The Power of the Ponytail: How One Canadian Innovator Is Reinventing the Hat Game
Written by Taylor Devoe
Proudly Canadian and brilliantly inventive: Stacey Keller’s Ponyback hats blend design, inclusivity, and empowerment. Discover how this mom of three went from classroom to CEO, patent in hand, and built one of Canada’s most buzzworthy brands.
“She quit her job to do this full-time! And she has a patent for it!”, my girlfriend remarked. That was how I was introduced to the Founder and CEO, Stacey Keller of Ponyback. If you’ve never heard of Ponyback hats, allow me to introduce you to the most innovative hat on the market, and the powerhouse behind it.
Ponyback hats offer a patented magnetic seam to adapt to high and low hairstyles. There’s no snap or velcro to manage, it’s a magnet that will snap around your ponytail! They offer inclusive sizing (7 different ones to choose from!), trendy colour choices and are of top notch quality.
Stacey shared her journey with us including how she went from a school teacher to a Canadian innovator with her own patent and product.
Q: You developed this product with three young boys at home. I think the big burning question is, how did you manage everything?
A: I started Ponyback from my basement, it wasn’t glamorous. I didn’t “balance” it all, I triaged. I worked in nap windows, evenings, and carpool parking lots. When I was with my boys, I tried to really be present with them and when I was working, I gave myself permission to focus. I sacrificed hobbies and a social life, but I never sacrificed my family or my goals.
Q: What’s one thing about starting a business in Canada that completely surprised you?
A: The speed! I was surprised how slow and manual some parts of building a product business are in Canada, from manufacturing logistics to customs processes. But I was also surprised in a good way by how supportive the Canadian customer base is for founder-led, Canadian-made brands. People root for you here.
Q: Describe your first big ‘yes’ - whether it was a sale, a feature, or validation from someone you admire. What changed after that?
A: My first viral moment was when thousands of strangers started commenting “I need this hat” Everything changed after that because I stopped asking “should I do this?” and started asking “how big can this get?”
Q: Before this, you were a teacher. Are there any skills from the classroom that made you a better entrepreneur?
A: Classroom management turns out to be business management in disguise. As a teacher you learn to plan ahead, communicate clearly, adapt when the plan explodes, and lead with empathy. Those exact muscles are entrepreneurship muscles.
Q: From classroom to CEO - what was the moment you knew it was time to leave teaching behind and take the entrepreneurial leap full-time?
A: It wasn’t a glamorous leap — it was a conviction. I saw the orders coming in, the reviews from women saying “this solved something real,” and I realized I couldn’t straddle two full-time careers. Walking away from a stable career with a pension was terrifying, but I could always go back to teaching, so I had to take a chance on myself.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you wish someone gave you when you started?
A: Build systems early, not after you’re overwhelmed. Growth exposes all the weak spots, it doesn’t fix them.
Q: Fast-forward 10 years: what’s your dream for this business?
A: Ponyback is the women’s headwear brand globally recognized like Lululemon is for leggings. It's not just a product, but a category shift. And personally, I see myself running a company that employs, empowers, and funds opportunities for women, while having built it in a way that my future self and my boys are proud of.
Ponyback hats aren’t just a clever design; it’s a reminder that innovation can be equal parts stylish and practical. With inclusive sizing, premium quality, and that signature magnetic seam, Ponyback hats are made to fit every woman’s lifestyle.
Discover the full collection and see why this Canadian brand is turning heads: shop here and follow their journey here.