Honorees

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.

his weeks Q & A is with Melissa Sterry, Design Scientist, and founder of Bionic City, which seeks to answer the question ‘How would Nature Design a City?’ and a collaborator in Leapfrog Project, which works in partnership with organisations including American Institute of Architects and RIBA-USA to develop blueprints for rebuilding urban areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.

1.  What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?  While not a reinvention as such, 2009 was a pivotal year for me. Clocking in an average 100-110 hour working week, leading or co-leading several projects, atop of which I juggled various committee roles both in the UK and overseas, having not taken a holiday in several years, something had to give. I was busy, very, but felt unfulfilled, and namely because creatively and intellectually I felt unchallenged. Leadership was all well and good, but I wanted new opportunities to learn and to evolve my thinking and perspective.

Simultaneously, while an environmentalist since childhood, several conversations I had around that time led me to feel that the imperative to tackle sustainability issues, and in particular biodiversity loss, resource shortages, climate change and its secondary impacts, was altogether greater than I had previously conceived. Having read through umpteen on and off-record reports on the outlook for people and planet, my take on the future was “the sh*t is going to hit the fan and humanity is ill-prepared for what’s coming.” I spent six or so months thinking through how my skills, expertise and personality was best suited to help in the effort to tackle the challenges that may lay ahead.

On drawing my conclusions I edited out various roles and responsibilities, drew up a research and development programme to inform my vision, and hooked-up with a mentor that understood and supported my aims and objectives. I no longer work seven days a week, and sleep deprivation is off the agenda. I take holidays more or less when I want to. Do I get more or less done than I did five years ago? Less is more, because having focused my efforts my productivity is usually higher, as is my energy and fitness level.

2.  How did you get your first job? How did you jump to your second job?  It’s not so much a case of how did I get my first job, as how did I get my first ‘jobs’. From mid teens onwards, I’ve more or less persistently juggled three to four jobs at a time. Aged 15 I was holding down a handful of jobs outside of school, including my first freelance branding and design commission, which I landed when the editor of consumer magazine saw my portfolio and recommended me to the client. Other jobs that same year included waitress, office admin assistant, shop assistant and fruit picker. Along with funding my art materials, social life and wardrobe, the various jobs gave me experience of multi-tasking, as well as insights into negotiating, sales, marketing and all manner of other useful skills upon which I’ve been building ever since. Above all, the jobs were what my family calls ‘character building’, meaning they weren’t all fun and games, but we’ve had a good few laughs about some of my experiences!

3.  What is the best piece of advice you ever received?  My school Head of House was a wise, observant and good humoured man by the name of Mr. Williams. An introverted, but confident school girl that preferred to study alone, rather than in class, it’s fair to say that my school attendance record pushed the boundaries of acceptability, and that this was a matter of significant concern to several of the teaching staff, whom frequently raised the issue. Thankfully, Mr. Williams always fought my corner, recognising that my regular absence was by no means indicative of any lack of ambition or ability, as was reflected in my exam grades and coursework. Therein, he and I had regular meetings, some of which were congratulatory, as I picked up another commendation, others dealing with the latest in the string of attendance related complaints. During one such meeting he commented that I reminded him of his younger self, in that I persistently pushed myself ever harder and farther in the pursuit of achievement. He recounted an episode of his past, and having so done imparted the most valuable advise I’ve ever been received. He said that one should never forget that the higher you aim, the greater the distance that you may fall, and that if that time comes, you really mustn’t be too hard on yourself. This is of course a lesson that all they that persistently aim high invariably learn, and usually the hard way. But, aged 14 the notion of failure was alien to me and would remain so for a good few years to come. When that moment did arrive Mr. Williams’ advise spurred me to pick myself up, dust myself down and start over, and over and over again.

4.  What was the last business book you read?  When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures, Third Edition by Richard D. Lewis. My fascination with different belief systems and cultures goes back a long way, but the older I’ve become, the more I’ve realised the value in diversity, and have come to appreciate different cultural perspectives. Generally speaking, I’m pretty pre-occupied with psychology and with human behaviour in the broadest sense, and have read a fair few books on the topic. However, while some tomes merely regurgitate that which has been discussed before, When Cultures Collide provides genuinely unique and truly invaluable insights that really help to make sense of the complex global society we now find ourselves amidst.

5.  What song can’t you get out of your head? If my life had a soundtrack it would be written by Fleetwood Mac. While I love the works of a great many artists, Buckingham, Nicks and McVie’s lyrics resonate with me in a way that many don’t. Many a friend has heard me singing their songs, be it back in the days when I dabbled in a folk band, or after a few too many drinks at one or another get together. It’s a close run thing as to which of their songs I love the most, with ‘Landslide’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Tusk’ and ‘Honey Hi’ vying for the top spot, but ‘Don’t Stop’ likely clinches it, as it’s not only a song I belt out in the good times, but in the bad times too, not least when I need to pull myself together, be it because I’m facing a storm in a teacup or something rather more serious!

6.  How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?  How often I unplug is very much dependent on how many deadlines I’m contending with at any given time. However, I try to have at least some down time every day and unplug in a variety of ways. Most days I’ll set aside around 20 minutes to engage in some kind of informal study of nature, be that a walk in the reserve adjacent to my home, a potter about my allotment or garden, or on rainy day taking a look at one or another flora or fauna species close-up under the microscope. On a clear night there’s nothing I love more than some stargazing, be that with my telescope or with the naked eye, at home or afar. I find looking to the natural world is relaxing, insightful and exciting in equal measure, and particularly so if you keep an open mind about what you will discover. I also love various martial arts and try to make one or more training sessions a week. I find kickboxing is particularly good for letting off steam. I’m fortunate to be a member of a great club, AKA, which led by a dedicated and talented team, is attended by a focused, but fun crowd. They know if I’ve had a tough week, because I really let rip on pads! Other passions include making images and noise in studios, and in particular the visual arts, although I like to mix things up every now and then and to dip my toes in a variety of creative activities, both using traditional and new media.

7.  What is your biggest goal right now?   My biggest goal is to continue researching and developing my hypothesis, which investigates city-scale resilience to major natural hazard events through the creation of complex adaptive systems that mimic the behaviours, relationships and systems of flora and fauna species. I’m principally exploring this hypothesis through three channels; a PhD that’s been underway since 2010 and which I anticipate completing within the coming 18 months; Bionic City®, which serves as a platform for collaboration and co-creation with like-minded peers worldwide, and which seeks to answer the question “how would nature design a city?”, examining the potential of biomimetics, biotechnology and bio-Inspiration in the built environment in the now, near and far future; Leapfrog Project, which formed in response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan, brings together an international collective of built environment professionals to help the Philippines rebuild with new-found resilience. Further activities that help advance and communicate my research include co-curation of a postgraduate-level lecture series exploring the potential of bio-informed design; keynote lectures at academic, corporate and consumer events worldwide; authoring ebooks and articles on the subject; consulting to industry on biomimetic design and thinking; and curation/co-curation of media and events that further extend awareness and understanding of biomimetics, such workshops, social media chats and webinars. I believe that the study of flora and fauna and the relationships therein, presents unlimited potential to inform new innovations, inventions and ideas. Furthermore, anyone, anywhere can participate in this activity, which makes biomimetics a universally accessible research discipline.

8.  What challenge / achievement are you most proud of?  Generally speaking, while I’m proud of various past works, I don’t dwell on them, namely because I’m more or less constantly pre-occupied with the future and what could be, rather than what has been. Furthermore, I see the past as a connected whole, wherein success and failure went hand-in-hand, the latter often creating the clearing that enabled the former. Therein, if I’m proud of anything at all, it’s that’s my optimism and enthusiasm are intact, despite the various challenges along the way!

9.  What cause do you most want to advance?  Presently, on the whole, humanity treats animals as commodities that exist merely for our convenience. Biodiversity is more or less universally taken for granted, and so much so that within just three decades we have destroyed one third of all biodiversity on Earth. Human activity is currently depleting flora and fauna species at such pace and scale as for several experts to estimate a loss in the region of 25-50% by the century’s end. The very worst-case scenarios I’ve seen put anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity on a par with the Permian–Triassic extinction event, wherein it’s anticipated that the collective impact of past, present and future human activity will culminate in 90% or more species being lost within under two centuries. While some hypothesise that we could ‘bring species back from extinction’, while I think this may be plausible in regard of several flora species, with the exception perhaps of a few micro-organisms, I very much doubt it applies to fauna. The scientific logic therein is very simple. Fauna species are not merely the sum of their biologically parts. A great many macro fauna species, and in particular mammals, exhibit some form of culture, i.e. behaviours that are learned through social interaction between parent and child and/or family groups. While I am anticipating significant leaps forward in our understanding of the neurobiology of fauna species, we are nonetheless a long way from gaining a comprehensive insight into animal intelligence and culture, and presently we have no plausible means of artificially replicating the know-how that one generation of macro fauna species passes onto another in the wild. The many attempts to ‘value’ nature remain nothing if not crude, in that they try to estimate that value in terms of perceived ‘services’, such as pollination. I perceive the value of biodiversity as being far too great to calculate, not least because as Sir David Attenborough observed, each of the many species on Earth is a different solution to the ‘problem of staying alive’ – born of a global R&D process that’s been underway for 3.8 million years or more. In other words, in biodiversity we have a data base of evolving prototypes that can illustrate possible, sometimes very exotic and extraordinary, solutions to the many difficult challenges we now face. That aside, without biodiversity life on this relatively small spherical lump of rock spinning through space at some several hundred miles an hour becomes unviable. How can you put a price on that? How can you put a price on Life? My dearest hope is that humanity comes to realise how immensely lucky we are and how the various species about this world, no matter how small or large, near or far, deserve our respect, our compassion and our whole-hearted effort to ensure that in the event they do become extinct, we – humanity – are not to blame.

10.  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor? A remarkable and inspiring woman, my mother has ceaselessly supported me in achieving my hopes and dreams. She is smart, good humoured, humble and kind. An outstanding role model, my mother has overcome every adversity with intelligence and integrity, conducting her actions with compassion and generosity. I have learnt much from her, not least the virtues of understatement, subtlety and due diligence.

My late Uncle, my mother’s older brother Mike, was also instrumental in my development. Autodidactic, his knowledge was wide-ranging and profound, spanning all genres of the arts including film, music, fine art, poetry and literature. A passionate environmentalist, with a deep interest in philosophy and culture, he cared not for material goods, nor for status, nor power, but for people and planet and cared for them greatly. He was a great character, with a twinkle in his eye, a tale to tell and many an adventure to be had!

11.  What is your secret indulgence?  What’s not? I’m an advocate of quality above quantity and make no bones about liking the finer things in life! Whatever is it, be it something I eat, drink, wear, use or visit, I like it to be well put together. However, regardless of what it is, it’s utterly imperative that it’s produced both ethically and sustainability, because there’s absolutely nothing that turns me off more than something that isn’t.

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

This weeks Q & A is with Kat Gordon, Founder of The 3% Conference, a platform to spotlight the he lack of female creative leadership in advertising. In September 2014 the 3% Conference released research that shows female CDs now comprise 11% of the field. That’s more than a three-fold increase from the 3% figure that inspired the first conference! This year’s 3% Conference will take place in San Francisco on November 3 & 4th.

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

When I launched my own agency in 2008 it was a loud signal to the world that I was more than “just a Creative Director.” I had a deep knowledge about an important consumer segment (women/moms) plus I had the ability to lead teams on large projects.

2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

Cindy Gallop has been a supporter of my idea for The 3% Conference since its very first announcement. Her belief in me and the importance of the business issue I was tackling were both powerful booster shots for my confidence.

3. What is your biggest goal right now?

To put myself out of a job. With the traction The 3% movement is having, I believe we will reach a gender-equal creative workforce within the next 10 years.

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

I had been a temp in New York City every summer during college, working everywhere from Avon to a Japanese bank on Wall Street to USA TODAY. I was able to get an entry-level job at USA TODAY and started within a month of my graduation from college. My second job was a big win because it represented a new type of role, different from the one I was doing at USA TODAY. I landed that job (at Cosmopolitan magazine) by building a creative portfolio through night classes at School of Visual Arts. Cosmopolitan liked my work and hired me to handle all copywriting responsibilities there during their heavily publicized 25th anniversary year. It was an amazing opportunity, working alongside Helen Gurley Brown.

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

I wake at 7 am almost every day. 3 mornings a week I head out to exercise, either at outdoor Boot Camp at Stanford University or to play singles tennis. I used to make breakfast and lunch for my kids but now they’re old enough to do it for themselves.

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

I was a newlywed and working at Andersen Lembke, an ad agency in San Francisco. That was my favorite job of all time, so life was uncomplicated and very sweet.

7. How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

I am an avid reader and still love the feeling of a real book in my hands. So I rarely check devices in the evening and almost never turn the TV on anymore (my name must be mud in the ad world at this point).

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

Too many to pick just one. The very best networking contacts are made in person. We live in a world of so much lightweight communication (Facebook friends, LinkedIn contacts) yet nothing will ever take the place of in-person conversation. The best networking contacts are made by showing up at conferences, Meetups, and other events that interest you and talking to others there. Also, never underestimate the value of a real piece of fan mail — whether to an author, celebrity or business leader — where you express your sincere and specific thanks for their contributions.

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

I just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary and that means more to me than any of the creative awards I’ve won. Having a solid partnership is the most important fuel of my life and, truthfully, the hardest to maintain. It’s so much work, but so worth it.

10. What was the last business book you read? 

“Darling, You Can’t Do Both” by Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk. They’re the creative duo behind the original Dove Real Beauty work and this new book is a list of business rules that women need to break.

11. What cause do you most want to advance?

Early childhood literacy. Nothing gives a child a head start in life like being read to from an early age and many households are not realizing that. I wrote an ad campaign about this — urging parents to read to their toddlers. I still love the headline I wrote: “Learning to read comes later. Loving to read starts now.”

12. What song can’t you get out of your head?

Peter Gabriel’s “Shaking the Tree.” The best feminist song ever.

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

“If you are making everyone around you happy, then you are most definitely not doing great work.” This tidbit came to me via Michael Bungay Stanier and I have it posted in my office. It reminds me that winning a popularity contest in life will mean sacrificing reaching my potential.

14. What is your keep me going quote? 

I posted a quote to the 3% Conference page this year that got 87 shares. Not 87 likes, but 87 shares. It read: “The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.” The more that women tune into their own validation, the more they can change the world.

15. What is your secret indulgence? 

Baths. I take one every single day. This is a true confession because California is in a drought right now and I have to watch consumption elsewhere to continue this indulgence.

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

Kathleen Warner of Startup America. I live in Silicon Valley and see first-hand how entrepreneurial spirit can — and does — solve many of the world’s ills. And I’m excited by how many women are starting small businesses today.

Learn more the 3% Conference here and read Kat’s full #40over40 profile here

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 weeks Q & A is with Denise Restauri, CEO of Girlquake and author of Their Roaring Thirties: Brutally Honest Career Talk From Women Who Beat The Youth Trap

1.  What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?
14 years ago I had one of those “WOW” moments as I was holding my 7- year old daughter’s hand, staring at the window at Barney’s.

Yes, I’ve had many WOW moments staring at those windows, but this was different—it wasn’t about a dress or a pair of shoes. I said to my daughter, Ally, you can be anything you want to be – you can be a fashion designer or you can design a window display like this one here. As Ally looked at me with that “what are you talking about look?” on her face (a look that she has only continued to perfect over the years) — I realized I wasn’t really talking to Ally, I was talking to my younger self.

I came from a tiny little town outside of Pittsburgh. I had wonderful parents who told me I could be anything I wanted to be. Problem was we hardly ever left our “back yard”, we didn’t have the Internet way back then — I couldn’t SEE what I could be.

I wanted to be a fashion designer, but I couldn’t draw. I didn’t know there was a place like Barneys where I could be a different kind of designer.

And it was that day – as I stared at the windows at Barneys — that I decided to design and create my platform that would help young women from around the world SEE what they could be. Because if you can see it, you can be it. That platform grew to be GirlQuake…

2.  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

I never had a mentor or sponsor, in the formal sense. But I worked with some of the most supportive women in the universe when I was at USA TODAY – both were my bosses, Carolyn Bivens and Janet Costello. We didn’t always agree, but we always had each other’s backs. And we all learned from each other.

3.  What is your biggest goal right now?

In my book, Their Roaring Thirties: Brutally Honest Career Talk From Women Who Beat The Youth Trap, I take a brief moment to reflect on my 30s and how I had “lost my groove” in that decade of change. One of the wonderful things I have experienced about aging is that I found my groove (thank God!). And now I want to enjoy the freedom that brings and to keep dreaming bigger.

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

I’m laughing because that was 30 years ago and I can barely remember what I had for dinner last night! I was working at USA Today, married, no children, living in DC, and totally clueless about what a decade of change the 30s would be.

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

I am guilty of falling into the “almost never” camp. But on a recent trip to Rome, Paris and London, I did put up an away message for 10 days and that step gave me a wonderful sense of freedom.

6.  What cause do you most want to advance?

Empowerment for women and girls (education, no violence)

7.  What song can’t you get out of your head?

You’ve Got Time, the theme song from Orange Is The New Black. Is that sick? Maybe I need to update my playlist! Or maybe it’s because I just finished binge watching Season 2. I don’t think it’s because I’m planning on going to prison!

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

My best piece of advice was to be true to myself, be authentic, transparent and genuine. Followed by, “Nothing matters if you don’t have a story.” Followed by, when you have writer’s block, start with “I.”

9.  What is your secret indulgence?
Gluten free chocolate brownies from Haven’s Kitchen in Chelsea, NY

10.  Who on the list of 2013 Honorees would you like to meet?
Joanne Wilson

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

This weeks Q & A is with Janelle Maiocco, CEO, Barn2Door

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

Many years ago my husband shared with me some of the highlights of a book he was reading – John Adams. Including, his continual pursuit of his passions – from calligraphy to law to leadership – not knowing how they might culminate in his career, but trusting the process. I took that to heart. (As you know, he eventually became our 2^nd President and helped pen the Declaration of Independence).

I was a stay-at-home-mom for 15+ years – all the while deliberately pursuing my passions and developing my business acumen. I was a f/t mom, a p/t marketing consultant, and an intermittent student. While my sons were young I went back to school (MBA), authored a food blog for 8+ years, went to culinary school, became a proficient photographer, and even taught at a cooking school. I met countless friends in the food industry – from bloggers to chefs to farmers. I nurtured my understanding of food systems, big agriculture, sustainable food and the struggles of small farmers. I hoped my disparate interests would one day fold into a unified ‘a-ha.’

When my sons hit high school – I gave myself permission to increasingly focus on my career. They were about to launch – and it turns out so was I. I am still floored that I am in a role that is the culmination of my interests; the consistent pursuit of my passions and curiosities ultimately equipped me with the precise domain expertise, experiences and network to land where I am today.

2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

My spouse has been my biggest sponsor. It is a significant commitment to take on a ‘start-up’ with steep hours, no pay, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. A spouse is fully engaged in that commitment – the highs and lows, the decreased budget, the sleepless nights and out-of-balance work/play ratio. So often we hear ‘behind every man is a strong woman.’ I am here to say: it applies both ways.

Too, our company has mentors and sponsors in the form of a business advisory board and Board of Directors. While valuable for our company, I believe it is important to pursue self-development in my role as a CEO. To achieve that goal, I have been pulling together an unofficial ‘personal’ board. This consists of a group of 4-6 individuals whom I meet with regularly; they know me, believe in me and push me, they ask compelling questions, give advice and recommendations. They are my personal mentors and muses. I highly recommend crafting a board of your own.

3. What is your biggest goal right now?

Success. That might sound like an amorphous umbrella term but I am keenly aware – and glad for the challenge – of leading a start-up past [statistically usual] failure to ultimate success. It is not lost on me that I am under additional scrutiny and pressure as a female CEO. Female entrepreneurs are less funded than their male counterparts. Too few women are on boards, in presidencies, in executive roles and running up the chain of command. Women-led companies are often overlooked – but there is also growing interest and gumption to support women in business, leadership and innovation. When we succeed at Farmstr Inc., we will help normalize investment in women-led companies.

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

When you say first job, a myriad come to mind including babysitting, cleaning a dentist office, picking berries, pasting wallpaper and working as a ‘bus-girl’ in a nearby restaurant. So much of who I am comes from my Dutch dairy farming roots and a notion of working hard and humbly. Each job included responsibility and lessons, managers and a tiny paycheck – appreciation for effort and human interaction. These early jobs are foundational and just as important as future, post-college jobs. I firmly believe in teens working and learning the value of responsibility, money, management and industry. Today I am still proud to think of berry-stained hands, heavy bus-tubs, matched wall-paper seams and accolades from the managers from my youth.

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

Normally I am a night owl. But for the past 6 months – en route to landing funding, on-boarding a team and having the pleasure / responsibility / pressure of a recently-funded start-up… I wake up at 5:30am every morning whether I like it or not. Eyes open. Brain humming. And a long list of things to achieve.

My morning routine? I wake up and either pull on my clothes to go to the gym or take a quick shower and drive straight to work. Favorite morning moments:

• The espresso left on the counter for me, made by my husband.
• The squawking of my urban farm hens who are announcing their desire to exit the coop and hang out in the yard.
• The gasoline smell of my 52 red dodge farm truck as I rev ‘her’ for my short commute to work (named Rosie – after Rosie the Riveter).

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

At 30, my sons were 5 and 6. I was coaching their basketball team, throwing ‘rocket’ and ‘chef’ birthday parties, had just graduated MBA, and started consulting for a number of start-ups. We purchased our first ‘fixer’ home; I did a lot of painting, tiling, spackling, and an occasional bout with a jackhammer.

7. How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

Since I am in early stage start-up mode, I am well aware that my life is and will remain mildly unbalanced for the foreseeable future – something I can maintain near-term and know to be worth it. My current goal is to take one day off on a weekend. It doesn’t always happen. That said, as a rule I insert vitamin size ‘unplugs’ including but not limited to: a pedicure, happy hour with a friend, an hour of gardening, a late night movie or an early morning walk. I would add sleeping in – but for now that isn’t an option (see #2 above).

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

This is a powerful question. I have learned to say yes to network opportunities. When an event arises, or coffee is requested or I am asked to speak at a conference – I do my best to say yes. I rarely regret time spent reaching out, making connections and meeting new people (please note I am naturally an introvert – so when I say yes it isn’t my knee-jerk response). In fact, I tend to say yes to things that terrify me or seem like a ‘personal stretch’ simply because I know: it will indeed personally stretch me. Say yes not no.

In that same vein: ask. You want to meet someone? You want them on your board or as a mentor? Ask. Until you ask, the answer is no. If you ask, the answer may be yes.

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

Capable, responsible, grounded children. I just graduated my first from high school – and the second is close to follow. Second to that: a successful marriage ‘for better or for worse’ (since we all know it isn’t always perfect and takes work). Third: raising a seed round for my start-up – as a first time CEO and female founder – from an impressive roster of angels and funds. #pressureison #I’mokaywiththat

10. What was the last business book you read? 

I just finished Lean In by Cheryl Sandberg, and am halfway through The Hard Things about the Hard Things by Ben Horowitz (highly recommend).

11. What cause do you most want to advance?

The rise of Little Agriculture. A change to our food system through direct support and sales of small farmers with high standards (nonGmo, clean food, no chemicals, no hormones).

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

I constantly receive advice. The trick is filtering all that advice to determine the true gems. Recently I read – with regard to being a good CEO – “no rearview mirrors.”

Probably a cross of a few of the books I am reading, but the gist is: take a moment to be angry / disappointed / offended or scared out of your wits. Then. Move. On. Make a decision, find the silver lining, craft an impossible solution if you must. Then don’t look back.

As a mother I often say to my children: you cannot change the past, but you can move forward. Keep being your best self – don’t dwell longer than necessary to digest a poor experience or mistake – then lead forward. Maybe to follow on Cheryl’s book Lean In, the next one should be called Lead Forward. If you take a moment to think of the leaders of a company or country – you will know what I am talking about.

13. What is your secret indulgence? 

A Manhattan [cocktail] and a movie. Brunch out. A long walk in a foreign city. gardening in silence for hours. Pilfering through a new cookbook. Finding ‘moments’ to photograph.

Learn more about at Farmstr, Inc. and read Janelle’s full #40over40 profile here