Hi Carol, thank you for chatting with us today. Please share with our readers what do you do in our industry?
I lead OOLY, a creative consumer products company that makes colorful, joyful art supplies and school products for kids and kids-at-heart. As CEO and Founder, I wear many hats—visionary, product developer, people leader, and the one who keeps our mission alive: to spread happiness through creativity.

What is your claim to fame?

I started OOLY from the ground up, identifying a gap in the market for accessible, high-quality art and school supplies that were fun, bold, and anything but boring. We bootstrapped our way to becoming a globally recognized brand and we’ve done it as a proudly independent, woman-owned company. This year, we’re celebrating OOLY’s 20th anniversary, and I’m still pinching myself that an idea born from joy and color has grown into a movement that reaches millions of creative minds.

What has kept you motivated to stay in the toy industry?

The opportunity to do meaningful work through joyful products. One of my proudest recent moments has been our Peanuts licensing partnership, launched in celebration of OOLY’s 20th anniversary and Peanuts’ 75th. Collaborating with such an iconic brand, one that’s long celebrated imagination, kindness, and emotional connection has been incredibly rewarding. Together, we created a collection of art and activity kits that bring Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the gang to life through creativity. Seeing generations connect over beloved characters through hands-on play? That’s exactly why I love what I do.  

Where do you come up with your best ideas?
When I travel. I’ve visited over 70 countries, and almost every destination sparks something, whether it’s a color palette in a market in Marrakesh or packaging inspiration in Tokyo. Travel opens up new ways of thinking and reminds me that creativity is a universal language.

What are you still hoping to accomplish?
I want OOLY to be more than a product brand. I want it to be a global movement that nurtures creative confidence, emotional wellness, and joy. Our partnership with the non-profit Kids for Peace is one of the ways we’re making that vision real, by helping kids use creativity as a tool for kindness and positive action. My hope is that long after our 20th anniversary, OOLY continues to light up imaginations and make the world a little brighter.

What are you working on now?
Always something colorful! Right now we’re expanding our licensing program, creating new lines for older age groups, and building strategic partnerships that will allow us to reach more creators in more places.

What do you hope your legacy will be?

That I helped people, especially kids, find joy in creativity. That OOLY became more than just a brand, but a tool for self-expression, kindness, and imagination. And that we showed what’s possible when a company leads with heart, color, and community, especially over 20 amazing years and counting.