BAKE A CAKE

HOW I WAS BORN

BUSINESS WOMAN | AUTHOR | LIFESTYLE LEADER

For Martha Stewart, being a woman and a businesswoman is one and the same. Born into a working-class neighborhood, her parents instilled a strong work ethic that Martha firmly embraced. Jobs ranged from babysitting and modeling to successful Wall Street stockbroker in an all-male firm.

A self-taught gourmet cook, Martha started a catering business and quickly captured her clients with her creativity and style. She grew Martha Stewart, Inc. into a million-dollar business serving corporate and celebrity clients. Martha rose to prominence as the author of books and then expanded her brand to include publishing and television.

America's domestic goddess returned to Wall Street to oversee her company’s initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. With plenty of opposition, including her own lawyers, who were skeptical about the possibility of success, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public on the NYSE making her the first female self-made billionaire in the US.

Martha made headlines again for insider trading. A judge dismissed the securities fraud charge but a jury found her guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements. Sentenced to five months, Martha was an exemplary prisoner and instead of hostility at her fate, she was gracious, poised and kind.

Since prison, the persevering, resilient domestic diva has made an extraordinary comeback. You can’t keep a woman with a dream down for long.