Desiree Gruber (born June 25, 1967) is an American television producer, investor, and entrepreneur. She was an executive producer of the fashion reality television competition Project Runway[1][2] and is the co-founder of DGNL Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund that has invested in brands including Banza Pasta, Just Water, Magic Spoon Cereal, Popchips, and Maven Health.[3][4][5][6] She is also the founder and CEO of a creative agency, Full Picture.[7][8][9]
She started her professional career as an assistant in the A&R department for EMI Records in 1989, and as the general assistant on the New Music Seminar in 1990.[15]
In 1999, she left Rogers & Cowan to establish her own production company, Full Picture.[19][20] In the beginning, her works included Victoria's Secret supermodel Heidi Klum and designer Roberto Cavalli. She had also done some advising to supermodel Naomi Campbell.[21][22]
In addition to Project Runway, Gruber's television producing credits have included Lifetime'sSeriously Funny Kids[23] and unscripted projects at FOX[24], NBC, and CBS.
In 2023, she was added to the CNBC Changemakers Advisory Board, to help select CNBC's annual Changemakers award list recognizing notable women in the business world.[25]
In 2025, Gruber and MacLachlan launched What Are We Even Doing?, a weekly series in which MacLachlan interviews younger actors and artists about their creative processes. Distributed by iHeartRadio’s Elvis Duran Podcast Network, the podcast has featured guests such as Kaia Gerber, Dylan O’Brien, Benito Skinner, and Caleb Hearon.[27]
Gruber currently serves on the New York regional board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.[38][39] In 2018, she was honored alongside Ringo Starr at the organization’s annual Snowflake Ball, where she received the Spirit of Compassion Award for her work.[40]
Gruber and Kyle MacLachlan, 2012
Since 2001, she is a board member of God's Love We Deliver, which provides meals for people living with life-threatening illnesses.[38][41] She began volunteering with the organization shortly after her brother, Jeff, died from AIDS-related complications in 1989.[42][43]
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