Forty Over 40

Forty Women to Watch Over 40

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Forty Over 40 Asks: 9Qs for Ari Horie, Founder and CEO of Women’s Startup Lab

arihorie2Welcome 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 Ari Horie, Founder & CEO of Women’s Startup Lab — a Silicon Valley accelerator that seeks to unleash the power of women as fearless leaders in the start-up world. As one of Forty of 40’s 2015 Honorees, Ari was one of our 40 women to watch over 40. Her experience with leading companies has made her an expert Innovation Ecosystem Builder & Consultant.

1. What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?
When I was a “mom-preneur”, I attended a hack-a-thon that was predominantly of male gender. I recall one very knowledgeable woman, standing up and voicing her pitch and asking the hacking team for guidance towards a solution. No one joined her team. At that moment, I knew a new option for women entrepreneurs needed to be available.

2. Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?
Elea Carey, who said, “I’m going to translate your vision” and then took Women’s Startup Lab (WSLAB) to the next level.

3. What is your biggest goal right now?
To make an impact by increasing the number of successful women entrepreneurs and expanding global diversity.

4. What time do you typically wake up? or should we be asking “do you sleep?”. 🙂
I often wake up around 3:30am and then go back to sleep some time between 6-8pm. It’s how I have been since I started WSLAB.

5. How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?
Hangout with my girlfriends. I try to spend some time with myself over the weekend but also do deep dive advising session with many of my mentors over the weekend and it’s a great mental floss and refreshing.

6. What cause do you most want to advance?
I most want to advance Global Diversity for women entrepreneurs, so that they can thrive among men and also influence the world. It’s about integration and it’s about embracing differences and zeroing in on the true potential that are unique to the individual. It’s not judging with our limited “mind frame” that is created by culture, value, or the era we are born into. Create and Embrace and Thrive – it’s my true passion, a time when we can provide a path to help each innovator soar with our support and network that are unlimited to global opportunity.

7. What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
“Be committed for what you want, and not dominated by fear.”

8. What is your “keep me going” quote?
“If someone has to lead, why not you?” – Denise Brousseau

9. What is your secret indulgence?
Chocolate covered figs and listening to my playlist of “Bang My Head”, “Hey Mama”, “Black Widow”, “Work B**ch.”

Check out Ari Horie’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson

Whitney is the author of the acclaimed Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream. She has been named on numerous Smart Thinkers and People to Follow lists by major media such as Inc. Magazine, Business Insider and Huffington Post and is quoted in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fast Company, Forbes and more.
Whitney Johnson