Kendra Scott is hot. Her jewelry has been featured in many tony fashion magazines such as In Style and Town and Country. On the day we met for this interview, her office was buzzing with the news that a piece of her jewelry, the Ulyssia ring, was going to be featured in the July issue of the Oprah Magazine. Fearless and confident, she opened her sophisticated New York City showroom early this year despite the economic downturn. It has been a tremendous success, expanding her distribution and clients nationwide. What is now a rapidly growing multi-million dollar business has evolved from $500 of stones with each piece hand-crafted by Kendra on her kitchen table. Beginning her business single-handedly, she carried her designs in a tea box going from store to store taking orders with a three-month-old infant in tow. As the business has grown exponentially, Scott continues to design and market her work. In 2007, Scott received the Rising Star Award for the Texas Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In May of this year, she received her Masters’ degree in Entrepreneurship from M.I.T.

While her star is definitely on the rise, Scott’s basic philosophy has not changed. She remains committed to the three philosophies that shape the company and continue to direct its course: family, fashion and philanthropy.

After the birth of her first child, Scott did not want to return to her job as an advertising executive for a travel magazine often traveling for as much as five weeks at a time. Looking for a career that would allow her to “be a mom first” she decided to try her hand at something she was passionate about and could do at home—thus began Kendra Scott Designs. With two young sons at home, Scott continues to maintain a flexible schedule allowing her to put family first. Her husband Albert is very supportive of her dreams and plans for the business. “He is my rock, my confidante and my best friend.”

Scott also believes in treating her employees like family, extending that understanding and philosophy to her entire team. Recognized by Austin Business Journal, Kendra Scott Design, Inc. was voted one of the Top Ten Places to Work in Central Texas in 2007. “My name may be on the door, but I have made these incredible leaps because of my team. Everyone in the company is creative. Everyone collaborates in every aspect of the business..”

One look at Scott reveals a passion for an innate sense of style, grace and fashion. Her remarkable jewelry makes a statement with unique combinations of semi-precious stones, flowing metals, natural elements such as bamboo and wood as well as snakeskin. Scott has stayed true to her customer: “a dynamic woman on the go with a lot going on who wants to look good without breaking the bank.” Her very reasonable price point for quality designer jewelry has garnered a lot of attention from the national press. “Now more than ever people understand and are looking for value and quality. I source my stones direct and am very creative with my designs so that I can pass along the value to my customers. My jewelry has the same look and quality as other pieces two to three times the price, but I try to make it attainable.”

Scott’s jewelry is prized and collected as works of art. “If you don’t want attention then don’t buy my jewelry. Our designs have a personality. They are trend based with an eye on keeping them timeless.” Although Scott’s inspiration comes from many sources, she believes her designs are a reflection of the place she calls home. “I consistently hear that our line feels different, and I think that is because we are here in this city. I use a lot of organic elements and it has an Austin vibe—a flow and a feel. One of my collections was inspired by a walk in the Zilker Botanical Gardens…the colors of the flowers, the leaves, the feathers of the birds, the bamboo. In design I interpret trends as they relate to the personality of our jewelry, which is the personality of Austin.”

Scott is a visible and vibrant part of the city she loves. “I have always wanted to give back. I knew from the first business I started that the true measure of success for me was going to be the ability to help other people.” Although Scott never turns down a request for a donation, her philanthropic focus is on women and children. A percentage of sales from each bi-annual Kendra Scott Design Sample Sale benefits charities like LifeWorks and the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. From 2005-2007, Kendra annually donated over $15,000 in gifts to Go Red for Women, a national movement founded by the American Heart Association to help women to fight back against heart disease, the number one killer of women in America.

With its mission of serving at-risk youth and their families, LifeWorks has become a mainstay in Scott’s philanthropic outreach and focus. “I serve on only one board because I want to give heart and soul to the organization.” Scott also serves as co-founder and co-chair of LEAP, a fundraising and networking organization for entrepeneurs and professionals interested in making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. “We attract a dynamic group of people with a similar mindset. We like to have fun and it is important to give back to this community that has given so much to us.” The White Party is the highlight of LEAP’s fundraising efforts. Influenced by the White Parties of the Hamptons, Scott and her Co-Chair Joe Ross set out to create a wonderland on the grounds of the historic Green Pastures restaurant. Now in its third year, the very chic party was an instant success and is the hottest event of the summer season. “The White party is all about fun, fashion and creativity. We have an unbelievable team that gives so generously to transform a beautiful historic setting into a wonderland…a white hot party. The goal is to raise as much as we can for LifeWorks while connecting with each other and having fun.”

As she speaks of plans for this year’s event, Kendra Scott bubbles over with the things that have made her a success: passion for her community and her work, attention to detail, confident creativity, connection and reaching out to others, and a zest for life that cannot be contained. While she may be a white hot style maker, it is the genuine warmth and caring that gives Kendra Scott an unforgettable glow and makes her heartfelt invitaion to the White party impossible to resist.