DANA WARD

Dana is the Founder and former President of Barefoot Scientist (acquired by Japonesque, June 2022), having overseen brand, marketing and partnerships while leading product development for the company’s growing slate of premium foot care products. She hopes to inspire people to treat their feet in the same specialized way that they care for their face, hair and body, because “foot care is self care. Treat your feet. They literally take you everywhere you need to go in life, so they definitely deserve it!” 

​

Before launching Barefoot Scientist, Dana helped invent the company’s award-winning innovation, now known as PreHeels+ blister prevention spray. It was conceptualized after she suffered from blisters while working long hours on red carpets in Hollywood as part of the founding team of Clevver Media (acquired by Hearst). Several years of research and hundreds of formulations later, PreHeels+ became a viral sensation and led to the eventual development of a full collection of premium foot care products. Barefoot Scientist has been sold at Ulta Beauty, Anthropologie, Bloomingdale's, Rite Aid, CVS, Costco and Walmart among other retailers, and Dana is proud to see Barefoot Scientist now as part of the Japonesque beauty portfolio for the next stage of brand growth.

​

Prior to founding PreHeels and Barefoot Scientist, as an on-air personality and executive producer in the early days of digital media, Dana played an integral role in the development of the single most viewed entertainment news network on YouTube, and more broadly, in helping to pioneer strategies that have helped to shape the digital entertainment and branded content spaces.

​

At Clevver Media, she was responsible for content strategy and production, helping manage a team of 25 hosts, writers, content managers and editors. Dana also led creative development and production of branded content and ad campaigns for outside brands & studios such as Macy's, COVERGIRL, ACUVUE, adidas, Gillette Venus, Secret, Sally Hansen, Candie's, Sony, Universal and Summit Entertainment, among others. To date, she has written, produced and/or hosted more than 7,500 segments representing over 5 billion cumulative video views.

​

As a host, Dana has worked on segments for NBC, HLN/CNN, CBS, Young Hollywood, Mixed Makeup, E! Entertainment, People Magazine as well as hosted livestreams for Disney at their El Capitan movie premieres, live hosted the LG National Texting Championship and guest corresponded for the Today Show in Australia. A few career highlights include interviewing Oprah about finding a life-work balance, chatting with Steven Spielberg about his first project with Disney, comparing skincare tips & tricks with Demi Lovato and ice skating in Rockefeller Center with Shay Mitchell. Most recently, she enjoyed producing and hosting segments in 360 degree virtual reality for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert app via Digital Domain in Oslo, Norway. 

​

In Dana's spare time she enjoys soccer, dance, hiking, HIIT, adventure travel, all things beauty (including testing and researching new products) as well as reading up on the latest trends and innovations in science, entrepreneurship and pop culture.