Image courtesy of Dagne Dover.

From the soccer field to Soho, Dagne Dover co-founder and chief creative officer, Jessy Dover has carved a unique path – and it all started with a gut feeling she couldn’t ignore.

Jessy, who once chased athletic dreams in the mountains of Steamboat Springs, now leads one of the most recognizable brands in the modern performance bag space. But her shift from athlete to designer wasn’t a carefully plotted career change. “It didn’t feel like courage at the time,” she says. “I just knew I had hit a wall in athletics. Physically and emotionally, I couldn’t keep going. There was this creative voice inside me that had been waiting in the background.”

 Photo courtesy of Dagne Dover.

That voice eventually led her to co-create Dagne Dover, a sleek, functional bag company rooted in purpose-driven design and movement-friendly gear. Jessy says she didn’t want to look back on her life and wonder what if. So she leapt.

And like any former athlete, she brought discipline, adaptability and long-game focus along with her.

“I reference my athletic background every day,” Jessy says. “You learn how to fail in front of people and move on, how to recover quickly, how to focus on the long term, and how to push yourself beyond what you think is your 100%. That understanding of myself directly shapes how I lead my team.”

In fact, athletic lessons are baked into the DNA of her company. “Our products are made for a life in motion. They’re designed to support you on the go, not a static lifestyle,” she explains. Think built-in key leashes, organized compartments and durable fabrics that function just as well in an airport security line as they do on a mountain trail.

Designing products that work for real people in real life is personal for Jessy. “I’m always asking, ‘What’s getting in someone’s way every day, and how can we solve it?’” she says. Inspiration comes from everywhere – from nature, from product reviews and sometimes from unexpected places. A recent camping trip to Virginia’s Highlands, for instance, sparked new color palette ideas.

Her small-town roots continue to influence both her creative process and leadership style. Growing up in Steamboat Springs, surrounded by elite athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, she gained a deep respect for gear that works. “Everything had a purpose – lightweight materials, carabiner clips, smart zippers. I learned to value design that’s both beautiful and deeply functional.”

She also credits her father’s construction work for shaping her understanding of how to build something from the ground up. “I hated being on job sites as a kid, but now I realize what a gift it was. I absorbed the process – how to create something people live with every day.”

Even as her business has grown into a globally recognized brand, Jessy hasn’t forgotten what matters most. “Being healthy and staying in motion are the most important things in the world,” she says. “If I’m not moving, I can’t think. I can’t design. I can’t lead.”

Looking ahead, Jessy is excited about Dagne Dover’s evolution. New category drops and expanded sustainability efforts are underway. “We’re meeting people at every stage of life. People are working from home, traveling differently, playing more roles – we want to support that.”

When asked what advice she has for emerging women entrepreneurs, her answer is simple but powerful: “Don’t wait for validation. Start where you are. Your story and your background aren’t liabilities; they’re your greatest assets. Build around that and keep going.”

As for what’s next? Jessy says she’s embracing evolution, not just in the brand, but in herself. “Even after 10 years, it’s okay to change. Success in one thing doesn’t mean you can’t shift to something new and succeed again. Stay true to your values, and the rest will follow.”

If the crowd at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport last week is any indication – where a handful of travelers sported her bags – people are following Jessy’s vision, one zippered, key-leashed carryall at a time.