Doug Hecht – Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder, Walla
Executive Summary
Doug Hecht currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder at Walla, a technology company based in San Diego, United States. With over two decades of experience in executive leadership, operational strategy, and business growth within the technology, digital marketing, and wellness sectors, Doug Hecht is a recognized builder of companies, teams, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Professional Experience
Walla (October 2020 – Present)
- Holds the positions of CEO and Co-founder of Walla, a modern studio management platform operating in the software industry.
- Walla is currently in stealth mode, with a team of 11-50 employees headquartered in San Diego.
- Core leadership team includes Laura Munkholm (President & Co-founder), Matthew Ausonio (CTO & Co-founder), among others.
MINDBODY, Inc. (March 2017 – March 2019)
- Served as Senior Vice President of Consumer Products post-acquisition of Lymber.
- Focused on app development and digital product initiatives, leveraging wellness technology to drive adoption.
Lymber (March 2016 – March 2017)
- Co-founder and CEO of a start-up providing flexible access to fitness classes and wellness experiences.
- Instrumental in leading Lymber to a successful acquisition by MINDBODY.
Digitaria / Mirum Agency (January 1997 – September 2015)
- Co-founder, President & Chief Operating Officer at Digitaria, a digital marketing and technology agency.
- Directed business operations, finance, creative, technology, and strategic development.
- Oversaw expansion to new locations (Minneapolis and Salt Lake City), integrating them into the San Diego HQ both operationally and culturally.
- Led through the acquisition by global communications giant WPP in 2010, driving over 230% growth and staff expansion to 250+.
- Developed expertise across operations, analytics, technology, project management, marketing, legal, and sales, providing an all-encompassing perspective on business management and client needs.
Investment and Community Engagement
- Capital Partner at Seed San Diego: Actively invests in and mentors seed-stage start-ups, helping shape the San Diego entrepreneurial landscape.
- Active Angel Investor: Holds stakes in 30+ start-ups, with a track record of investing across the technology and wellness sectors.
- Mentorship Roles: Active mentor at the Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator by Techstars and involved with UCSD programs, supporting early-stage founders and technical teams.
Notable investments/roles include:
- Portfolium, Inc. (Investor, July 2015)
- ApplePie Capital (Investor, March 2015)
- Cloudbeds (Investor, November 2014)
- Mentor at the Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator (May-July 2015)
Skills and Leadership Traits
- Strategic Leadership: Experience in managing acquisitions, scaling businesses, and cross-functional team leadership.
- Operational Excellence: Proven capability in managing day-to-day operations, finance, and technology at scale.
- Full-spectrum Business Acumen: In-depth knowledge across all business domains, including marketing, technology, analytics, legal, and sales.
- Ecosystem Building: Proactive in fostering talent, investment, and innovation within early-stage companies and local communities.
Education
- University of California, San Diego (1986–1990)
Specific degree and field of study not specified.
Professional Network
- Leadership team at Walla includes:
- Laura Munkholm (President & Co-founder)
- Matthew Ausonio (Chief Technology Officer)
- Brock Ruess (Sales Director)
- Heather McCormick (Director Of Customer Service)
- Jen Kocur (Pniak) (Director of People Operations)
- Laurenn Cutshaw (Head Of Marketing, fractional)
Contact Information
- Email: doughecht@gmail.com
- Phone: +1.619.992.8972
- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/doughechtsd](http://www.linkedin.com/in/doughechtsd)
Additional Information
- Recognized for being data-driven and leading with both strategy and empathy—attributes that contributed to successful growth and acquisition outcomes.
- Achievements at Walla and previous organizations have garnered industry recognition in the emerging vertical SaaS segment.
- Maintains a reputation for mentorship, angel investing, and advocacy for both start-up founders and established teams in San Diego and beyond.
Doug Hecht's profile demonstrates a strong alignment with innovation-driven environments, rapid business scaling, and strategic collaborations within tech, wellness, and digital platforms. His current leadership at Walla—supplemented by a broad network and investor ties—positions him as a key executive with decision-making influence, multidisciplinary expertise, and a commitment to growth in software and wellness technology.
