Throwback Episode: From Wall Street to Ear Piercing Innovator, The Louisa Serene Schneider Story
In this episode, Louisa Serene Schneider, founder and CEO of Rowan, discusses how she transitioned from a high-powered finance career at JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley to disrupting the ear-piercing industry. Inspired by a lackluster experience with her nieces, she built a nationwide brand that prioritizes safety and celebration by using only licensed nursing professionals.
The idea behind Rowan was born when Louisa Serene Schneider took her teenage nieces to get their ears pierced at the mall and found the experience lacking in both safety and celebration. Determined to fix a broken industry, she created a nationwide brand where ear piercing is treated as a safe medical procedure and a joyful life milestone—performed exclusively by licensed nursing professionals. Rowan has 100 or more ear-piercing studio locations across 33 states in the U.S. as of early 2026.
In this episode, Louisa discusses:
- The Wall Street Pivot: Her transition from a high-powered finance career—covering consumer retail at JP Morgan and trading at Morgan Stanley—to becoming a venture-backed founder.
- Scaling Through Challenges: How she navigated the pandemic to grow Rowan’s at-home services and eventually expand to over 100 retail studios.
- Empowering Nurses: Why Rowan’s business model is a game-changer for medical professionals seeking flexible, creative, and empowering alternative career paths.
- Modern Leadership: Her commitment to maintaining flexible work patterns and a supportive company culture for her entire team.
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