Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin Joins Six Unicorn Founders for #WEDO2026 Summit at United Nations

Founders of Kendra Scott, The RealReal and Poppi headline global entrepreneurship gathering as Costin hosts closing reception at One Vanderbilt

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, founder of House of Vanderbilt and a board member of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), will join some of the world's most influential entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders for the #WEDO2026 Summit and Pioneer Awards at the United Nations on Friday, November 13th, 2026. The gathering will feature prominent founders, including Kendra Scott, Julie Wainwright of The RealReal and Allison Ellsworth of Poppi, alongside a new generation of digital creators and innovators working to expand economic opportunities for women around the world.

The annual summit, held ahead of Women's Entrepreneurship Day on November 19th, 2026 will bring together leaders from business, finance, technology and media to explore the future of women's entrepreneurship and the importance of expanding access to capital, education and emerging technologies.

The event will conclude with an exclusive evening reception hosted by Vanderbilt Costin at the Vanderbilt Room at One Vanderbilt in Midtown Manhattan.

As a WEDO board member and founder of House of Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Costin is among the prominent entrepreneurial figures supporting the organization's mission of economic empowerment. Her involvement in the 2026 gathering extends beyond the United Nations summit to the evening celebration, where she will host a reception bringing together participants and supporters following a day devoted to entrepreneurship, innovation and the next generation of women business leaders.

The summit's featured participants include Kendra Scott, founder and chairwoman of the jewelry and lifestyle brand bearing her name; Julie Wainwright, founder of luxury resale platform The RealReal and Ahara; and Allison Ellsworth, co-founder of Poppi, the beverage company acquired by PepsiCo in a $1.95 billion deal. Their experiences building businesses and redefining consumer markets will be central to the day's discussions about innovation, growth and entrepreneurial leadership.

Representing a younger generation of entrepreneurs are digital creators Jenny Hoyos, whose audience exceeds 20 million followers; Juliette Coley, widely known as JustJules; and Katie Fang, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Their participation underscores the growing influence of social media, digital entrepreneurship and creator-led businesses in shaping the next generation of commercial success.

Additional participants include Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, chairperson of Louis Dreyfus Holding B.V. and founder of Human Change and the Louis Dreyfus Foundation; Margery Kraus, founder and executive chair of APCO; Howard Morgan, chair and general partner at B Capital; Mindy Grossman, partner and vice chair at Consello; and Janki Lalani Gandhi, managing partner at Fifth Down Capital. Reuters wealth editor Lauren Young and Newsweek Editor in Chief Jennifer Cunningham, who will moderate a panel, are also among the featured participants.

A highlight of the gathering will be the presentation of WEDO's 2026 Pioneer Awards, recognizing entrepreneurial leadership, innovation and contributions to advancing opportunities for women. This year's honorees include Kendra Scott, Julie Wainwright, Allison Ellsworth, Jenny Hoyos, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus and Margery Kraus.

Beyond celebrating established business leaders, the summit will highlight WEDO's commitment to providing underserved women and girls with the resources needed to achieve financial independence. The organization's free AI Entrepreneurship Education Program is designed to expand access to artificial intelligence training and business education, with the ambitious goal of reaching 1 million women and girls worldwide. WEDO reports that 46,500 women have already received AI training, reflecting the growing importance of technological literacy in creating new economic opportunities.

"Put AI in women's hands. Put economic power in their futures. WEDO's free AI Entrepreneurship Education Program helps women build businesses, gain financial independence and close the gender gap," said Wendy Diamond, founder and CEO of WEDO.

Event information:
Event: #WEDO2026 Summit and Pioneer Awards
Date: Friday, November 13th, 2026
Time: 10:00am to 3:30pm EST; check-in begins at 9:30 am
Location: Delegates Dining Room, United Nations, 46th Street & 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Closing reception: 6:00pm, Vanderbilt Room, One Vanderbilt, New York
Summit information: https://www.joinwedo.org/womens-entrepreneurship-day-summit-wedo2026/

About the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization:
The Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) is an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to advancing the economic empowerment of women and girls through entrepreneurship, education and access to opportunity. Active in 144 countries and 65 universities and colleges, WEDO brings together business leaders, policymakers and innovators to promote financial independence and entrepreneurial development.

About Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin:
Serial entrepreneur and visionary Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin have made a lasting impact across multiple industries, from music and fashion to business and philanthropy. A descendant of the legendary Vanderbilt family, she was recently featured in ELYSIAN Magazine as one of New York City's most influential and inspirational women. With a career as a singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur, Consuelo continues to shape industries and inspire those around her while also championing the lessons from her family’s endeavors as a Board member of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum in Long Island, NY.

Her music career has seen her perform globally alongside Vanessa Carlton, Mya, and Joe Cocker, with her singles consistently ranking in the Billboard Top 20. As the founder of C&R Productions, she has achieved multiple chart-topping hits, including “Naked” and “Feel So Alive,” which earned her Billboard’s #2 Breakout Artist honor. Her last five singles were top 20 in the USA, last three singles achieved top 10 places. Her last single made #5 in the US Charts. In addition, Consuelo has also toured extensively in Europe and the United States.

In addition to her music career, Consuelo has made her mark in the fashion industry, launching the jewelry line Homage by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin with HSN. She is also the founder of SohoMuse, the leading professional network for creative industries, designed by creatives for creatives.
About The House of Vanderbilt:
House of Vanderbilt is a modern family office and global platform founded by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, dedicated to legacy preservation, philanthropic impact, purpose-driven partnerships, and multi-generational influence. Rooted in one of America’s most historic lineages, the platform connects heritage with innovation across industries and continents.

For more information, please visit www.houseofvanderbilt.com

Norah Lawlor
Lawlor Media Group, Inc.
+1 212-967-6900
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
X