Melissa Mash

Melissa Mash is the co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover, a New York-based brand recognized for its functional fashion accessories designed for work, school, gym, and travel. Mash launched Dagne Dover with the aim of redefining the relationship between women and the items they carry. She is a graduate of New York University and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Her academic background and industry experience have contributed to the development of Dagne Dover as a notable brand in the functional fashion and accessories market.

Before founding Dagne Dover, Mash developed her expertise at Coach, where she managed both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce wholesale businesses. She played a key role in overseeing the turnaround of Coach's first European location during an economic downturn, identifying a market gap for stylish, organized, and accessible bags. At 24, Mash was responsible for revitalizing Coach's Heathrow Terminal 5 store, reporting directly to the president of Coach International and managing inventory, staffing, merchandising, and operations. This experience provided Mash with industry insight and operational discipline.

Mash, along with co-founders Jessy Dover and Deepa Gandhi, established Dagne Dover with a focus on functionality and inclusion. The brand emphasizes performance materials, intuitive organization, and inclusive aesthetics, creating products designed to transition seamlessly between various aspects of daily life. The team initially raised $200,000 from friends and family and launched with two products, informed by feedback from a 1,000-person focus group on handbag frustrations.

Dagne Dover has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine, and InStyle, and is available through retail partners including Nordstrom, Equinox, and Bandier. Mash was named a "40 Under 40" honoree by Crain's New York Business. As an AAPI-founded brand, Dagne Dover has also served as the official bag sponsor of the Gold House Gold Gala, an event celebrating leaders in entertainment, business, fashion, sports, and technology.

At her Female Founders Lunch, Mash shared insights on building company culture, emphasizing the importance of being hands-on in decisions related to people, product, and strategy. She highlights the value of working with adaptable, resilient co-founders and leads with a trust-first philosophy that supports a flexible work environment. Mash has positioned Dagne Dover as a platform for impact, supporting underrepresented communities and advocating for inclusive corporate culture. Her experience as a founder who transformed firsthand frustration into a successful brand provides perspective on entrepreneurship, leadership, and purposeful design.