Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble, announced Theresa’s new appointment via an app-dissolving post on Instagram. She is pregnant with her third baby! She unpacked this wonderful news at an especially tough time for her fast-growing dating app. The controversial app has been struggling with plummeting profits and repeated executive shakeups.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Wolfe Herd candidly addressed Bumble’s struggles, noting a year-over-year earnings drop of 7.7% in the first quarter. Yet the company’s continued dismal performance has caused alarm. This news follows the sudden resignation of Lidiane Jones as CEO, having confessed to Wolfe Herd that she was feeling out of her depth with the demands of the role.
Wolfe Herd told CNN after her interview with Jones that she saw a lot of similarities in their journeys. She remembers feeling like she was watching herself from outside her body during that panel.
“I had no intentions of coming back,” – Whitney Wolfe Herd
Despite her initial reluctance to return, Wolfe Herd resumed her leadership role at Bumble in March, asserting that “Bumble needs me back.” She called the platform an extension of her being, noting how hard it has been to see it go from its height.
Her departure, along with the timing of the announcement, raises an important discussion around the unique pressures women in leadership roles often face. Wolfe Herd shot down all rumors that she would be at odds with her old coworker. She pointed to the importance of women leaders lifting each other up.
“I think the world wants people – particularly when it’s a woman to a woman – they want there to be some riff. There’s no riff,” – Whitney Wolfe Herd
Jones had been trying to get in touch with Wolfe Herd. She admitted to these same sins, such as overworking and overcommitting. This would prove to be her undoing, as she was forced to resign soon after their chat.
Wolfe Herd’s return to Bumble will set the direction for the company at a pivotal moment. From the moment she took Bumble public, she has seemed singularly focused on both its growth and success. Oh my, what a time period this was to test her leadership and resilience.
Wealthy, visionary and savvy
At the 2023 Code Conference, Wolfe Herd was called on stage to deliver her entrepreneurial story arc. She shared strong advice honed through her practice. Her understanding of the need to take a step back and prioritize self-care and identify indicators of burnout in not just herself, but her peers as well.
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