Swiping right on leadership

Whitney Wolfe Herd is reshaping tech to work better for women — beginning with the mission-driven online dating app Bumble.

Whether through eHarmony, Hinge, OkCupid, or other online dating platforms, the internet has become the No. 1 way people meet partners today. So when Whitney Wolfe Herd launched the women-first dating app Bumble in 2014, her goal was to create a space where women could feel safe and empowered while searching for love online.

"Wolfe Herd envisions a world where women don’t just belong: They lead," says Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship Chris Neck. "That vision drives everything she does. And she didn't just talk about it — she built Bumble to prove it."

An expert in leadership, self-leadership, and decision-making processes, Neck highlights Wolfe Herd in class as a leader who exemplifies visionary, transformational, servant, and entrepreneurial leadership.

Wolfe Herd rose to prominence in 2012 as the co-founder and vice president of marketing for the dating app Tinder. When she left the company two years later, alleging sexual harassment and discrimination, she faced online abuse, legal battles, and media scrutiny. But instead of leaving the tech industry, the then 25-year-old launched Bumble just months later — and was named one of Business Insider's 30 Most Important Women Under 30 in Tech in 2014.

"Milestones like this are more than just headlines — they're confidence fuel and credibility boosters," says Neck. "Being recognized early in her career gave Wolfe Herd the validation she needed to keep pushing forward, especially in an industry where women often have to prove themselves twice as hard."

Wolfe Herd's leadership evolution

Wolfe Herd's 2014 exit from Tinder was painful and public. But instead of retreating from tech, she leaned into her experience as a woman in the industry to launch an app that flipped traditional gender roles.

Neck describes the move as both brave and strategic.

"She could've disappeared. Instead, she came back with something even bigger. That bounce-back moment is the definition of leadership under pressure," he says.

Bumble set itself apart by requiring women to initiate conversations — a shift that helped create a safer online experience by reducing harassment. Wolfe Herd also partnered with Andrey Andreev, founder of the European dating app Badoo, to incorporate woman-friendly designs and language into Bumble's interface and brand voice.

With a mission to make online dating safer and more inclusive for women, Wolfe Herd exemplifies visionary and servant leadership. She also cultivates a company culture that values emotional well-being, supporting employees through family-friendly policies and flexible work arrangements.

As a transformational leader, she doesn't just build businesses: She builds movements.

"Bumble is a transformational idea that changed dating culture forever," says Neck. "She flipped the script in an entire industry."

Wolfe Herd began her career as a hands-on founder, relying on grit and instinct to pitch ideas, build Tinder's brand, and respond personally to media inquiries. But as Bumble grew from a scrappy startup into a global tech company with hundreds of employees and millions of users, she had to evolve into a polished, strategic leader — especially with the launch of Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz.

"It showed she was thinking beyond 'just another app,'" says Neck. "She was building a platform for modern social connections, which required infrastructure, culture, and a leadership team capable of carrying the mission into new markets and audiences."

Impact-driven leadership

When Wolfe Herd exited Tinder, she could have let the power dynamics stacked against young women in tech define her. Instead, she defined her career by her two greatest strengths: leading with purpose and showing resilience in the face of hardship and adversity.

In 2021, the same year Bumble went public, Wolfe Herd became the world's youngest self-made woman billionaire.

“She rang the Nasdaq bell holding her infant son. That image was powerful — it showed the world that women can lead billion-dollar companies and still be present moms,” says Neck. “It challenged every outdated stereotype about what leadership looks like.”

And the milestone didn't just elevate Wolfe Herd — it elevated Bumble, positioning the company as a serious, mission-driven brand capable of achieving massive success while still prioritizing the safety and happiness of its employees and users.

Neck says if Wolfe Herd were getting started today, her leadership — rooted in authenticity, purpose, and social impact — and her ability to lead with vision, purpose-driven decision-making, and emotional intelligence would still set her apart as an exceptional leader and rising tech star.

"That said, she might tweak her approach for today's hyper-digital climate," he says. "She'd probably prioritize marketing through TikTok, influencers, and Web3-style community building."

Wolfe Herd's story is a testament to the power of setting bold goals and advocating for better products and workplace culture — even when life doesn't go as planned.

"She is a master of self-leadership," says Neck. "She kept showing up even when the internet trolls were loud and the pressure was high. She's spoken openly about dealing with burnout, self-doubt, and criticism — and how she learned to set boundaries, build a support system, and lead herself through the chaos. That's self-leadership in action."