Jen Rubio: My Favourite Things

Jen Rubio has a lot to celebrate. In May, Away, the travel brand she launched with co-founder Steph Korey hit unicorn status with a valuation of US$1.4bn after a Series D fundraise (bringing the US-based company’s total equity funding to US$156million). With this, the co-founders have joined a small but growing group of female-led unicorns that includes Emily Weiss’ Glossier and Jennifer Hyman’s Rent the Runway. Not bad for a founder who had no previous aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur.

In just over three years, Rubio and Korey have disrupted the luggage industry with their direct to consumer range that features clever touches including a built-in battery for phone charging, a hidden laundry bag and numerous personalisation options – counting celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Karlie Kloss as loyal customers.