graduated from Purdue University’s School of Management.
- **1983** — Moved into the software industry after consumer-marketing work at Clorox.
- **1994** — Became CEO of Berkeley Systems.
- **1997** — Became CEO of Reel.com.
- **1999** — Became CEO of Pets.com.
- **2000** — Led Pets.com through its IPO and subsequent shutdown during the dot-com crash.
- **2011** — Founded The RealReal in March; the company began shipping orders in June.
- **2017** — The RealReal announced a resale partnership with Stella McCartney.
- **2019** — Took The RealReal public on Nasdaq on June 28.
- **2021** — Named to the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50 list.
- **2022** — Stepped down as CEO, chairperson and director of The RealReal effective June 7; remained an executive adviser through year-end.
- **2024** — Appointed to MOCA’s Board of Trustees in January.
- **2025** — Published Time to Get Real in June.

## Achievements

- Founded The RealReal and led its 2019 Nasdaq IPO.
- Named to the inaugural Forbes 50 Over 50 list in 2021.
- Published the business memoir Time to Get Real in June 2025.
- Supported scholarships at Purdue University, Parsons School of Design and San Francisco Art Institute.
- Received Purdue’s Burton D. Morgan Entrepreneurship Award in 2017.
- Appointed to MOCA’s Board of Trustees in January 2024.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Let’s Get Dressed republished a prior Wainwright interview on August 31 as an archive episode, rather than a new interview.
- **2026-05** — Listed as a gold table supporter for MOCA Gala 2026.
- **2026-03** — Appeared on The Ok Sweetie Show on March 10 to discuss her career, The RealReal and entrepreneurship.
- **2025-06** — Published Time to Get Real on June 10.

## Links

- Website: https://juliewainwright.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewainwright/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RealRealJulie
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realrealjulie/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/julie-wainwright
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-11