# Monica Ashauer

> Monica Ashauer is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Birdy Grey, the direct-to-consumer bridal brand that put stylish bridesmaid dresses on the map for under $100. A Wharton-trained, ex-McKinsey strategist, she paired with best friend Grace Lee Chen in 2017 to fix a broken category - the six-month wait, the non-returnable polyester, the $300 dress worn once. The result: a hybrid made-to-order model that built reverse working capital, crossed $100 million in revenue by 2024, and made Birdy Grey a wedding-season staple. In 2025 she stepped from President into the Chief Strategy Officer seat and joined the board as Executive Chairman.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at Birdy Grey
- **Organizations:** Birdy Grey, Ralph Lauren, iHeartMedia, Clear Channel, Marc Ecko Enterprises, McKinsey & Company
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Economics, Management focus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, B.A. in International Studies, Latin America focus, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Co-founded Birdy Grey in 2017, pioneering stylish bridesmaid dresses starting at $99, Built the company to over $100 million in revenue by 2024, Designed a hybrid made-to-order inventory model that eliminated storage costs and created reverse working capital

## Career timeline

- **2001** — Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company
- **2007** — VP, Strategic Planning at Marc Ecko Enterprises
- **2010** — Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives at Clear Channel
- **2012** — Vice President, Sales Operations at iHeartMedia
- **2017** — Co-founded Birdy Grey with Grace Lee Chen
- **2018** — Senior Director, Strategy at Ralph Lauren
- **2023** — President of Birdy Grey; brand expands C-suite with CMO and CTO hires
- **2024** — Birdy Grey crosses $100 million in revenue
- **2025** — Named Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board as Jill Layfield joins as CEO

## Achievements

- Co-founded Birdy Grey in 2017, pioneering stylish bridesmaid dresses starting at $99
- Built the company to over $100 million in revenue by 2024
- Designed a hybrid made-to-order inventory model that eliminated storage costs and created reverse working capital
- Established Birdy Grey's supply chain operations
- Launched the groomsmen line with suits starting at $199
- 2025 Winner of Chief's 'The New Era of Leadership' Awards
- Sustained double-digit (roughly 25% YoY) growth across the brand's first six-plus years

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — Transitioned from President to Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer and joined the board as Executive Chairman as Jill Layfield became CEO.
- **2025-03** — Birdy Grey launched its first men's suits collection, starting at $199.
- **2025-05** — Recognized as a 2025 winner of Chief's 'The New Era of Leadership' Awards.

## Links

- Website: https://birdygrey.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-young-ashauer-1212457
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopbirdygrey/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/monica-ashauer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-22