In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Mandeville, La. residents Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney found themselves seeking work with more meaning – something new and inspiring that would also give them a platform to give a little something back. The duo came up with Corks N Canvas, a paint-and-sip art experience aimed at helping the…
Leading Ladies
Lucy Gibney
When Dr. Lucy Gibney found out her son had severe food allergies she discovered two things: there was a growing market of gluten-free and vegan treats, and, most of them weren’t very good. Thinking she would fare better in her own kitchen, Lucy got to work with the goal of making something that managed to…
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Leading Ladies
Kelly Fair
A speech pathologist by training, Kelly Fair sought her degree so she could help individuals facing communication challenges. But, after managing a nonprofit college prep program for high school students on the far south side of Chicago, Kelly began to think another path – the nonprofit world – might help her best use the gifts…
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Leading Ladies
Brittany Hodak and Kim Kaupe
Brittany Hodak and Kim Kaupe paired their passions for mutually beneficial aspects of entertainment – journalism and music – to an all-new intersection. With the launch of ZinePak, a multi-million dollar entertainment company, the duo has worked with the biggest bold-faced names in pop culture. From Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, to Duck Dynasty and…
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Leading Ladies
Alyssa Rapp
As founder and CEO of Bottlenotes, an interactive media company in the United States wine and craft beer industries, Alyssa Rapp is fiercely dedicated to educating a new generation on the finer points of a good drink. With an eye for making the often complex world of beer and wine hip, fun and approachable, Alyssa…
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Leading Ladies
Sharon Bui
In 2012, Sharon Bui was a college student passionate about her sorority, Chi Omega. One thing she didn’t love about Greek life? The ill-fitting, pricey clothing. So, she and friend Kate Steadman decided to change that. At 19 years old, they created Frill Clothing. The self-described “one-stop sorority shop” helps ladies dress for every community…
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Leading Ladies
Gigi Butler
More than one classic country song tells the tale of a dreamer cashing in her savings, hitching a bus to Nashville and hitting it big on Music Row. Gigi Butler’s song might have started that way when she left college to chase Nashville music dreams, but the chords ended being less harmonic when she found…
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Megan Gage
Megan Gage’s current role started out innocently enough: a former social worker, she quit her full-time job to tackle the 24/7 job of a stay-at-home mom. However, her story quickly takes a turn for the unexpected, as she found herself building a professional hair care line for infants and children named Hot Tot. Within a…
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Leading Ladies
Nicole Shariat Farb
Chances are if you love DIY, you’ve been to Darby Smart, an online marketplace for creativity that launched in June 2013 thanks to Nicole Shariat Farb. Previously a Goldman Sachs investment banker, Nicole turned her hobby into a career after deciding the DIY industry was due for some disruption. Offering DIY inspiration, supplies and pre-packaged…
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Leading Ladies
Allison Dorst
Allison Dorst founded Pinks and Greens because of one problem: the inability to find stylish, yet functional golf clothing for women. Frustration ever mounting, Allison eventually realized her solution might also be an opportunity — there was a clearly defined gap in the market begging to be filled. Armed with her own experience, a lot…