Cara Stewart is an international media, marketing, and marketplace entrepreneur known for turning communication into influence, and influence into action. She is the founder and CEO of WunderMarx, where she advises founders, executives, investors, public servants, and boards of directors operating in high-stakes environments. Her work centers on narrative strategy, public relations, public affairs, crisis communications, corporate communications, and investor relations, helping leaders not just tell their story, but own their influence at moments that matter most.

In 2002, Cara founded the original WunderMarx, which grew into one of Orange County’s most recognized public
relations firms and earned accolades as one of the region’s best places to work. In 2025, she reimagined WunderMarx
to focus on high-stakes persuasion and narrative acceleration. In 2026, the firm is expanding to include Costa Mesa
Days, a new local media platform, bringing her work full circle to journalism, community, and local storytelling.

Over her career, Cara has launched more than 30 founder- and VC-backed companies, led communications for three
publicly traded companies, supported more than two dozen mergers and acquisitions, and advised CXOs,
boardrooms, and public-sector leaders. She is also a sought-after advisor to international entities, including the Italian
government, the European Union, and South Korean economic development agencies.

Cara began her career as a journalist, serving as a staff reporter at the Orange County Register, where she developed
a grounding in storytelling, accuracy, and public accountability, including coverage of Orange County’s landmark
1994 bankruptcy. She later transitioned into the corporate sector, leading corporate and strategic communications for
organizations such as Ingram Micro, Toshiba America Information Systems, and the City of Anaheim Public Utilities.

In 2018, she cofounded MyJane, a women’s wellness platform she helped build from concept to market, shaping its
brand, positioning, and growth strategy, culminating in a successful exit, her first as a founder. This achievement
demonstrates her entrepreneurial acumen and resilience, inspiring confidence in her ability to lead innovative ventures
and collaborate effectively with partners and investors.

That perspective is embedded in the DNA of WunderMarx, where strategy is built not just from observation, but from
having done it. This work also led to the launch of WMX LAB in 2025, the venture studio arm of WunderMarx, where
ideas don’t just get advised, they get built. WMX LAB focuses on creating and accelerating new ventures, media
brands, and platforms at the intersection of culture, community, and commerce.

Deeply committed to civic leadership and service, Cara serves on the Board of Governors of the Irvine Valley College
Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Golden West College Foundation. In 2024, the Costa Mesa City Council
appointed Cara to the Costa Mesa Animal Services Committee; she was nominated and confirmed as its Vice Chair in
2025. As a 2026 candidate for Costa Mesa City Council, District 3, Cara demonstrates her dedication to community
development and local leadership, fostering trust and respect among community members and stakeholders.