Paula Schneider

Schneider earned her Bachelor of Arts in Costume Design from California State University, Chico where she also obtained a secondary teaching credential.

Schneider began her career in 1985 by founding Take Twoo, a multi-line representative firm that launched BCBG Max Azria globally. In 1992, she joined BCBG Max Azria as President of Sales, a role she held until 2001, overseeing global strategy for all divisions.

From 2001 to 2006, Schneider was President of Laundry by Shelli Segal, a top contemporary fashion brand. In May 2006, she became the group President of Warnaco Swimwear Group, overseeing brands including Speedo and Calvin Klein until February 2010.{{Cite web |last=Monllos |first=Kristina |date=2014-12-18 |title=Can American Apparel's New CEO Tone Things Down Without Turning It Into Old Navy? |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/can-american-apparels-new-ceo-tone-things-down-without-turning-it-old-navy-162000/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en-US}}

In 2010, Schneider transitioned to The Gores Group, a private equity firm, where she worked as a Senior Advisor evaluating acquisitions in the consumer sector. From 2011 to 2013, she served as CEO of Big Strike LLC, a Gores Group portfolio company, where she led acquisition strategies and junior sportswear distribution to mid-tier retailers. She was the first female CEO within The Gores Group’s portfolio.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Erika |date=2015-07-06 |title=Life After Dov: Meet the Woman Orchestrating American Apparel's Comeback |url=https://www.racked.com/2015/7/6/8900505/new-leadership-american-apparel-ceo-paula-schneider |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Racked |language=en}}

From 2013 to 2015, Schneider ran her own consultancy, Paula Schneider Consulting, advising on brand development, operations, and acquisitions.   

In December 2015, Schneider was named CEO of American Apparel, then the largest vertically integrated U.S. clothing manufacturer, with 600 global retail stores and approximately 9,500 employees. During her tenure, she orchestrated a pre-pack Chapter 11 restructuring while maintaining the company’s market presence.{{Cite news |last=Butler |first=Sarah |date=2015-11-10 |title=American Apparel: Paula Schneider's 'wild ride' to revive the brand |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/10/american-apparel-paula-schneiders-wild-ride-to-revive-the-brand |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Tabuchi |first=Hiroko |date=2015-02-09 |title=With Paula Schneider as New Chief, American Apparel Shifts Focus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/09/business/with-new-chief-american-apparel-shifts-focus.html |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Clare |title=American Apparel CEO Paula Schneider: We Will Grow After Bankruptcy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2016/01/27/american-apparel-ceo-paula-schneider-we-will-grow-after-bankruptcy/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

After her resignation from American Apparel, Schneider took charge of three Los Angeles contemporary brands, 7 For All Mankind, Splendid, and Ella Moss, which had been acquired by an Israeli clothing company, Delta Galil. After seven months as the CEO, Schneider left in May.{{Cite web |last=Conlon |first=Scarlett |date=2016-09-23 |title=American Apparel CEO Out |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/america-apparel-ceo-paula-schneider-exits-company |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Delta Galil taps ex-American Apparel CEO Paula Schneider to lead apparel brands {{!}} Retail Dive |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/delta-galil-taps-ex-american-apparel-ceo-paula-schneider-to-lead-apparel-br/428625/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.retaildive.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hamanaka |first=Kari |date=2016-10-18 |title=Delta Galil Names Paula Schneider CEO of DG Premium Brands |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/ready-to-wear/delta-galil-names-paula-schneider-ceo-of-dg-premium-brands-10677957/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}

Schneider became president and chief executive officer of Susan G. Komen in October 2017, assuming responsibility for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the organization.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/business/paula-schneider-susan-komen-corner-office.html|title=Paula Schneider on Running American Apparel and Fighting Cancer|last=Gelles|first=David|date=August 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-30|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Schneider is a public speaker, leading discussions on organizational leadership, women in business, and healthcare advocacy. She has been a featured speaker at several events including Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, Yahoo! Finance, Women in Retail, the Milken Institute, Dreamforce, and SXSW. Schneider is a member of C200, an organization focused on women’s leadership in business, the Bloomberg New Economy Forum’s International Cancer Coalition, and Fast Company’s Impact Council.

• Named one of the 2025 Most Influential Women of the Mid-Market by CEO Connection
• Recognized among the Top 100 Influential Women in Oncology Key Opinion Leaders by OncoDaily
• Included in Los Angeles Business Journal’s 500 Most Influential People

Schneider is the mother of two daughters.

Schneider is a breast cancer survivor and has been personally impacted by the disease, having lost her mother to metastatic breast cancer.

She is an advocate for breast cancer awareness, early detection, and equitable access to care. Her personal experiences have shaped her approach to patient-centric programming and organizational leadership. She actively promotes mental health, self-care, and the empowerment of women through health education and support services.{{CN|date=June 2025}}

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Category:American business executives

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)