Bianca Gates

Bianca Gates is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Birdies, a pioneering lifestyle footwear company that redefined the category by merging the elegance of designer shoes with the comfort of slippers. Since launching Birdies, Bianca has guided the company from an entrepreneurial vision into an internationally recognized direct-to-consumer brand, celebrated for its innovation, style, and devoted community of over one million customers and more than two million pairs sold.

Prior to founding Birdies, Bianca spent nearly six years at Facebook (now Meta), where she spearheaded retail partnerships and played an integral role in monetizing Facebook and Instagram. Her professional background also includes sales leadership positions at other media and technology companies, equipping her with a deep expertise in scaling businesses, cultivating brand identity, and driving digital engagement.

Bianca’s inspiration for Birdies was rooted in her desire to create versatile footwear that could transition seamlessly from home to social settings without compromising style or comfort. This vision not only disrupted traditional footwear categories but also carved out an entirely new market segment. Under her leadership, Birdies has raised significant venture funding, grown a loyal customer base and been featured in top publications for its impact on fashion and lifestyle. In March of 2025, Bianca led the successful exit of Birdies to a multi-brand, footwear conglomerate.

Beyond her role as Founder & CEO, Bianca is a passionate advocate for women in entrepreneurship and leadership. She started the first Lean In Circle with Sheryl Sandberg in 2013 (now over 100,000 reported Circles in over 180 countries), frequently speaks on topics such as innovation, building consumer brands, and empowering women to pursue bold career paths. She has been recognized for her leadership and entrepreneurial achievements by a range of industry and media outlets.

Bianca earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and continues to mentor and support the next generation of founders. She served six years on the Board of Trustees of the Hamlin School, an all girls Independent school in San Francisco and is Vice Chair of her YPO Chapter. Bianca resides in San Francisco with her husband and two kids.