NewsonWomen

A List of Women in Business in the News in 2008

Most of us are glad to see 2008 go into the history books. But there were some highlights I want to point out. Here are my picks for the 20 top Women in Business given big jobs in 2008:

Lynn Laverty Elsenhans made President and CEO of Sunoco; Ellen Kullman Made President of DuPont; Laura Sen made CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club; Anne Stausboll made CEO of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers); Barbara Turf made CEO of Crate & Barrel; Jane Mendillo made CEO of Harvard Management Company; Mary Schapiro to be Chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Pamela Nicholson made President of Enterprise Rent a Car; Lorrie Norrington made President of eBay Marketplaces; Sheryl Sandberg made COO of Facebook; Rachel Glaser made COO/CFO of Reunion.com; Patricia Yarrington made CFO at Chevron; Sabrina Simmon made CFO at The Gap Inc; Wendy Beck made CFO at Domino's Pizza; Ann Marie Petach made CFO at BlackRock Inc; Cece Sutton made President of Retail Banking at Morgan Stanley; Norma Corio made Treasurer at JPMorgan Chase; Paula Rosput Reynolds made Chief Restructuring Officer at AIG; Nancy Foote made Chief Risk Officer at CIT; Amy Schulman made General Counsel at Pfizer; Michelle Gass made SVP, Global Strategy for Starbucks.

There were many more women I could have chosen, but these jobs struck me as particularly important for the coming year. Who are your favorites for 2008?

Read about other women in business.

Dana Rubinstein Wins Yahoo Small Business Seeds for Success Grant

Yahoo! Small Business announced the final winner of their Seeds for Success Grant Program. Dana Rubinstein won for her company, Dapple, which produces baby-safe, environmentally friendly cleansers. Dana, who holds a BA from Yale University and a JD from Columbia School of Law, tells us how she got started with her idea: 

"About two years ago, while tackling one of the most mundane tasks – washing baby bottles – a light bulb went on in my head. I had noticed that conventional cleaners left a synthetic fragrance and film residue on the bottles, and after searching for “baby-friendly” cleansers for bottles and toys, I was stumped to find any good solutions in the market.  As mothers concerned about limiting the chemical exposure of our children, my business partner Tamar Rosenthal and I set out to fill this market gap by creating a line of products that are natural, safe and specifically targeted to clean messes unique to babies and young children, such as breast milk, formula, and sticky fingerprints.  After two years of working with a team of “green” chemists and pediatricians to develop the best possible product, we were just getting ready to launch our retail business when we learned that we’d been selected as finalists with two other small, women-owned businesses, in Yahoo! Small Business’ Seeds for Success program.

Almost immediately, we noticed the significant benefit of having the Yahoo! Small Business name and support behind us, adding the needed credibility to help us secure space in small and large retailers. Perhaps most importantly, Yahoo! Small Business and Carolyn Kepcher’s Finding What Matters armed us with a team of business mentors to guide us through everything from branding to supply chain management. By some stroke of luck, each time we faced a new development or challenge, we’d find ourselves meeting with a mentor with specific expertise in that field!

In particular, Scott Smigler at Exclusive Concepts revamped our Web site by adding e-commerce functionality, optimizing it for search engines and incorporating Dapple’s branding and messaging. He also helped us to leverage social media to reach the active online mom and parenting community.  We are so thankful for the opportunity afforded us by Yahoo! Small Business and Finding What Matters, and as a result of our mentors’ advice and encouragement, and the seed money that was part of the award for winning the Seeds for Success contest, we’ve expanded our online presence and product line, and have come one step closer to becoming a staple in households with children."

In the past six months, Dana established product distribution with 45 local and online boutiques and two major retailers according to Seeds for Success. We hope Dana sees continued growth and achievement in 2009.

Natalie's Favorite Top Women Entrepreneurs for 2008

Natalie MacNeil, Author of the blog "She Takes On The World" which celebrates the amazing accomplishments of women entrepreneurs who dream big, gives us a list of her favorite Women Entrepreneurs of 2008. I love Natalie's list because it shows how women entrepreneurs are getting ahead in so many different areas. The list includes women like Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software, and Jessica Flannery, Co-Founder of Kiva.org, the nonprofit micro-lending website. Thanks to Natalie for highlighting these amazing women and I look forward to whom she comes up with next year! And thanks for adding me to your Women to Watch 2009 list! Read more about Natalie's favorite women entrepreneurs. If you have a favorite Woman Entrepreneur, we'd love to hear about it.

Caroline "From the Block"

Why is there such an uproar about Caroline Kennedy and her qualifications? As I look around at the financial mess and the state of the world, I wonder where traditional "qualifications" have gotten us anyway? And I'm glad Caroline, who grew up in New York, stood up for Jennifer Lopez, another New Yorker who showed us it's possible to be a success based on your talent and your hard work.

Caroline Kennedy has made choices in her life that we all face, and choosing to be at home with your children does not mean you're not qualified to use your brain and enter the workforce when your children have grown. In my opinion, Caroline Kennedy is smart, has a strong moral fiber, has sacrificed for her country, and has helped the children of New York. And Caroline may have a better perspective than some others in Washington when it comes to improving the country's education and health care systems. 

Experience is positive when used for the greater good, but that is not always the case as we have recently seen with scandals and the financial crisis continuing to erode the country's economy. Caroline can bring a new attitude to Washington, and be a voice for women and mothers who need support in these difficult economic conditions. It's time to move away from traditional qualifications and give women the opportunities they deserve. It's the people who will ultimately decide who their senator should be, but for the interim, Caroline would be a choice I could respect and admire.

"Don't be fooled by the rocks...."

Women in Business Get Top Jobs at Calpers, Laurus Energy and SpaceX

Anne Stausboll was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers). Anne (pictured left) had been Calpers' Interim Chief Investment Officer. Read more in the article on cnbc.com.

Rebecca McDonald was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Laurus Energy, the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) project development company headquartered in Texas. Rebecca has more than twenty five years experience in the energy industry. Read about Rebecca's career in the prnewswire press release on yahoo.

Gwynne Shotwell was made President of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a California company. Gwynne, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Applied Mathematics from Northwestern University, had been Vice President of Business Development for SpaceX. See the Business Wire press release.

Liz Dolan Made CMO at Oprah Winfrey Network

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), headquartered in California, appointed Liz Dolan its Chief Marketing Officer. Liz is a marketing and branding expert, having served as marketing head at NIKE, as well as host and creator of the award-winning talk show, Satellite Sisters. Read more about it in the prnewswire press release.

Read about other women in business.

Women in Media in the News Today

Rodale, Inc., the global media company, appointed Michele Promaulayko (pictured) Editor-in-Chief of their lifestyle magazine, Women's Health. Michele had been the Executive Editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Gannett Company, Inc. appointed Kate Marymont Vice President/News for Gannett's U.S. Community Publishing Division. Kate had been Vice President of Information Center Content  for the Division.  Read more about Kate's career in the Company press release.

Read about other women in business.

Small Business Expert Wendi Caplan-Carroll Joins Constant Contact

Constant Contact Inc., the email marketing and online survey  company headquartered in Massachusetts, appointed Wendi Caplan-Carroll their Regional Development Director in New York. Wendi has over 25 years experience in marketing and business development.  Read more about Wendy's career in the Company press release. Constant Contact has been named as one of Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 50 fastest-growing women-led companies.

Former Brystal-Meyers Squibb SVP Ellen McDonald Made SVP at Regado Biosciences

Regado Biosciences, Inc. appointed Ellen McDonald their new Senior Vice President of Business Operations and Chief Business Officer. Ellen, who earned a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point and an MBA from Columbia University, had been Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Aeterna Zentaris. Previously, Ellen had been Senior Vice President, Cardiovascular Marketing and Medical at Bristol-Myers Squibb, managing a $4.25 billion portfolio of cardiovascular products and a budget of $400 million. (prnewswire press release)

NY Times SVP Denise Warren Made GM at NYTimes.com

The New York Times Company appointed Denise Warren General Manager of NYtimes.com. This will be in addition to her present role as Senior Vice President and Chief Advertising Officer, The New York Times Media Group. Denise, who holds an MBA from Fordham University, has been with the Times company since 1988. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Lynn Dugle Made President of Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) appointed Lynn Dugle President of Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems. Lynn, who holds an MBA from University of Texas, had been Vice President, Engineering, Technology and Quality at Raytheon's Network Centric Systems. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Laura Guthrie Made SVP at Calpine

Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN), a Texas power company, appointed Laurie Guthrie Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Laura had been Vice President, Human Resources at Hercules Offshore, Inc. See the Business Wire press release.

Grace Lieblein Made President of GM Mexico

General Motors appointed Grace Lieblein President and Managing Director of GM de Mexico (GMM). She will also become a Member of the GMNA Strategy Board. Grace had previously been the Global Vehicle Chief Engineer for front wheel drive trucks. Grace, who holds a Master's in Management from Michigan State and a bachelor's in Industrial Engineering from Kettering University, joined GM as a co-op student at the GM Assembly Division in her hometown. She is the first woman to be made President of GMM. She is also the highest ranking Latina in the company. See the GM press release.

Read about other women in business.

Judith Greffin to head Allstate Investments

Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE: ALL), an Illinois company, promoted Judith Greffin to Head of Allstate Investments, the company's investment operation. Judith, who holds an MBA from Ohio State, had been Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Allstate Insurance Company. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Sara Spivey Made Chief Marketing Officer of Convio

Convio Inc, a Texas software company, appointed Sara Spivey its new Chief Marketing Officer. Sara, who holds an MBA from Dartmouth, had been Vice President, Marketing and Business Development at rPath, Inc, and before that Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Strategic Account Alliance Development for Advanced Micro Devices. Read more about it in the Business Wire press release. 

Angie's List Gets $18 million from Lighthouse Capital Partners

Lighthouse Capital Partners invested $18 million in venture debt in Angie’s List, a source for local service provider ratings where thousands of customers share their ratings and reviews. Angie's List was co-founded by Angie Hicks (pictured). Angie, a working mother who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, is also the company's Chief Marketing Officer. Read more in the article on dbusinessnews.com.

Put the Happy Back in the Holidays

When I was a Banker, the mortgage was a simple product. You wanted a home, we gave you the money for thirty years, you paid us back with interest while you lived in the house enjoying the benefits of having a home of your own, a home for the holidays.

How did that simple product bring the house down around us? It’s not so simple now. The product changed and venerable firms with outstanding people found they could no longer control the risk. So we turn to the government to put the happy back in the holidays. It seems to me the government is paying every which way – buying bad mortgages to keep companies afloat, paying some unemployment benefits to people who were let go as lending freezes and business slows, picking up some healthcare costs for the unemployed if they get sick, and on and on. It’s hard to be happy this holiday season with so many people suffering.

What I want for the Holidays is a new idea. Is anyone stepping back and looking at the big picture amidst all this crisis management? Is there a way to take all these separate systems and make them work together? Can the people let go be hired by regional governmental entities to work out the problem mortgages instead of being given unemployment, thus qualifying them for healthcare coverage at reasonable rates, reducing unemployment payments and the huge losses that would be created by deep discounts of the mortgage securities bought by the government? Is it possible for all these government programs to work together to solve the economic crisis? I’m sure you can come up with a thousand ways it couldn’t work. Thomas Edison came up with a thousands ways that didn’t light a lightbulb. Eventually he came up with one that did.

Susan Henderson made VP at Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG), located in Wisconsin, appointed Susan Henderson Vice President, Communications. Susan had been Vice President, Corporate Communications at the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. Read more in the prnewswire press release on yahoo.

Sherry Nolan Made Talent Management Director at Goodyear

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT), located in Ohio, appointed Sherry Nolan Director of Global Talent Management, Development and Diversity for the Company. Sherry had previously held various human resources leadership positions at The Pepsi Bottling Group. (See prnewswire press release on yahoo.)

GE Makes Julie DeWane a Company Officer

GE (NYSE: GE), headquartered in Connecticut, appointed Julie DeWane a Company Officer. Julie is Vice President, Supply Chain - Security, Enterprise Solutions, a business within GE Technology Infrastructure. Julie holds degrees in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and the University of Cincinnati, and an MBA from Boston University. Read more in the Company press release.

Mary Stutts Made SVP at Elan Crporation

Elan Corporation (NYSE: ELN) appointed Mary Stutts Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Relations. Mary had previously been Head of Corporate Relations at Genentech. Read more about Mary's career in the Business Wire press release.

Kady Dalrymple Made SVP at Fashion Bug of Charming Shoppes

Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS), a Pennsylvania company, appointed Kady Dalrymple Senior Vice President, Design and Product Development, for the Company's Fashion Bug brand. Kady had been Executive Vice President and Fashion Director of Express. See the prnewswire press release for more.

Deborah Bernstein Joins Acquiline Capital Partners

The private equity firm Acquiline Capital Partners LLC hired Investment Professional Deborah Bernstein. Deborah, who holds an MBA from Stanford University, had previously been a General Partner at Pequot Ventures, where she co-led the firm’s investment efforts in financial services technology. Read more about Deborah's career in the Business Wire press release.

Cheryl Forehand Made Regional VP at Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (Nasdaq: WINN), a Florida company, appointed Cheryl Forehand Regional Vice President. Cheryl had been Vice President of Operations. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Laurie Goodman Made Senior Managing Director at Amherst Holdings

Amherst Holdings LLC, a Texas company, appointed Laurie Goodman Senior Managing Director in charge of research, risk management and business development. Laurie, who holds a B.A. from the Wharton School at UPenn and Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University, most recently served as Managing Director and Head of Global Fixed Income Research at UBS. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Linda Barrabee to Blog about Mobile for Jupitermedia

Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM) hired Linda Barrabee to blog about mobile content and marketing, and Linda will join their new mobile consulting and research unit that is being formed. Linda, who holds an MBA from AGSIM/Thunderbird, covered the mobile arena for Yankee Group and Pyramid Research. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Lora Gier Made Publisher of "Taste of Home" at Reader's Digest

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. appointed Lora Gier to the new job of Vice President and Publisher of Taste of Home, their leading multi-platform producer of information on food, cooking and entertaining, which has four magazines including the flagship "Taste of Home". Lora had previously been Vice President, Integrated Partnerships for Taste of Home. Read more about it in the prnewswire press release.

Former Lehman SVP Barbara Lloyd Joins KPMG

KPMG LLP appointed Barbara Lloyd a Managing Director in their Infrastructure Advisory Group. Barbara had been Senior Vice President of Public Finance at Lehman Brothers. Read about it in the prnewswire press release on msn.com.

Stevie's Winning Women

The 2008 Stevie Awards announced their winners last Friday. Categories for awards included Best Executive, Best Entrepreneur, and Best Overall Company. The Best Executive Award went to two women - Ilene Gordon, President of Alcan Packaging, Inc. in Illinois and Jamie Entzminger, President of Mach 1 Global Services, Inc in Arizona. The Best Entrepreneur Award also went to two women - Jessica Rovello, President and Co-Founder, Arkadium in New York and Heidi Flammang, CEO and Founder of Camp Bow Wow in Colorado.  Maxine Clark (pictured), Founder and Chief Executive of  Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony. Read more about it on the Stevie Awards website.

Juanell Hefner Made President of MHN

Health Net Inc (NYSE: HNT), a California company, appointed Juanell Hefner President of its behavioral health subsidiary, MHN (Managed Health Network).  Juanell had been MHN’s Chief Operating Officer. Read more in the Business Wire press release.