Linda Findley ‘95, president, chief executive officer and director at Sleep Number and a distinguished leader in global consumer brands, will receive the 2026 Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership in recognition of her transformative leadership and commitment to innovation, growth and organizational impact across industries.
Linda Findley ’95, president, chief executive officer and director at Sleep Number, will be honored in April as the 2026 Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership recipient.
Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book and Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, will present the medal on Wednesday, April 22, at 4:30 p.m. in the LaRose Digital Theatre inside the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center.
The celebration is open to the campus community.
About Linda Findley ‘95
Linda Findley joined Sleep Number in April 2025 and is recognized for her expertise in operations, organizational transformation, marketing strategy and global expansion.
She has held senior leadership roles across several high-growth companies. From 2009 to 2012, she was based in Hong Kong, leading global marketing, business development, and customer service for Alibaba.com Ltd. She later served in executive roles at Evernote Corp. from 2012 to 2015, including chief operating officer.
Findley was chief operating officer at Etsy from 2016 to 2018, overseeing product, design, marketing and customer engagement and acquisition. She then served as president, chief executive officer, and director of Blue Apron from 2019 to 2024, leading the company through significant transformation and growth.
In addition to her executive leadership, Findley has served on the board of directors of Ralph Lauren since August 2018 and has been board chair of HeliosX since February 2025.
Findley graduated from the School of Communications and holds a master’s degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill. Her leadership is defined by a focus on innovation, adaptability and driving meaningful organizational impact.
About the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership
The Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership is co-presented by the Love School of Business and the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Since 2009, the award has recognized an entrepreneur who is an industry leader and exemplifies Elon University’s values, including integrity, innovation and creativity, a passion for lifelong learning and a commitment to building a dynamic community.
About the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship was established through an endowment gift from Ed and Joan Doherty P’07, entrepreneurs from Saddle River, New Jersey, and parents of Kerry Doherty Gatlin ’07. The Dohertys have served on the university’s Parents Council, and Ed Doherty currently serves as an Elon Trustee. Their company, Doherty Enterprises, Inc., is one of the nation’s leading franchise operators of family restaurants, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread and Chevy’s Fresh Mex.