Minky Couture Founder Sandi Hendry Speaks on Compassion, Instinct, and Building a National Brand

Sandi Hendry joined UVU's Halladay Lecture Series to teach students the importance of adaptability and listening to your instincts while sharing the story behind Minky Couture, one of Utah's most iconic brands and the official blanket of the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Red Sox.

   

Utah Valley University (UVU) welcomed Sandi Hendry, founder and owner of Minky Couture, as a guest speaker for the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. 

Guest speaker Minky Couture founder Sandi Hendry holds up a packaged blanket during her lecture at the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.

Sandi Hendry shared the personal story behind Minky Couture and the lessons that have shaped her path as an entrepreneur. After earning degrees in education and business from Brigham Young University, she spent 30 years as an elementary school teacher before beginning a second career in human resources at Mountain View Title, a company she owned and operated with her husband, Mike. 

The Blanket That Started It All 

In 2009, Sandi founded Minky Couture after her daughter became seriously ill and spent several months in the hospital. When her daughter asked for a "big baby blanket" to bring comfort during her recovery, Sandi was unable to find one that was both beautiful and exceptionally soft. She made one herself, and what began as an act of love soon grew into a business as friends and family began requesting blankets of their own. 

A grid-style collage with three images. From left to right: A blonde guest speaker wearing a black formal dress speaks into a microphone in Vallejo Auditorium; Guest speaker Minky Couture founder Sandi Hendry stands at a podium onstage in Vallejo Auditorium, speaking to an audience of students, faculty, and staff; UVU faculty member Mark Seastrand speaks into a microphone while crossing the stage in Vallejo Auditorium during the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.

Learning, Adapting, and Embracing New Technology 

Sandi explained the humble, natural beginnings of the company and reflected on its growth over the years. She emphasized the importance of educating herself about emerging technologies while building Minky Couture, noting that a willingness to learn and adapt helped create new opportunities for the business. 

Trusting Your Instincts: The Intangible Side of Entrepreneurial Decision-Making 

Sandi also encouraged students to recognize that success involves more than measurable results. While the tangible aspects of a business matter, she explained that following one's instincts can be an important part of decision-making — particularly when navigating growth and change. 

Guest speaker Minky Couture founder Sandi Hendry holds up a packaged blanket while speaking to an audience of students, faculty, and staff seated in the audience at Vallejo Auditorium during her lecture at the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series at UVU Orem campus.

The Heart of Minky Couture: Giving Back Across the Country 

Today, Minky Couture is a nationally recognized brand with eight retail locations and more than 300 employees. The company has built major partnerships and serves as the official blanket of the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Red Sox. Sandi's leadership has been recognized through honors including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2019, the Women in Business Athena Award in 2020, and repeated Best of State Awards. 

Giving back remains central to the company's mission. Through Minky Couture's Heart of Minky program, thousands of Mini Minky blankets are donated to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across the country, providing comfort to babies and their families during difficult times. 

Minky Couture founder Sandi Hendry poses with UVU students, staff, and faculty in front of a projection screen onstage at Vallejo Auditorium displaying the text, “Sandi Hendry, Owner and Founder of Minky Couture” at the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.

The Woodbury School of Business thanks Sandi Hendry for sharing her experience with UVU students. Her message demonstrated how compassion, continuous learning, and the confidence to follow one's instincts can help turn a simple idea into a meaningful and successful business. 

Want to catch every insight from this year’s Halladay Lecture Series?

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL FALL 2026 HALLADAY LECTURE SERIES SPEAKERS HERE.

Watch Sandi Hendry's full lecture below. 

 
 
 

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