Forty Over 40

Forty Women to Watch Over 40

Honorees

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40 Over 40 Asks: 12Qs with Ruth Ann Harnisch

ruthannharnischWelcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This week’s Q&A is with Ruth Ann Harnisch, President of The Harnisch Foundation; Co-founder of SupporTED and former Emmy-nominated “recovering journalist”. The Harnisch Foundation, which has been dedicated to creative, progressive philanthropy since 1998, recently relaunched to shift their focus on advancing women and girls. TheHF is celebrating International Women’s Day with a week-long campaign called #NotJustAStat . Read more here: http://thehf.org/international-womens-day/

1) What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

I’ve had many pivotal moments. The most recent? We’ve reinvented the Harnisch Foundation, focusing on advancing women and girls. I became convinced that this is the most effective way to invest our philanthropic capital, working to create a world where all people are treated with dignity and everyone’s potential can be realized.

Other pivotal moments? Choosing to divorce when that felt like the ultimate failure…college dropout collecting a second honorary doctorate… taking a full year sabbatical to completely clear my professional palate. The pivotal moment that brought me to my career as a philanthropist was the closing of the Nashville Banner. I was stunned to find myself without a job for the first time in a quarter of a century. On the day I became unemployed, I kept my commitment to go to an at-home Small Dinner, one of the signature events of the International Women’s Forum’s first chapter, the Women’s Forum of New York.

When it was my turn to speak, I tried not to lose my composure as I told of my most unwelcome disemployment. One of the women I’d long looked up to, Ruth Cowan, then board chair of Pro Mujer, said matter-of-factly, “Of course you must now become a fulltime philanthropist.” And I heard myself saying, “Yes, of course I must now become a fulltime philanthropist,” as if it were the most logical thing in the world, which of course it was, and I did. That was 17 years ago. The pivotal moment not only changed the course of my life, it changed countless others because of the impact of the philanthropy that resulted.

2) Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

I have so many to thank, starting with Buffalo NY Public School 72 Assistant Principal Dorothy Wolf who included me in the group of children who received the accent elimination coaching and declamation lessons that equipped me for my career in broadcasting. In my later years, the most important voice of wisdom has been my longtime coach Renee Freedman. For over eight years, our twice-weekly sessions equipped me for personal growth beyond what I could have imagined when we began. We ended the coaching relationship when we agreed to become partners in the founding and management of SupporTED, the coaching and mentoring program for TED Fellows.

3) What is your biggest goal right now?

To make the most of every moment of my aliveness – that will always be my biggest goal.

4) How did you get your first job?

I got my first job because I had connections. Under 40 readers may not recall a time when paper boys pulled wagons down residential streets to deliver the morning and afternoon newspapers. It was the first step to entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency for many a lad, but No Girls Allowed.

My Uncle Sibby, son of Sicilian immigrants and my mother’s scrappy younger brother, “knew a guy” at the Buffalo Courier Express. At age 16, I became the youngest of the crew of “girls” (adult women, most with grey hair) who did the accounting for the paper boys.

How did you jump to your second job? – I jumped on the NFT (Niagara Frontier Transit, aka the bus) and went to the Statler Hilton Hotel, where upon exiting the elevator on the top floor, I became Karin Kelly, Teen DJ on WYSL-FM, 103.3

5) What time do you typically wake up? 

I do not have a typical wakeup time. Throughout my broadcast career I worked every shift on the clock, including one challenging schedule where I did the sign-off news on the CBS-TV affiliate in Nashville around 1am, napped fitfully on the cot in the ladies’ room until 4, then rose to write and anchor the sign-on news in the morning.

My first thought each time I awaken is, “Where am I?” because the answer could be different every time depending on my travel schedule.

6) How do you unplug? 

I unplug by choosing to still my mind and remove myself from all distracting thoughts. How often? As often as necessary throughout the day and night.

6) What challenge / achievement are you most proud of? 

Stepping up to a leadership role as head of the Harnisch Foundation. Right now, I’m proud to be an Executive Producer of The Hunting Ground, the documentary on campus sexual assault that’s in theaters now. (Please go and buy a ticket to show how important this issue is!) I’m proud that the HF is the presenting sponsor of BinderCon, bringing hundreds of women writers together to amplify women’s voices and perspectives.

7) What was the last business book you read?

It’s not the last one, but it’s the one I insist that my clients read –  The Tools: Transform Your Problems Into Courage, Confidence, and Creativity by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels. These are the lessons in self-leadership that allow you to stop whining and start taking charge of your circumstances.

8) What cause do you most want to advance? 

I am working to help create a world in which diversity is a source of societal strength, all people have control over their destinies, all are treated with dignity, and everyone’s contributions are valued.

9) What song can’t you get out of your head?

I would NEVER do that to you! However…everyone who has ever been to the closing campfire of Spark Camp knows what song is stuck in my head. I now deeply apologize to all Campers for this, ain’t nothin’ but a mistake.

10) What is the best piece of advice you ever received? 

All you have is RIGHT NOW. Make the most of it.

11) What is your “keep me going” quote?

I WAS BORN FOR THIS MOMENT!

12) Who on the list of 2013 Honorees would you like to meet? 

Everybody says “all” as do I. But if pressed for one I’ll say Sallie Krawcheck.

Check out Ruth Ann’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 7Qs for Mauria Finley, Founder and CEO at Citrus Lane

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This week’s Q & A is with Mauria Finley,Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Citrus Lane, a fast-growing social e-commerce company focused on the $50B baby and kids market that’s backed by top-tier VCs Greylock and GGV Capital.

1. What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

It was a big decision for me to leave my role at eBay. I had been at PayPal/eBay for six years. I had a wonderful job with amazing bosses, but I was looking for a new challenge. I wanted the chance to create from scratch and build my own company. I had been thinking about becoming an entrepreneur for a number of years, but had never been quite ready to take the leap. When my second son was nine months old and finally sleeping through the night, I decided to go for it. And, that’s what led me to start Citrus Lane.

 2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

I’ve been lucky to have a number of amazing mentors over the years. One who stands out is Stephanie Tilenius. I worked for Stephanie at PayPal and eBay. She took a chance on me several times, letting me tackle big challenges even when they weren’t in areas in which I had experience. In this way, I really grew as an executive and team leader. She pushed me hard to achieve, gave me blunt advice on things I could improve, and always made sure I knew she believed in me.

 3. What is your biggest goal right now?

 I don’t have one main, over-arching goal. I have goals for each part of my life. For work, I’m focused on taking Citrus Lane to the next level of growth. At home, I’m focused on being present with my four and seven year-old boys. As a wife, I’m trying to remember to use kindness in my thoughts and actions even when life is a blur of busyness. And, on the health side, I’m trying to be better about what I eat.

 4. How did you get your first job? How did you jump to your second job?

 I got my first job after graduating with a Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science from Stanford. I think people’s first job has a profound impact on how they see the world. My first job was as a product manager at Netscape working on the browser. It was a magical company and a special time – the beginning of the internet. I learned so much about how to build great software and about how software teams work. I also met a set of people that have gone on to be such important people in my life and network. My second job came directly out of the first one. The VP of engineering I worked closely with joined a startup, Good Technology, as the technical co-founder and recruited me two weeks later to run product management.

 5. What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning

 I wake up around 6:00am most days to exercise. I feel much better if I exercise each day. My team at Citrus Lane loves my “I had this idea while running” comments. Well, at least, I hope they do! I exercise early so I can be there for breakfast with my two young boys, get them ready for school, and get to work on time. Of course, I much prefer getting up early in the summer when the sun is already up, but in the winter, I’m out there running in the dark with a headlamp.

6. How did you feel on your 30th birthday? What were you doing at that time? 

 I felt much more anxious on my 30th birthday than I did on my 40th birthday last year. On my 30th birthday, I was getting close to changing jobs and was wondering if my long-term boyfriend was going to propose. On my 40th birthday, I looked around and realized my life was pretty awesome. I had two super-duper young boys, a wonderful husband (that same once-boyfriend who did, indeed, propose), an amazing company I was so proud to be create and a team I loved spending time with. Overall, at 40, my life is filled with friends, family, meaningful work, and happiness. When I think about my life, I realize that every decade is getting happier and happier.

 7. What is your secret indulgence? 

My secret indulgence is I watch one TV show before going to bed. After a busy day, dinner and bedtime for the boys, and endless work emails, I find it hard to fall right to sleep because my brain is still busy solving problems. But, if I watch a TV show, my brain turns off and I sleep well. Some favorites are Scandal, Good Wife, and Person of Interest.

Check out Mauria Finley’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 10Qs for Kimberly Bryant, Founder of Black Girls Code (BGC)

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This week’s Q & A is with Kimberly Bryant, Founder of Black Girls Code (BGC), a non-profit dedicated to teaching girls of color coding skills.

1. What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

The pivotal moment of reinvention for me occurred in March 2011 while attending a Berkeley Women Entrepreneurs Conference. During a session with some of the top female founders of Indiegogo, BlogHer and others a discussion question arose from the attendees around the lack of women in the technology field. Many of the observations from the attendees revolved around the lack of available women in the resource pool and the dwindling pipeline of women and women of color in STEM fields such as technology. I realized at this moment if this problem were to be solved I must personally do something about it.

2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

I’ve had many informal mentors throughout my career both before I started on my non-profit organization. I would say more so than anything there are certainly some very inspiring role models that I look up to for inspiration as I build my business, some of whom I’ve received advice from along my journey. These include women such Kathryn Finney of Digital Undivided, Telle Whitney of Anita Borg Institute, and Kelly Hoey of Women Innovate Mobile.

3. What is your biggest goal right now?

My biggest goal is to create a sustainable business model for my non-profit organization, Black Girls CODE, which will allow us to continue to grow and reach girls around the world. Our goal is to reach 1 million girls by the year 2040 and to see our program teach girls around the world to code.

4. What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning.

I am NOT a morning person. I tend to wake up between 8-9am if I don’t have early meetings or calls on the east coast. I tend to start my morning with meditation or prayer and a review of my goals for the day. If I’m feeling cheeky I try to catch one of the morning shows with a cup of coffee, then I’m ready to go conquer the world!

5. How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

My release is music. I played three instruments as a kid, drums, piano, and saxophone and I love jazz, r&b, and classical music. When I really want to relax or when I’m in deep concentration mode on a major project I put on my headphones and listen to a favorite playlist.

6. What challenge / achievement are you most proud of?

20+ years later I’m most proud of graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Engineering with my BS in Electrical Engineering. The four years I spent in undergrad as one of only a handful of women in the school of engineering were some of the most difficult and challenging years of my life. It took an incredible amount of grit and determination and a healthy dose of prayer to navigate the difficult waters of being a female in a non-diverse field dominated by men. I still remember walking across the stage to receive my diploma vividly and it was truly a euphoric experience for me.

7. What was the last business book you read?

The last “business” book I read was David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. Many of the scenarios in the book resonated with me as a small startup founder building a global business against sometimes much greater odds. It’s shown me that with skill and strategy, even David’s can conquer a giant.

8. What cause do you most want to advance?

I am most passionate about increasing the number of women and girls of color in the field of technology. I am dedicated to “changing the face of technology” and seeding the tech pipeline with the girls from the younger generation who will be come to tech leaders and creators of the future.

9. What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Follow your passion. Do what you love and love what you do.

10. What is your secret indulgence?

A good pair of pumps (preferably Jimmy Choos). I’m a recovering shoe-holic. I truly love to buy shoes and love a good quality pair of heels any day over a pair of sneakers.

Check out Kimberly Bryant’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

 

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 10Qs for Beezer Clarkson

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This week’s Q & A is with Beezer Clarkson, Managing Director at Sapphire Ventures, a venture capital firm that specializes in helping innovative technology companies become global category-defining leaders.

1. What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

I have always wanted to help change the world for the better. I have reinvented my career multiple times from investment banking to management consulting to working in Silicon Valley at a global technology firm to venture capital exploring different aspects of how to help create positive change.  Along the way I have also welcomed the unconventional in my career, which reflected my desire to take on new challenges, explore alternative answers to existing problems and work at the intersection of different, discrete disciplines.

2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

My husband

3. What is your biggest goal right now?

Building my firm, SAP Ventures, so that we can invest in and support entrepreneurs globally.

4. How did you get your first job? How did you jump to your second job?

My first job was a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley in New York City. I got it by applying through the career center at my university, Wesleyan University along with great coaching from folks there and my fantastic, older sister. I knew after that I wanted to move out to San Francisco and be a strategy consultant so applied to a few select firms and moved west.

5. How did you feel on your 30th birthday? What were you doing at that time? 

Very very lucky. I was living in my favorite city, San Francisco, with my then boyfriend, now husband, surrounded by friends and working at a job with a great mentor.

6. How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

One of my favorite ways to unplug is to be silly with my son, who is 6, and husband. Another favorite way is to go scuba diving. My son’s favorite time to be silly is just before bedtime naturally. Finding time to go scuba diving is far more challenging.

7. What’s the best networking contact you’ve made? How did you make it?

In 1999 I had the great fortune of being an intern for Ellen Levy who ran corporate development at a startup that made a handheld reader, a precursor of sorts to the iPad or Kindle before going on to become an advisor and executive at LinkedIn. Knowing Ellen changed the course of my career and arguably my life. She gave me a shot – giving me my first technology job in Silicon Valley when I didn’t know a microchip from a paperclip. She has had my back for the last 15 years introducing me to amazing people who have helped me, advanced my career and have become great friends.

8. What was the last business book you read? 

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

9. What is your “keep me going” quote?

“What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?”

10. What is your secret indulgence? 

Finding cool eyeglasses

Check out Beezer Clarkson’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 11Qs with Sue Chen

suechenWelcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Every week we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This week’s Q & A is with Sue Chen, Founder and Chief Executive Officier at Nova Medical Products, diver and shark conservationist.

1)  What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?

The pivotal moment of reinvention for me was when I hit a bottom in my life – both personally and professionally. At 36, I was engaged, in love and an invincible CEO.  One year later, I was in a miserable marriage, feeling like the most vulnerable CEO on the planet and on the brink…of what? – I don’t know. But I was now living in a bottomless pain and darkness I had never known. My epiphany in this place was that I owned my emotional bucket.  The same place that inspired love and passion was the the place where now lived pain and resentment.  So, there was the hope. It was the same place. The same bucket where I could rediscover and reignite the love and passion that once thrived in my bucket. How? With the most powerful source to everyone’s bucket – meaningful connections. I connected with my customers, my mission, my family, my friends, my employees, my planet – and that reconnected me back to my loves, passion and myself.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

My mother.  She is my one woman cheerleading squad who has supported and mentored me my entire life and continues to. No one comes close. And, if you asked my mother this question, she would also say without hesitation, her mother. I’ve had crazy ideas and big project plans since I can remember. As long as I had a plan and passion, my mother supported the “crazy” ideas and projects regardless of any cultural anchors or barriers that may define a Taiwanese girl or Taiwanese woman. And that means I did many firsts as a Taiwanese girl and woman, from being President of my High School class to producing a documentary to being the first woman Membership Chair of my YPO Chapter. As a 43 year old woman, I know I am here today because of three women – my mother and my two grandmothers. They indeed paved a path that gave me infinite opportunities.

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

My biggest goal right now is to transform and save the Home Medical Equipment industry, which has been stagnant and declining for decades with very little product innovation, the highest dissatisfaction rates of any healthcare products and moral spiraling down to an eminent bottom. A symbol of this is the grey walker with tennis balls. That walker was developed in 1965 and dirty tennis balls never meant for walkers. The dysfunctional distribution of medical equipment and that lack of innovation and has been controlled and fueled by drastic Medicare cuts and regulations forcing thousands of independent Home Medical Equipment (HME) providers out of business and the remaining paralyzed about their uncertain future. I am not just transforming and disrupting my industry, but imploding and exploding it.  I am giving the entire product segment and dealer channel a180 degree turn and doing much more than making great products and saving an industry, but changing the cultural negative stigma towards people with physical challenges and physical differences.  In the past 20 years, I have been making beautiful, sexy, stylish and empowering medical equipment.  That’s right!  Canes in gorgeous prints and styles trending from classics to runway, walkers that are so turbo and “bling-ed out” they turn heads with their leopard seats, colors, brakes, lights, cup holder and designer bags.  And, it’s not just the hot products, but our campaigns and missions that fuel everything we do including the Lose the Tennis Balls campaign, Bathroom Safety fall prevention challenge and Mobility Makeovers.  To save and reposition the dealers, I created a program called HME180 that takes the dealer from a Medicare/insurance business model to consumer direct retail – and it is working.  We have hundreds of independent dealers and pharmacies that have embrace the new opportunities in consumer healthcare retail and most of all, loving their business and mission again.  That mission is the greater good that we all share to improve the lives of millions of Americans.

4)  How did you get your first job? How did you jump to your second job?

I grew up in Davie, FL – a small country town in south Florida. Even though we were the only Taiwanese family in own town, like all small towns there is a Chinese Restaurant.  Even though we never ate there, I had good feeling I could get a job there…supply and demand.  So, I when I turned 14 and showed up at our town’s Chinese Restaurant, the New Canton Chinese Restaurant, requesting a job, I was hired on the spot to be the Hostess and Take Out Girl. I loved interacting with the customers and realized the value of customer engagement and service. I happily and enthusiastically engaged with every customer except one…and that one was the person I most idolized in my life at that time.  I was the # 1 Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins Quarterback) fan and when he came in to pick up his take out order I had so much to say, but completely clammed up and experienced Lock Jaw…and couldn’t say one word.

Second job?  Yep, Chinese restaurant again, but now as a waitress.  I waitressed throughout high school and college and that really taught me the value of exceptional customer service.  And, still hoping have that conversation with Dan Marino…

5)  How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

I unplug by becoming a Marine Biologist and Conductor of an Orchestra…well, kind of.  I have always loved ocean life and classical music and these loves and passions have become a very active, dynamic and meaningful part of my life. Though I am not a Marine Biologist, I am an avid diver, ocean and shark conservationist, underwater photographer and very connected with the ocean world. Though I am not a Conductor of an Orchestra, I am a classical music aficionado, student and super appreciator of the music, artists and composers. And I do have my own baton…just in case! Immersing myself in these two incredible worlds of beauty and sound allow me to refuel, recover, recharge and reinvent with clarity, new perspectives and I unplug in a powerful way.

6)  What’s the best networking contact you’ve made? How did you make it?

The best networking contact I’ve made was with Sir Richard Branson. He was kind enough to come out for the Operation Blue Pride shark expedition. Sir Branson is a tremendous leader and advocate for our oceans and sharks, but had never dove with sharks before. I was his dive buddy for his first shark dive where we encountered dozens of sharks including Emma – the famous Tiger Shark. What an incredible experience. We both experienced the beauty and true gentle nature of sharks. During this trip I learned so much from Sir Richard Branson. I learned about graciousness, courage, adventure and about LISTS. As I was making my TO DO list for my new mission and organization – Operation Blue Pride — and feeling a bit overwhelmed, he said, “Keep on those lists. I make lists for all of my ventures. You make lists and cross things off. Keep making lists and crossing things off until you’ve got something good.”

7)  What cause do you most want to advance?

The cause I most want to advance is to improve the lives of millions of Americans who are facing the greatest fear of aging – loss of independence. All people want to remain active and independent on their own terms and in their own homes.  Yet, falls are the 5th leading cause of death for Americans over 65 with 1 in 3 people over 65 falling every year. Most of these falls can be prevented with information, education and some basic products.  I have become a certified instructor in Fall Prevention and Mobility Optimization so I can educate healthcare providers and consumers and do so in a way that creates a movement and mission.  One of the ways I define success for me is to move that stat – Falls are the 5th leading cause of death for Americans over 65 – out of the top ten.  This is one painful healthcare epidemic we can cure.

8)  What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Just a few months after I started my company, a family friend and great entrepreneur Chris Schmid said to me, “If you’re going to do something big, be sure to have partners. Real partners…because with partners, the good times are so much better and the bad times not as bad.”   The joy of sharing the highs and comfort in facing the lows has kept my company going, surviving and thriving for 21 years.

10) What is your secret indulgence?

My secret indulgence is playing on my Bosendorfer Grand piano.  I do not deserve such a great piano and sometimes I feel my Bosendorfer deserves a better pianist and one that can perform for others.  A failed piano competition when I was 14 left me with piano performance anxiety and I still struggle playing in front of others.  So, I play and indulge with my beautiful Bosendorfer Grand secretly and happily.

11)  Who on the list of 2013 Honorees would you like to meet?  Paola Gianturco

Check out Sue’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!