The Distinguished Alumna Award

Nancy Pedot is best known for her leadership of Gymboree, a children’s apparel brand. She joined Gymboree as Senior Vice President of Merchandising in 1989, two years after the company opened its first retail store. From 1994 through 1997, Pedot was President and CEO of Gymboree Corporation, a leading retailer of children’s apparel and play programs based in California. Under her leadership as CEO, Gymboree grew from approximately $14 million in sales to more than $430 million and expanded from 33 to more than 360 stores in the United States, Canada and Europe. For her achievements at Gymboree, Pedot was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. magazine and was featured on the cover of Business Week as CEO of one of America’s fastest-growing companies.

In 2000, Pedot joined the Board of Directors for Party City Corporation, the nation’s largest chain of part- supply stores, with more than 500 franchise and company locations and annual chainwide sales of $1 billion. In response to the need for merchandising, operational and financial improvements, she was named Acting Chief Executive Officer in April 2003. She became permanent CEO in January 2004 and held that position for two years.