Michal's blog

Wavemakers: Heather Caruso

Wavemakers is an initiative I've kickstarted with Femme-O-Nomics’ founder Leah Eichler (@Femmeonomics) that profiles female innovators — women who are constantly blazing new trails, inspiring others and revolutionizing the status quo.

Heather Caruso, an alternative health practitioner and author has been private practice in the small city of Guelph, Ontario for the past 13 years. She is a best-selling author of the book “Your Drug Free Guide to Digestive Health” and penned the book “Your Drug Free Guide to Healthy Weight Loss”.  You can find her onTwitter or Facebook.

1. What is your current state of mind?

Currently learning that the universe is telling me to listen to my gut and learning the lesson repeatedly until I actually do! Thank you universe, I will no longer doubt my wise sage inside!

2. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? 

I would like to come back as a protit. It actually makes me think of re-incarnation because they continue living despite our body dying. They are found in our living body under the microscope and in thousand year old mummies. These things are smaller than a cell and are the building block for many other things and forms. It would be interesting to go for that ride, however, it would be one that goes on forever or as long as humans know!

3. What is your greatest indulgence?

My greatest indulgence… just one? I have two, I do enjoy my red wine (so much so that my son calls it “my precious”) and I enjoy a good laugh. I have the kind of sense of humour that I have to be careful who I share that with!

4.  What or who has helped you the most to achieve your success?

This is a tough question, I believe that every person has to thank themselves for persevering in their goals when the going gets tough. However, I have been very lucky to have a circle of female entrepreneurs who have sage advice to offer me whenever I need a tune up, tune in or to tune out, they are there for me and I them! Thank you my lovelies!

5.  What is the best advice you have ever received?

Every seed you plant may not bloom today but they may at a later date. So what you do makes a difference, if not now maybe later. This is very true, I have spoken five years ago at an event and get calls from people who saw me back then.

Wavemakers: Sarah Turner

Wavemakers is an initiative I've kickstarted with Femme-O-Nomics’ founder Leah Eichler (@Femmeonomics) that profiles female innovators — women who are constantly blazing new trails, inspiring others and revolutionizing the status quo.

1. Describe your current state of mind

Very excited at the moment. I have 2 new things coming up. I recently left a consultancy business I co-founded 2 years ago to focus on strategic projects in digital media. The new business will be launching soon and we already have a very cool project for a high profile client. The other thing is Angel Academe. It’s a network for professional women who want to support tech entrepreneurs – as mentors, non-execs and angel investors. Our launch event is in London on 11 Sept.

2. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

I’d like to have a go at being me again, but knowing what I know now.

3. What is your greatest indulgence?

I like to read in bed in the mornings while drinking my first cup of tea. If it’s a weekday, it’ll be work-related stuff. Honest.

4. What or who helped you the most to achieve your success?

I was really lucky to have some very good bosses early in my career who were both encouraging and supportive – Alec Keith and Tony Sheehan in particular. More recently my ‘other half’ and business partner, Simon Hopkins, has been there through thick and thin.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Seek forgiveness not permission. Otherwise nothing will ever get done.

 

Wavemakers: Susan and Sarah Solovay

Wavemakers is an initiative I've kickstarted with Femme-O-Nomics’ founder Leah Eichler (@Femmeonomics) that profiles female innovators — women who are constantly blazing new trails, inspiring others and revolutionizing the status quo.

Please meet Susan and Sarah Solovay.

Susan Shaffer Solovay enjoyed a 25 year career on Wall Street which began in commodities trading and institutional brokerage, led to hedge fund allocation on behalf a significant family office and concluded with the founding and management of Pomegranate Capital, a fund of funds focused on allocating capital to women run hedge funds.  She also organized and ran the PS 6 Alumni Foundation, a not for profit corporation which rebuilt the library, playground and science roof at a public elementary school.  She is currently focused on assisting early stage companies in developing their brand, fundraising and building their online presence.  Susan lives in NYC with her husband, 2 children and an adorable Mini-Labradoodle named Lola.

Sarah Solovay is an 18-year old American singer and songwriter who opened for John Mayer and had her song, “Hearts Collide” on the 90210 soundtrack in 2009. You can find out more about Sarah through her  Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr. If you want to take a listen to Sarah’s work, here’s her EP, “Superhuman,” on iTunes.

 

1. Describe your current state of mind

Susan: August, is always bittersweet to me. I’m a little sad that summer is over and this summer, more so than ever as Sarah leaves for College. However, I’m excited for her and all the possibilities that lie ahead.

Sarah: I leave for college in a little over two weeks, so I’m currently half-excited and half-terrified. The good news is that I’ve been told that’s normal.

2. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

Susan: Mrs. Fields, (I’ve always wanted my own cookie empire) or Tom Petty (he’s an amazing artist and has tons of swagger.)

Sarah: I’d love to be a Supreme Court Justice, a President, an Olympic athlete or a five-time Grammy or Oscar winner. I want to be able to say I’m the best–or at least one of the best–at something.

3. What is your greatest indulgence?

Susan: The Internet. When I’m online, sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me and before I know it, I’m learning about some random subject or reading an interesting blog, both which are fun, but ultimately take up too much time.

Sarah: It’s a tie between Gilmore Girls and raw cookie dough.

4. What or who helped you the most to achieve your success?

Susan: Besides my husband, who has always been a great supporter, my mom. She brought us up in a very creative environment that allowed and encouraged my brothers and I to explore our passions, believe in ourselves and to take risks.

Sarah: This question’s easy–my mom. No one is more supportive and understanding than she is. None of the things I’ve accomplished to date–musical and otherwise–would have been possible without her.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Susan: Live each day to its fullest and never send your kids to summer camp unless they are begging you to go! Also, marry someone with a good sense of humor.

Sarah: Someone once told me “Take what you need and leave the rest.” I’ve found those are pretty good words to live by.

 

 

Wavemaker: Elle Kaplan

Wavemakers is an initiative I've kickstarted with Femme-O-Nomics’ founder Leah Eichler (@Femmeonomics) that profiles female innovators — women who are constantly blazing new trails, inspiring others and revolutionizing the status quo.

Elle Kaplan is CEO and founding partner of Lexion Capital Management, the only 100 percent women owned and operated private bank in the United States.You can follow her @ellekaplan.

1. Describe your current state of mind

Optimistic.

2. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

Amelia Earhart. Everyone remembers Amelia for her incredible achievements as a female pilot. However, she was also an accomplished author who wrote the book, “The Fun of It.” Additionally, Amelia worked as the Aviation Editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine. She had an incredible outlook and lived by a fearlessly-go-after-your-dreams ethos. One of my favorite Amelia Earhart quotations is “If I should bop off it’ll be doing the thing that I’ve always most wanted to do.”

3. What is your greatest indulgence?

My rescue pets, a dog named Magic and my cat named Max. My pets are a daily reminder to allocate my most precious resource, my time, towards some fun time with my pets. 

4. What or who helped you the most to achieve your success?

I’ve had a variety of mentors, both men and women, who’ve been incredibly encouraging. They’ve often had a bigger vision for me than I have had for myself. Ann Kaplan (no relation), one of the first female partners at Goldman Sachs, has always been a great inspiration and sounding board, as well as Maxine Ganer, the founding partner of an extremely successful accounting firm, Ganer, Grossbach and Ganer. She has also had wonderful and inspiring insights and advice.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

The word “no” is just one person’s opinion. Never let that someone’s opinion stop you or alter your dreams.