CAMRYN ROSS is the CEO and co-founder of Fillow, a modern period care brand revolutionizing the industry with its flagship product—Fillow Disc + Applicator. Designed to combine the convenience of tampons with the sustainability and all-day wear of menstrual cups, Fillow offers a seamless, user-friendly alternative to the limited and outdated product offerings currently available. Ross launched Fillow while studying at the University of Chicago, where the company became the first all-female team to win the College New Venture Challenge and secured record-breaking funding. Since then, Fillow has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, reaching more than 100 million views and completing a successful Kickstarter with more than 2,000 pre-orders within just one month. The Fillow Disc + Applicator is period care reimagined and built for modern life. This innovator describes how she stays grounded and connected.
ON HER NIGHTSTAND
“I’ve currently been really into reading fantasy novels, with my most recent read being The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Being an entrepreneur can be very isolating at times as you are often both literally and metaphorically on your own, carving a path for a new solution that not many people can relate to through their own experiences. I find fantasy novels to be a great form of escapism, which keeps me energized and my mind geared toward idealistic and creative solutions. What I like most about Samantha Shannon’s work is that it is female-centric without being obvious. Instead, it feels like the female characters are just meant to be in their roles without any explanation needed, much like how you would feel if a man were in the main role. Traditionally, and especially in fantasy novels, it’s easy for women to fall into the trope of being the damsel in distress or the wicked witch, but in Shannon’s The Roots of Chaos series that’s not the case, which is incredibly refreshing.”
IN HER EARBUDS
“At the moment, I’m not listening to anything in particular. I find podcasts distracting to listen to while I work (though I am interested in finding some to listen to in my off time), and there isn’t one specific artist that I’m diligently following. Instead, I find myself listening to a lot of music from the ‘70s like Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the Grateful Dead. I think my affinity for this music comes from my parents’ musical tastes, which I grew up listening to and find familiar. I also like listening to the playlists Spotify curates for me; these have led me to discover current, more indie artists that I enjoy.”
ON HER MOBILE
“While I spend a lot of time online, both for work and in my personal life, there also isn’t any one specific profile that I’m following. I tend to view my time online as both escapism and a reality check. I love watching unboxing videos and daily vlogs of influencers, but I also pay close attention to current affairs and profiles from people my age to see how they are going about their own adjustments between college and adulthood. The online world can be quite informative and addicting, but also misleading, so I try to keep an open mind while scrolling and not fall too deeply into one thing or another.”