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Nina Zilka

CEO & Co-Founder at Alder New York | Product development & Innovation strategist

Nina Zilka is the CEO and co-founder of Alder New York, a clean, vegan, and genderless skincare and haircare brand known for its sleek design and effective products.12 She launched the company in 2016 with her business partner David Krause, after working in the fashion industry for over a decade.12

Zilka's journey into skincare began when she became passionate about clean beauty products after reading "No More Dirty Looks," which highlighted the lack of FDA regulation in cosmetics.13 Initially, she started making her own personal care products as a hobby, including a dry shampoo that gained popularity among friends and family.1

With over 10 years of experience in product development and innovation, Zilka has grown Alder New York into a successful brand sold at major retailers like Goop, Free People, and Anthropologie, as well as over 100 boutiques nationwide.12 Her accomplishments include:

  1. Being named one of Forbes' Inspiring Female Founders in the Beauty Industry in 20202
  2. Developing a comprehensive style guide for the brand's communication strategies2
  3. Orchestrating marketing initiatives, including in-person events attended by editors from prestigious publications2

Zilka holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion/Apparel Design from Pratt Institute.2 Prior to founding Alder New York, she worked as an Assistant to the Executive Director at Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator, where she helped launch a 21,000 SF facility supporting 40 emerging startups.2

As a female founder, Zilka emphasizes the importance of having women in leadership roles and actively works to combat sexism in business by hiring, promoting, and collaborating with women and other marginalized groups.4

Highlights

#HerHustle | Interview with Alder New York's Nina Zilka | Three Ships
Mar 21 · shop100ml.com
Departure Series - Meet the Founder: Nina Zilka - Shop100mL
Departure Series - Meet the Founder: Nina Zilka - Shop100mL
Aug 29 · youtube.com
Nina Zilka, Co-founder & CEO Alder New York - YouTube
Nina Zilka, Co-founder & CEO Alder New York - YouTube
Jul 13 · frenshe.com
AM/PM: Nina Zilka of Alder New York - Frenshe
Oct 31 · thequalityedit.com
The Quality Makers: Nina Zilka + David Krause of Alder New York

Related Questions

What inspired Nina Zilka to transition from the fashion industry to skincare and haircare?
How did Nina Zilka's experience in the fashion industry influence her approach to product development at Alder New York?
What challenges did Nina Zilka face when launching Alder New York?
How has Nina Zilka's leadership style contributed to the success of Alder New York?
What are some of the most innovative products developed by Nina Zilka at Alder New York?
Nina Zilka
Nina Zilka, photo 1
Nina Zilka, photo 2
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Location

Brooklyn, New York, United States