Presenting

10 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com T The cool breezes and clear skies of fall mark the star t of my publishing marathon. The lazy days of summer are a distant memor y as I chase the stacked deadlines, speaking engagements and special events that fill my calendar until next June. I often feel like a circus act with dozens of balls and plates spinning in the air as I attempt to appear at ease, calmly managing the chaos. Although the pace is hectic, the freedom to create my own destiny is wor th the long hours and sacrifices. I recently had the oppor tunity to speak to an entrepreneurs class at USF Sarasota - Manatee on my experience as a business owner. I wanted to impar t on the wide-eyed, young students the impor tance of having passion for whatever you do. "Building a business is extremely hard work. It will take your life, at least a good chunk of it, so you better love it," was my advice. While I have always enjoyed my career, which led me down extraordinar y paths, I could never truly say that I was fulfilling my passion until I launched GRAVITAS one year ago this month. What began as a business oppor tunity, quickly turned into a life purpose for me. Creating this publication has been the greatest joy in my life outside of motherhood. It has been a difficult road with many obstacles, but my gamble to create something different for women has been an immensely rewarding experience. We were humbled to receive the BEST NEW MAGAZINE, Bronze Charlie Award by the Florida Magazine Association this summer. While awards are cer tainly nice, the greatest reward of all are the encouraging comments women from all walks of life give me. They are so appreciative that a thoughtful, authentic representation of women finally emerged from the airbrushed, celebrity-obsessed women's magazine genre. In our Women in Medicine cover feature, we share the stories of four amazing women who are breaking through the barriers of the traditional male-oriented medical industr y. Perhaps the most impressive quality they all share is remarkable humility. For women who are at the pinnacle of their field, they are delightfully warm and welcoming. We also highlight two entrepreneurial mavericks in the My Best Life feature that courageously share how they took a new idea and made it a success on their own terms, with little business experience. Also in this issue, I pen an ar ticle on the Gen X Takeover. As a member of this often ignored group sandwiched between the Baby Boomers and Millennials, I examine the once labeled "slackers" who have matured into tech savvy, well-educated, entrepreneurs who just may end up saving the world. We also talk with one of the most recognizable couples in the Tampa Bay area, Steve and Julie Weintraub in our He Said/She Said feature, who share their secrets to balancing marriage, business and five children. And finally, I always like to leave you with a laugh. In this issue, I'm the butt of the joke— literally. All the best! WELCOME Jules Lewis Gibson President & Editor-In-Chief SUBSCRIBE to GRAVITAS at GravitasMag.com 5 issues annually for only $12.95. 100% of our subscription profits go to local non-profits supporting women and children. For Modern Women of Style & Purpose TAMPA BAY - SARASOTA EDITION | WINTER 2015 WOMEN IN CORPORATE AMERICA GravitasMag.com Leisa Weintraub Vice President Neil Communities The NEW Face of Feminism The A rt of Reinvention P E O P L E I D E A S S T Y L E C U L T U R E N E W S $4.95 US G winter15 master FINAL.indd 1 2/24/15 5:09 PM C O A S TA L L I F E S T Y L E S & D E S T I N AT I O N S WINTER 2015 | GULF COAST EDITION VIAGE Group Sarasota Bay EXCURSION: L o n g b o at K e y & n a p L e s FloridaBoatingMag.com To view our other titles visit FloridaHomesMag.com and FloridaBoatingMag.com

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