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TELEVISION
Mika Brzezinski
Co-Host, Morning Joe,
MSNBC and New York Times
Outspoken as the co-host of MSNBC's
"Morning Joe," Mika Brzezinski is
no shrinking violet when it comes to
sharing her opinion on everything from
politics to entertainment to gender
equality during roundtable discussions
with guests. But it was her biggest discovery about her co-host's salary
that became the subject of her 2011 book, "Knowing Your Value." After
Brzezinski learned that co-host Joe Scarborough was earning fourteen
times her salary, she says she forgave her employer and blamed herself
for the financial shortcoming. During her recent five-city "Know Your
Value Conference" tour, Brzezinski, along with some of the world's most
successful businesswomen, shared some of the harsh lessons they learned
climbing up the ladder of success, such as how to negotiate like a man
and how to break barriers in the workplace. Brzezinski's biggest piece of
advice for women today: stop trying to make everyone like you.
BUSINESS
Jessica Alba
Co-Founder,
e Honest Company
Taking a step back from tinsel town
and into the boardroom, Jessica
Alba has proved to be far more than
just a pretty face. Inspired by the
birth of her first child, Honor, in
2008, Alba created a company that
provides a safe and effective alternative to the prevalent baby products.
While growing up, Alba suffered from allergies and chronic asthma,
making her the most hospital-prone of her siblings. Years later, when
pregnant with Honor, she broke out in hives after using a commonly
used baby detergent. Alba became focused on creating a line that could
offer products free of harmful petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances.
ree years later, Alba and her business partners launched e Honest
Company with 17 products. Alba's company experienced a ludicrous
level of growth since its inception, hitting $10 million in revenue in
just its first year selling products. Now, e Honest Company has an
estimated worth of $1.7 billion, with Alba owning between 15 and 20
percent of the company: in other words, roughly $200 million.
