Empowering women to lead. Encouraging the world to follow.
Empowering women to lead. Encouraging the world to follow.
The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute will strengthen the next generation of courageous, creative women leaders who will change the world.

Kendra Scott Endowment Announcement
Kendra Scottβs Philanthropic Investment in UT Austin Expands Support for Future Women Business Leaders
βKendraβs investment will transform the lives of thousands of future leaders, and all of society will reap the benefits,” said Jay Hartzell, president of UT Austin. “I am thrilled she is expanding her partnership with UT to attract top talent and leverage the strength of our city and university as an engine for entrepreneurship.β



June FoundHER – Boutiq
Introducing Boutiq, a travel and technology company that believes guests deserve beautiful homes and obsessive hospitality.
Signature Events
Relive the inaugural Dream to Venture event experience β an evening filled with inspiring content shining a spotlight on what it means to be a FoundHER.Β
Programs & Events
Β Join us for KS WELI sponsored programs & events designed to equip students with the tools needed to gain intentional skills and practice.
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Curriculum
Learn more about the newly launch Women in Entrepreneurship specialization and KS WELI sponsored courses that offer interdisciplinary opportunities in management, design, and entrepreneurship.
Community
Become part of a vibrant, diverse, and supportive community to kick-start your future through internships, leadership training, mentoring, funding opportunities, and more. Learn about Student Board and Alumni Board.

About // Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott is a loving mom, a driven entrepreneur and a passionate designer who believes the truest form of success is giving back in a meaningful way.
If you can see HER you can be HER! Today we are spotlighting a Day in the Life of our June FoundHER Rena Pacheco-Theard, the founder of Boutiq! β¨
Boutiq believes that time is precious, and that the moments of a brilliant stay will become memories that last a lifetime. World-class hospitality in leading travel destinations brings a home to life and sets the backdrop for lifeβs moments and memories. Boutiq is creating this luxury vacation home standard by developing a collection of beautiful, custom homes that welcome guests to relax, celebrate, reflect, and be in every moment.
Head over to the link in our bio to learn more about Rena and Boutiq!π€π
If you can see HER you can be HER!
The goal of FoundHER KS WELI Program is to increase representation to help us redefine leadership and entrepreneurship. By empowering and showcasing women-founded businesses we aim to inspire YOU to find your passion to start or continue to work on your startup!
#KSWELIxUTAustinΒ #empoweringwomentoleadΒ #encouragingtheworldtofollowΒ #kswelinstituteUTΒ #thenextgeneration
#kswelixfoundher
#ifyoucanseeheryoucanbeher
This semester, the KS WELI hosted a HelpHER Drive benefitting the SAFE Alliance. With your help, we were able to donate over 5 large packaging boxes worth of individually packaged or boxed pads, tampons, and liners to SAFE! π€π
The SAFE Alliance is a merger of Austin Childrenβs Shelter and SafePlace, both long-standing and respected human service agencies in Austin serving the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence.
KS WELI thanks you for helping us further our pillars of #empoweringwomen and #buildingcommunity β¨
#KSWELIxUTAUSTIN #kswelinstituteUT #empoweringwometolead
#encouragingtheworldtofollow #thenextgeneration
It's our Friday KS WELI FoundHER Spotlight! If you can see HER, you can be HER! #Hookem for our June FoundHER, Rena Pacheco-Theard!
Rena shares with us a story of a hurdle she had to overcome in her entrepreneurial journey!
"I had to get really comfortable with things not always working out the way we planned, and continuing to push forward..."
Learn more about Boutiq at the link in our bio!π€π
#KSWELIxUTAustin #KSWELIxFoundHER #empoweringwomentolead #encouragingtheworldtofollow #kswelinstituteUT #thenextgeneration #kswelixfoundher#ifyoucanseeheryoucanbeher
Check out our KS WELI Graduating Seniors feature in this month's Austin Woman Magazine! π€π
We are an institute for students by students! KS WELI is proud to center the student voice directly into its mission to empower women to lead to support the next generation of women founders and leaders who will change the world in business - and beyond.
Learn more about KS WELI and its graduating Senior at the link in our bio!
#KSWELIxUTAUSTIN #kswelinstituteUT #empoweringwometolead
#encouragingtheworldtofollow #thenextgeneration
Thank you so much for joining us at our Kendra Scott Student Design Launch Party - an opportunity to meet the student designers behind the Tessa Ear Jacket and learn more about the KS WELI π€π
20% of the proceeds from the student-designed Tessa Ear Jacket go back to the Kendra Scott Womenβs Entrepreneurship Leadership Institute (KS WELI) at UT Austin to empower the next generation of courageous, creative women leaders and grow the number of women-owned and women-led businesses!
Find the Tessa Ear jacket in person at a Kendra Scott location or online! β¨
photographs captured by @hgpphotos on Instagram
#KSWELIxUTAustin #KSWELIxTXA #kswelinstituteut #empoweringwomentolead #encouragingtheworldtofollow
Happy June! If you can see HER you can be HER! #Hookem for our June FoundHER Rena Pacheco-Theard, the founder of Boutiq! π€π
Boutiq believes that time is precious, and that the moments of a brilliant stay will become memories that last a lifetime. World-class hospitality in leading travel destinations brings a home to life and sets the backdrop for lifeβs moments and memories. Boutiq is creating this luxury vacation home standard by developing a collection of beautiful, custom homes that welcome guests to relax, celebrate, reflect, and be in every moment.
Learn more about Boutiq at the link in our bio! π€π
What is the FoundHER KS WELI Program?
The FoundHER KS WELI Program empowers and equips a courageous, creative women-identifying founder each month who will change the world. Through resources, events, and marketing we are able to connect these incredible foundHERs to YOU and our KS WELI Community.
If you can see HER you can be HER.
The goal of FoundHER KS WELI Program is to increase representation to help us redefine leadership and entrepreneurship. By empowering and showcasing women-founded businesses we aim to inspire YOU to find your passion to start or continue to work on your own startup!
#KSWELIxUTAustin #KSWELIxFoundHER #empoweringwomentolead #encouragingtheworldtofollow #kswelinstituteUT #thenextgeneration
#ifyoucanseeheryoucanbeher
Hook Em for our recap of our second annual Senior Celebration at the Kendra Scott Center! π€π
Thank you again to all of our seniors for using their inspiring voices to continue #empoweringwomentolead & #encouragingtheworldtofollow and to our Alumni for the motivational panel! β¨
#kswelixutaustin #kswelinstituteut #thenextgeneration
#Hookem for our KS WELI May Female #FoundHER Flora Tenille West, founder of FLORAL SEA!π€π
@shop_floralsea.co is a conceptual fashion house and design studio. The brand showcases sustainably- and ethically-made entry-luxury collections that prioritize fashion-forward aesthetics, artistic expression, and cultural inclusivity at the forefront of design and brand experience β exhibiting how both style and sustainability can coexist within high-end contemporary fashion.
We canβt wait to see how Flora continues #empoweringwomentolead and #encouragingtheworldtofollow!
#KSWELIxUTAustin #KSWELIxFoundHER #kswelinstituteUT #thenextgeneration #ifyoucanseeheryoucanbeher