Overview
Kara Goldin is an American entrepreneur and author who founded Hint Inc., an unsweetened flavored water company that grew to a $150 million valuation and distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide.[1] After building AOL's e-commerce business to $1 billion in revenue as Vice President of Shopping and E-commerce Partnerships, Goldin launched Hint in 2005 with no beverage industry experience.[1]
Goldin stepped down as CEO in 2021 amid an executive restructuring but remains on the company's board.[2] She is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller "Undaunted" and hosts "The Kara Goldin Show" podcast, which ranks in the top 1% of entrepreneur podcasts globally.[1] The company has raised $62.7 million across nine funding rounds and employs 183 people.[4]
Early life and education
Goldin was born Kara Ellen Keenan in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the youngest of five children.[1] Her family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona when she was three years old, where her father worked for Con-Agra and Armour & Company.[1] She took her first job at age 14 at Alphabet Toys in Scottsdale.[1]
Goldin graduated from Arizona State University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in communications and a minor in finance.[1] She was a gymnast during college and initially planned to pursue a career in journalism.[1]
Career
Time Inc. and CNN (1989–1995)
After graduation, Goldin joined Time Inc. as an executive assistant and worked her way up to managing airline circulation for the company's magazines.[1] In 1992, she moved to CNN, where she worked in various media roles before relocating to San Francisco in 1995.[1]
2Market and AOL (1995–2001)
In San Francisco, Goldin joined 2Market, a computer-based shopping startup developed by Steve Jobs, as National Sales Manager.[1] When AOL acquired 2Market in 1997, Goldin became Vice President of Shopping and E-commerce Partnerships at AOL.[1] During her four years at AOL, she grew the company's e-commerce business to approximately $1 billion in revenue.[1]
Hint Inc. (2005–present)
Goldin founded Hint Inc. in 2005 after struggling to find healthy beverage options for herself and her family.[1] The company produces unsweetened flavored water using natural fruit essences, with no sugar, diet sweeteners, or preservatives.[1] Despite having no beverage industry experience, Goldin built the company to a $150 million valuation and distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide.[1]
In August 2021, Goldin stepped down as CEO amid an executive restructuring, with the company citing a need for "operational expertise" as it scaled.[2] She remains on the company's board of directors.[2] The company has raised $62.7 million across nine funding rounds and employs 183 people.[4]
Recognition and public engagement
Goldin has been recognized by Fortune as one of the Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in 2011 and named to Forbes' 40 Women to Watch Over 40 list.[1] She received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for Northern California in 2017.[1] Fast Company has included her among the Most Creative People in Business.[1]
She is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller "Undaunted" and hosts "The Kara Goldin Show" podcast, which ranks in the top 1% of entrepreneur podcasts globally.[1] The podcast has featured guests including Tony Robbins, Chip Wilson of Lululemon, and Guy Kawasaki of Apple and Canva.[5]
Public statements
Personal
References
- How Hint Water's Kara Goldin Went From Zero Industry Experience to a $150 Million Business Empire — Inc., January 2023
- Kara Goldin Replaced as CEO Amid Exec Shakeup at Hint — BevNET, August 2021
- How I Built Resilience: Kara Goldin of Hint — How I Built This, March 2021
- Hint - 2025 Funding Rounds & List of Investors — Tracxn, December 2024
- A Peek Inside The Life Of Hint Founder And CEO Kara Goldin — NetSuite, June 2022