HEATHER Stringer

Heather Stringer serves as head of brands and operations systems at Tula Blue, where she directs brand strategy, writes all blog and email content, manages marketing teams, and builds operations and AI systems for the business. She founded the company 12 years ago after earning an economics degree and completing a full-ride graduate program in environmental economics, which she left upon realizing she preferred hands-on work over computer-based regressions. Her entrepreneurial path began after roles including income auditor at a Sheraton hotel in Hawaii, when she started making jewelry at her family's restaurant in Austin, Texas, and selling at farmer's markets. Stringer bootstrapped Tula Blue into a business producing durable, waterproof, saltproof, and sunproof jewelry from nautical-grade sailboat whipping twine, expanding from markets in Hawaii and Corpus Christi to two workshops in Austin and North Padre Island that employ nearly 20 women. She remains on the board of a local farmer's market she helped run for 10 years, has donated about $50,000 to causes, and partners with PADI Aware for ocean conservation efforts, creating custom pieces for various crises. Based in Austin, Texas, she is currently pursuing AI systems education and leadership training through Uncommon Leaders while continuing to grow the all-female handmade operation.