Childhood & Early Life (1995–2012)
Born on August 4, 1995, in Jacksonville, Florida, Daniella Pierson grew up in a Colombian-American immigrant household. Her mother, a brilliant academic who earned scholarships to private school, and her father, a hardworking entrepreneur in the car dealership business, instilled strong values of ambition and discipline.
Despite this supportive environment, Daniella’s early years were marked by emotional struggles. Labeled the “dumb twin” by peers, she faced challenges with self-esteem. At age 14, she was diagnosed with OCD, ADHD, and depression, experiences that would later shape her journey and advocacy.
Skills & mindset developed:
- Resilience in the face of neurodiversity and social labels
- Deep belief in education and self-determination as tools to break generational barriers
🏫 High School Years (2013–2014)
In high school, Daniella discovered a passion for magazines and news, which became her personal escape from the pressures of school and mental health battles. At the same time, she began absorbing lessons from her family’s businesses, which sparked her entrepreneurial curiosity.
Skills & mindset developed:
- Awareness of content consumption as a passion
- Early ambition to create something original and meaningful
🧑🎓 College & The Birth of The Newsette (2015–2017)
During winter break of her sophomore year at Boston University in 2015, Daniella—then just 19—launched The Newsette, a newsletter focused on lifestyle and inspiration for young women. With only 8–11 subscribers and a basic Mailchimp template, it began humbly from her dorm room.
Early growth came through grassroots marketing—she messaged friends of friends on Facebook, offering resume-building perks and free merchandise in exchange for support. Within months, The Newsette had gained nearly 10,000 subscribers.
She maintained a demanding routine: writing from 6–10 a.m., attending classes during the day, and working evenings. She even repaid a $15,000 loan from her parents within a month. Although she nearly faced academic expulsion, Daniella turned things around and stayed the course.
Skills & mindset developed:
- Early-morning discipline and consistency
- DIY marketing and scrappy community building
- Financial responsibility and confidence in risk-taking
- Strength under academic and emotional pressure
🧑💼 Professional Growth & Scaling (2017–2021)
In 2017, Daniella graduated with a degree in entrepreneurship and moved to New York City to scale The Newsette. She began monetizing the platform through affiliate marketing and later secured high-profile brand partnerships with Amazon, Michael Kors, Saks, Bumble, Fidelity, and LinkedIn.
By 2020–2021, The Newsette had over 500,000 subscribers, and the company was generating $40 million in annual revenue, with a valuation nearing $200 million.
Daniella ran a lean operation, starting solo and gradually building a team. She became known for a leadership style rooted in kindness and empathy, encouraging both high performance and respect in the workplace.
Skills & mindset developed:
- Mastery of brand deals and revenue models
- Leadership, hiring, and empowering team members
- Personal brand building and media presence
🚀 Expansion & New Ventures (2022–2025)
In 2022, Daniella co-founded Wondermind, a mental fitness startup alongside Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefey. The platform quickly gained traction and was valued at nearly $100 million shortly after launch.
Her entrepreneurial success and candidness about her mental health journey led to widespread recognition, including being named one of Forbes’ youngest wealthiest self-made women of color, with a net worth estimated at $200–220 million.
In May 2025, Daniella launched CHASM, a groundbreaking initiative to close the gender gap in venture capital. Through mentor-led grants, the program brings together 50 investors—each contributing $25,000—to fund aspiring female founders.
She continues to use her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, gender equity, and representation in business, turning her personal struggles into purpose.
Skills & mindset developed:
- Expansion into wellness and social impact sectors
- Thought leadership in entrepreneurship and equity
- Advocacy powered by authenticity and experience
📅 Year-by-Year Growth Summary
| Period | Key Milestones | Skills & Transformation |
|---|---|---|
| 1995–2012 | Childhood in Jacksonville labeled “dumb twin” diagnosed with ADHD/OCD | Resilience, neurodiverse self-awareness |
| 2013–2014 | Discovered passion for magazines | Curiosity, clarity on storytelling |
| 2015 | Launched The Newsette in dorm room | Hustle, discipline, risk-taking |
| 2016 | Grew subscriber base with ambassadors | Community-building, guerrilla tactics |
| 2017 | Graduated BU moved to NYC | Monetization strategy, brand negotiation |
| 2018–2020 | Scaled revenue and team | Leadership, operations, vision-setting |
| 2021 | The Newsette becomes major brand | Business management, public recognition |
| 2022 | Co-founded Wondermind | Sector pivot, collaboration, innovation |
| 2023–2024 | Forbes accolades, expanded impact | Thought leadership, advocacy |
| 2025 | Launched CHASM to support women entrepreneurs | Systemic change, investment empowerment |
Short on time? Read this condensed summary instead
Daniella Pierson, born in 1995 to Colombian-American immigrant parents, grew up battling mental health challenges like OCD, ADHD, and depression. Often labeled the dumb twin,she struggled in school but was driven by resilience and strong family values around hard work.
At age 19, while still in college, she launched The Newsette—a lifestyle newsletter—using a free Mailchimp template and grassroots marketing. She wrote every day, juggled classes, and paid back a $15,000 startup loan within a month. Despite nearly failing out of college, she persisted.
By her mid-20s, The Newsette had scaled to 500,000+ subscribers, $40M+ in annual revenue, and brand deals with major companies. In 2022, she co-founded Wondermind, a mental fitness startup, with Selena Gomez. In 2025, she launched CHASM, a venture capital initiative to back women founders.
From being underestimated to becoming one of Forbes’ youngest, wealthiest self-made women of color, Daniella turned personal struggle into a powerful mission: build, empower, and uplift others through media, mental health, and equity.
What New Women Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Daniella Pierson
1. Turn Pain Into Purpose
Labels like “dumb twin” didn’t define her—they fueled her. Your struggles can become your strengths if you own your story.
2. Start Before You’re Ready
She launched The Newsette with typos, a basic Wix site, and no investors. Perfection isn’t the goal—starting is.
3. Bootstrap and Be Resourceful
Daniella didn’t rely on VCs early on. She used free tools, self-funding, and creative marketing to build her base. Work with what you have.
4. Build Communities, Not Just Brands
Her early growth came from building a loyal network of newsletter ambassadors. Focus on connection over clicks.
5. Prioritize Mental Health
She’s open about her diagnoses and makes mental wellness a key part of her work. You can lead and still be vulnerable.
6. Kindness is a Power Strategy
Her leadership style is rooted in empathy—not aggression. Being a good human is also good business.
7. Give Back and Build for Others
With CHASM, she helps other women rise. Once you grow, create ladders for others to climb with you.
