Kara Goldin

Kara Ellen Goldin
Born	Kara Ellen Keenan 1967/68 Tempe, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Known for	Founder and former CEO of Hint Water

Kara Ellen Goldin (born Keenan; 1967/68) is an American entrepreneur and the creator and former chief executive officer of Hint Water, a flavored water company established in 2005.

Early life

Kara Ellen Keenan was born to William and Kay Keenan in Tempe, Arizona, and she is the youngest among five siblings. Her father held executive positions at Conagra Brands and Armour & Company, concluding his career as general manager of distribution. The family relocated from Minneapolis to Scottsdale, Arizona when she was three years old, where she spent her childhood.

Goldin earned her degree from Arizona State University in 1989, majoring in communications with a minor in finance.

Career

Following her graduation from ASU in 1989, Goldin relocated to New York City and began her professional journey at Time Inc within the circulation department. During three years there, she progressed from an executive assistant role to overseeing airline circulation for various Time Inc. publications. Subsequently, she moved into advertising sales at CNN.

Later, Goldin moved to San Francisco and took on the role of National Sales Manager at 2Market, an Apple spin-off specializing in computer-based shopping, until it was acquired by AOL. At AOL, she served as Vice President of Shopping and E-commerce Partnerships, helping expand the division's revenue to nearly $1 billion. After AOL's acquisition of Netscape in 2001, she chose to pause her career to dedicate time to her family.

After having three children, Goldin faced challenges with weight management and recognized her reliance on diet-sweetened drinks hindered her health goals. This realization inspired her to establish Hint in 2005 in San Francisco, offering a naturally fruit-infused alternative to traditional sugary and diet beverages. Over the next dozen years, Hint Water became widely adopted in corporate break rooms at Silicon Valley firms such as Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The brand broadened its product line with the introduction of Hint Fizz, a sparkling beverage launched in 2011, and ventured into skincare by marketing sunscreen starting in 2017.

In addition to her business ventures, Goldin created The Kara Network to provide guidance and encouragement for other entrepreneurs. Her entrepreneurial foundation traces back to age 14 when she worked at Alphabet Toys in Scottsdale, assisting with purchasing decisions—an experience she credits as formative for her career path.

Personal life

Prior to her tenure at CNN, Goldin met her husband, Theo Goldin, who was then pursuing a law degree at New York University. The couple tied the knot in 1995 at the Wrigley Mansion located in Phoenix, Arizona. Following Theo's completion of his studies, they moved to San Francisco. Together, they are parents to four children.

Awards and recognition

• Recognized by Fortune as one of the Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in 2011
• Selected for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneurial Winning Women program in 2012
• Recipient of the Gold Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013
• Featured on Forbes' list of 40 Women to Watch Over 40 in 2013
• Honored as EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California in 2017
• Named among Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business in 2017

External links

• Official website