Kathryn Shah
Kathryn Shah co-founded Spring & Mulberry, a chocolate company crafting bars sweetened with dates. After her breast cancer diagnosis, she turned her health journey into a mission to create nourishing treats. The Raleigh-based startup has been featured in Goop, Forbes, and Vogue.
Kathryn Shah's Bio
Kathryn Shah co-founded Spring & Mulberry, a chocolate company making date-sweetened bars that taste indulgent without refined sugar. The brand, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, grew from Kathryn's kitchen experiments—she was playing around with dates, fruits, nuts, and cacao and found a natural sweetness that worked beautifully.
Prior to chocolate, Kathryn spent years in brand strategy and marketing. She was Vice President of Global Marketing at Pantone, where she learned how to build products that people genuinely want. That experience proved useful when she and Sarah Bell decided to create something better for their own families.
The idea for Spring & Mulberry came together after a trip to Dubai. Kathryn and Sarah, both mothers, wanted treats their kids could actually enjoy. They launched the company in 2022 and have since grown it into a recognizable name in the better-for-you space.
Alongside Spring & Mulberry, Kathryn and her husband Neal founded CareYaya, a caregiving platform born from their family's own health struggles. It's a different business but the same impulse: build something that makes life better for others.
Career Timeline
2005 — BA Economics, University of Michigan
Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan
2005 — Analyst, NERA Economic Consulting
Began career as an economic analyst at NERA Economic Consulting
2010 — MBA, Harvard Business School
Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School
2010 — Associate Manager, Brand Innovation, Unilever
Led brand innovation for Dove and Axe hair care at Unilever
2011 — Associate Manager, Brand Building, Unilever
Managed brand building for Ragu Pasta Sauce at Unilever
2012 — Associate Brand Manager, Veuve Clicquot, LVMH
Associate Brand Manager for Veuve Clicquot Champagne under LVMH
2013 — Brand Manager, Veuve Clicquot, LVMH
Promoted to Brand Manager for Veuve Clicquot Champagne
2016 — Vice President, Global Marketing, Pantone
Appointed VP of Global Marketing at Pantone, leading integrated marketing campaigns worldwide
2018 — Brand Strategy Consultant, Taste Palette Consulting
Independent brand strategy consultant before founding Spring & Mulberry
2022 — Co-Founder, Spring & Mulberry
Co-founded Spring & Mulberry, a date-sweetened chocolate company
