Rothy's CEO Dayna Quanbeck on Growth and Credibility Rooted in Sustainability
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Dayna Quanbeck, CEO and president of Rothy’s, a direct-to-consumer company which takes a whole-brand approach to sustainability in manufacturing, transforming recycled materials into shoes, handbags and accessories. This episode was recorded at the National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City last week.
Listen in as Quanbeck shares what’s at the top of her mind to kick off 2026 (2:00), her career start on Wall Street and transition into retail that led to her current role (3:00), and how Rothy’s evolves while maintaining core values (5:30). She highlights how the brand tracks and acts on its commitments to sustainability and product excellence (7:00) as well as what strong executive credibility looks like in high-stakes conversations with investors and board members (9:00).
Additionally, Quanbeck reflects on lessons from her mentor, friend and former Rothy’s CEO Jenny Ming (11:25), as well as the importance of a strong support network when balancing busy professional and personal life (14:00). She offers insights for aspiring C-suite executives, underscoring the need for comprehensive business knowledge, critical thinking and continual learning (16:35). The discussion concludes with Quanbeck’s personal goals for 2026, including her newfound interest in reading leadership books (19:00).
Dayna Quanbeck is the CEO and president of Rothy’s, where she leads the fast-growing retailer through its next phase of expansion. With more than 20 years of experience across retail, apparel and footwear, Ms. Quanbeck oversees the brand’s financial, strategic and operational engine spanning global e-commerce, retail, and wholesale channels. Ms. Quanbeck played a central role in laying the groundwork for Rothy’s 2021 minority investment, which valued the company at $1 billion.
Before joining Rothy’s, Ms. Quanbeck held several senior roles at Charlotte Russe, including CFO and interim CEO, helping lead the $900 million omnichannel retailer through a major transformation. Earlier in her career, she worked in retail investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and also spent several years in public accounting. She is an active CPA in California.
Ms. Quanbeck serves on the boards of Rothy’s and GLO Pharma, where she chairs the Compensation Committee. She is a board advisor to Made In and is a board trustee of SLS Preschool, as well as an ambassador for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. Ms. Quanbeck is also the co-founder and president of Ready, Set, Safe!, a California nonprofit focused on school safety and advocacy. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara and holds a MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. A native Californian, she and her husband live in San Francisco and have four children.
Register to attend the 2026 Women in Retail Leadership Summit here. Use discount code “PODCAST” for $100 off your pass.
Date: January 20, 2026
Credits: Dayna Quanbeck
Duration: 21:29
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