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What makes these women fierce? To start with, they each started a business and anyone bold enough to do that is fierce in our book. But what makes them the fiercest women entrepreneurs is the fact that they are all leading rapidly growing businesses despite a down economy and lack of access to capital.
Not only are they succeeding in male-dominated industries, but they are pioneers in their sectors or creating unique business models. They have been all over the media and are sought-after experts. And they actively support other women. After reading their stories, the real question will be: how can you be more fierce?
Meet the Fierce Six:
Why she’s fierce: Pursuing a dream to start an online video network before there was such a thing as YouTube is undeniably fierce. When you ask Silicon Alley insiders and other tech heads for the name of the most influential woman entrepreneur in New York, Kaplan’s is often the first one off their lips. Known as well-connected and a generous connector of others, Kaplan is active in getting more women involved in the tech sector. Read more.
Noha Waibsnaider, Peeled Snacks
Why She’s Fierce: This former Unilever executive realized when most large consumer packaged food companies try to make something healthier, they essentially take their regular products and alter the recipe slightly by fortifying with vitamins or changing the salt content and call it good for you. Today, organic Peeled Snacks is distributed in the United States and Canada and is available at Starbucks, Whole Foods, Food Emporium, Angelika Film Center, Bikram yoga studios, Nordstrom espresso bars, and Marriott Hotels and Aloft Hotels. Read more.
Why She’s Fierce: In the fall of 2008 the economy was falling apart, Lehman Brothers was going under and von Tobel was enrolled in Harvard Business School. But, instead of heading up to Boston, she made the very bold decision to take a leave of absence from Harvard, move to New York City and spend her entire savings to start LearnVest. Read more.
Erica Huss & Zoe Sakoutis, BluePrintCleanse
Why They're Fierce: Huss and Sakoutis started the business with the goal of making raw food diets and cleansing convenient and accessible. The two launched a PR campaign to get the word out that this type of detox isn’t just for raw foodists, vegans, or vegetarians. Read more.
Why She’s Fierce: Eschewing a successful career in the nonprofit sector, Norquist built a company that has insulated 100,000 square feet of rooftop which has eliminated 3,300 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere. She is one of the pioneers of green building in NYC. On a much more superficial level, New York City is 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the surrounding suburbs because of the built up environment. Read more.
Want to meet another fierce New Yorker?
Read about famed Housewife Bethenny Frankel's entreprenurial empire.
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