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Podcast Episode

Jess Hauff: Scaling PrettyLitter From Its DTC Roots Into a Household Name

High Stakes Growth··26 May 2026·45 min

About this episode

Jess Hauff is the General Manager of PrettyLitter, a cat litter brand acquired by Mars in 2021 that uses silica crystals that change color to flag early signs of health issues in cats.  Expect to hear about:  – A Decade in Madrid: Why Jess spent 10 years in Spain before returning to the U.S., and the work culture differences she noticed.  – Leading the Merger: How Jess steered PrettyLitter's integration with Mars, and how she got the "soft tissue" of culture right.  – Becoming a Household Name: How PrettyLitter is expanding into retail and why being on physical shelves builds trust that DTC alone could not.  – Building the Leadership Team: The key hires Jess has made – CMO, head of retail sales, R&D leader – to take PrettyLitter to the next level.  – There's No Playbook: What Jess changed her mind on after 20 years in ecom, and why she's learning to trust her instincts more.  Find Jess on:  LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahauff/