Michelle Wahler is an entrepreneur, business leader, and mother who co-founded the active lifestyle brand Beyond Yoga in 2005. As CEO, she built the company from the ground up—transforming a concept into a global business with a thriving e-commerce platform, a robust wholesale presence, and six retail stores. Under her nearly 20 years of leadership, Beyond Yoga sold tens of millions of units worldwide and became a leader in inclusive, body-positive apparel.
Michelle championed a female-focused, values-driven culture centered on diversity, empowerment, and authenticity—both internally and for the broader community. In 2021, she led Beyond Yoga through a successful $400M acquisition by Levi Strauss & Co., continuing as CEO and joining Levi’s Executive Leadership Team through 2024.

Her work has earned national recognition: she was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and honored as a DEIA Visionary by the Los Angeles Times in 2023.

Originally from Maryland, Michelle began her career in New York City and now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Through the family foundation she co-founded, she actively supports philanthropic initiatives, advises emerging founders, teaches, and invests in mission-driven ventures.

Michelle Wahler is an entrepreneur, business leader, and mother who co-founded the active lifestyle brand Beyond Yoga in 2005. As CEO, she built the company from the ground up&mdash;transforming a concept into a global business with a thriving e-commerce platform, a robust wholesale presence, and six retail stores. Under her nearly 20 years of leadership, Beyond Yoga sold tens of millions of units worldwide and became a leader in inclusive, body-positive apparel. Michelle championed a female-focused, values-driven culture centered on diversity, empowerment, and authenticity&mdash;both internally and for the broader community. In 2021, she led Beyond Yoga through a successful $400M acquisition by Levi Strauss &amp; Co., continuing as CEO and joining Levi&rsquo;s Executive Leadership Team through 2024.
Her work has earned national recognition: she was named Ernst &amp; Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and honored as a DEIA Visionary by the Los Angeles Times in 2023.
Originally from Maryland, Michelle began her career in New York City and now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Through the family foundation she co-founded, she actively supports philanthropic initiatives, advises emerging founders, teaches, and invests in mission-driven ventures.

Shauna Swerland, CEO of Fuel Talent, launches the What Fuels You podcast, where she sits down with influential, interesting and successful leaders to learn from them. She digs into the stories and choices that made them who they are today, with the goal of sharing the inspiration, perseverance and stories of resilience that are normally only shared within an inner circle. You'll walk away feeling fueled by each episode as Shauna uncovers things like personal hardships and failures, what it’s like to become an entrepreneur and tips on building a successful career.

What Fuels You

Shauna Swerland, CEO of Fuel Talent, hosts the What Fuels You podcast, where she sits down with influential, interesting, and successful leaders from all areas of business. She digs into the stories and choices that made them who they are today, with the goal of sharing the inspiration, perseverance, and stories of resilience that are normally only shared within an inner circle. You'll walk away feeling fueled by each episode as Shauna uncovers things like personal hardships and failures, what it’s like to become an entrepreneur, and tips on building a successful career. 

Shauna Swerland, CEO of Fuel Talent, hosts the What Fuels You podcast, where she sits down with influential, interesting, and successful leaders from all areas of business. She digs into the stories and choices that made them who they are today, with the goal of sharing the inspiration, perseverance, and stories of resilience that are normally only shared within an inner circle. You'll walk away feeling fueled by each episode as Shauna uncovers things like personal hardships and failures, what it’s like to become an entrepreneur, and tips on building a successful career.

Advertisement