Jiayu Lin

Jiayu Lin is the chief executive officer of PopSockets, a global lifestyle brand known for inventing the phone grip accessory. Lin is among the growing number of women leading major U.S. consumer brands. Her career advanced after earning an MBA from Harvard Business School, and her experience spans finance, fashion, and technology, contributing to her expertise in developing global business strategies.

Lin has held leadership roles at Allbirds and Maia Active. At Allbirds, she served as director of omni-channel, overseeing commercial operations in China. She began her tenure at PopSockets as general manager for APAC and later served as president, where she led significant growth in the APAC region and applied her regional business strategy to a global context. Lin’s approach to brand building has positioned PopSockets as a premium phone accessory and lifestyle brand in competitive markets.

PopSockets announced Lin’s appointment as chief executive officer, where she has focused on product innovation, strategic partnerships, and expanding the company’s global presence. Under her leadership, PopSockets has sold more than 280 million phone grips in over 30 countries and expanded its product portfolio to include accessories, cases, and mounts. MagSafe-compatible accessories have surpassed sales of the classic adhesive grips, reflecting the company’s adaptation to mobile technology trends.

Lin emphasizes the mobile lifestyle, recognizing that phones are increasingly an extension of personal identity. PopSockets has introduced a wider range of products to reflect diverse interests and hobbies. Lin has led new licensed collaborations with intellectual properties such as "Stranger Things," Pokémon, and Disney’s "Lilo & Stitch," broadening the company’s assortment across distribution channels. She has also implemented strategies to leverage retail partnerships, including exclusive launches with Best Buy and the rollout of swappable grips at all Target stores. Plans to open dedicated PopSockets retail locations build on the success of stores in China, aiming to create spaces that showcase a broad range of mobile accessories.

Lin is recognized in the consumer brand and retail industries, appearing on platforms such as the "Women in Retail Talks" podcast, where she has discussed social listening, product development, and navigating global microtrends. Under her leadership, PopSockets has supported more than 400 nonprofit partners and philanthropic initiatives focused on environmental action, equity and inclusion, and global health. The company has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.