# Michelle Wahler

> Michelle Wahler is the co-founder and former CEO of Beyond Yoga. She helped build the activewear business from its 2005 founding through its approximately $400 million acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co. in 2021, and stepped down in January 2024. Based in Santa Monica, she now teaches at USC Marshall and mentors founders; she has also described her advisory and investment platform, Quince Hill.

- **Role:** Adjunct Professor of Management and Organization at USC Marshall School of Business
- **Organizations:** Beyond Yoga, Levi Strauss & Co., USC Marshall School of Business, Quince Hill, Unsweetened NYC, People, Harper’s Bazaar
- **Education:** University of Florida
- **Known for:** Co-founded Beyond Yoga in 2005 and led it for eighteen years., Helped negotiate its approximately $400 million acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co. in 2021., Led the business through expansion into its own retail stores, with six stores by the January 2024 leadership announcement.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2005** — Studied graphic design at the University of Florida, worked in New York publishing including People and Harper’s Bazaar, and started the illustrated clothing label Unsweetened.
- **2005** — Co-founded Beyond Yoga with Jodi Guber Brufsky and led its development as CEO.
- **2021** — Beyond Yoga was acquired by Levi Strauss & Co. for approximately $400 million; Wahler remained CEO.
- **2022** — Beyond Yoga opened its first store in Santa Monica, followed by Irvine.
- **2024** — Stepped down as CEO effective January 31; Nancy Green succeeded her February 1. The transition announcement stated Wahler and Jesse Adams would remain advisors for the handover.
- **2025** — Discussed her founding story on How I Built This and her focus on family and supporting female founders in public interviews.
- **2026** — Publicly listed as an adjunct professor at USC Marshall; described mentoring and Quince Hill in a Frank & Eileen interview and appeared on How I Built This Advice Line.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Beyond Yoga in 2005 and led it for eighteen years.
- Helped negotiate its approximately $400 million acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co. in 2021.
- Led the business through expansion into its own retail stores, with six stores by the January 2024 leadership announcement.
- Advanced inclusive product sizing, price parity across sizes, and unretouched bodies in brand imagery.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Appeared on How I Built This Advice Line, released September 17, discussing founder capital decisions and answering entrepreneurs’ business questions.
- **2026-08** — Featured on the Entreprenista podcast on August 24, revisiting wholesale relationships and the Levi Strauss & Co. acquisition.
- **2025-10** — In an October 1 Sticky Be Socks interview, described prioritizing family and giving back to the female-founder community.
- **2025-06** — Appeared on The Exit Whisperer, released June 3, discussing building and selling Beyond Yoga.
- **2025-02** — How I Built This released her founder-story interview on February 10.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-wahler-4b43315/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.wahler/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/michelle-wahler
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-15