About
Heather Holland
Heather Holland is a dynamic and innovative leader with two decades of experience at the intersection of high-growth consumer brands, wellness, and mission-driven leadership development. As the founder and CEO of Upswell Studio, Heather is spearheading a transformative movement for well-being by offering mindful movement, active recovery, and social wellness experiences. With a mission to spread well-being and levity, she has closed a successful seed round to grow Upswell, solidifying it as a trailblazing brand in the wellness industry.
Heather is a passionate champion for women navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, and various stages of motherhood. She shares her hard-earned expertise in aligning her career with values and balancing the intensities of life with rest and play. Heather’s approach is rooted in radical candor, offering insights and perspectives designed to encourage rather than prescribe.
Prior to founding Upswell, Heather held executive leadership roles at CorePower Yoga, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, overseeing operations across 225 studios and driving revenue growth. She also led transformative organizational development initiatives, introduced innovative operational frameworks, and developed programming that touched millions of lives annually. Before CorePower, Heather served as Executive Vice President of Global People, Training, and Development at Le Pain Quotidien, where she built a global talent strategy and spearheaded impactful global reorganization and culture management efforts.
Heather’s professional journey began in entrepreneurial law in Silicon Valley. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Boulder and built her legal career in private practice and as General Counsel for multiple organizations. This diverse foundation allowed her to master strategic planning, operational transformation, and culture-building in ways that resonate with heart-based leaders driving mission-driven growth.
A mother of two young boys and wife to a former chef, Heather’s personal life is focused on living a slowed-down life in a fast-paced world. Her upbringing in San Francisco’s Castro and Mission neighborhoods as the daughter of a single mother shaped her values of optimism, openness, and resilience.
Heather is a champion of approachable wellness and believes that movement is medicine. Beyond her professional work, she enjoys swimming and paddleboarding Colorado’s open waters, enjoying her family, and exploring the beauty of the world. Her personal mission is simple yet profound: to create positive forward momentum and bring about good in the world.
With an unwavering commitment to supporting others, Heather continues to mentor leaders in the wellness space, fostering an inclusive dialogue that encourages people to prepare for and recover from the impact of life with self-care and levity. Through her work at Upswell Studio and beyond, Heather Holland is redefining motherhood, wellness, and leadership for the modern era.
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