Educator of the Year • Emerging Business Leader • Pet Age Icon Awards honoree

President

About the Founder

Dara Forleo is the founder of multiple entrepreneurial businesses.

Having experienced firsthand how being a business owner can truly bring dreams to life, Dara knows what it means to build a career fueled by passion. As someone who has dedicated her life to helping others achieve their own dreams, Dara has been honored as Educator of the Year, Emerging Business Leader, and a Pet Age Icon Awards recipient for her dedication to the pet industry. She recently completed the 10,000 Small Businesses program at Babson College and graduated at the top of her class from Yale’s Executive Education Women's Leadership Program. She also holds a B.A. in Business from Ottawa University. Her insights have been featured in multiple publications, and she loves connecting with others and sharing her expertise at conferences and events nationwide.

Dara is known for her unique blend of creativity and business smarts. Whether she’s designing courses, building websites, or developing brand strategies, she combines her artistic side with structured, strategic planning. This rare mix has allowed her to build successful ventures while inspiring others to do the same. Dara’s approach is about more than business; it's about creating meaningful experiences and sustainable growth for herself and those she works with.

In 2015, driven by a desire to raise the standards of her industry, Dara founded the Whole Pet Grooming Academy, a career school that trains and supports professional pet stylists around the world. And because one passion wasn’t enough, in 2019, she and her husband, Lee, launched Come What May Racing, a Thoroughbred racehorse stable operation in Delaware. Whether in the classroom or on the racetrack, Dara’s commitment to helping others turn their passions into careers is at the heart of everything she does.