Martha Stewart was recently in Toronto to do a Q&A session with Wendy Mesley at The Art of Leadership for Women Conference at Metro Toronto Convention Center. As part of event, select women were invited to ask Martha some questions. DelectablyChic’s own Tara Uzra Dawood was one of them. Here is a snapshot of her queries as well as some of her peers and Ms. Mesley.
Q: What to do if you hit a roadblock in your career? In your life?
A. If there is a roadblock, a woman or women should step over it. Even trip over it if they have to. Just get to the other side.
Q. Are you a different leader because you are a woman?
A. No. I’m a different leader because I’m Martha.
Q. How did you start?
A. I started a business with my books. Media leads and merchandising follows. Other people, even today, are just starting a magazine. With my very first book “Entertaining,” I started a business.
Q. In your early days, how did you stand apart?
A. I used to take on more than the jobs entailed and give more value. I don’t like hierarchies. In our office, you can begin as a receptionist and work your way up to Editor-in-Chief.
Q. How does Martha Stewart Living Omnipedia operate?
A. We create desire and then follow up with products.
Q. Any tips for starting a business?
A. Start small and find out what you are good at and go on from there.
Q. What role did your late father play in your success?
A. My father gave me what is to this day the best advice anyone has ever given me. When I was in high school, he told me I can do anything. Tell your kids they are beautiful and smart even if they are ugly and dumb. It goes a long way.
Q. How did you handle your “setback”?
A. I cannot be destroyed. I am strong. I’m physically and mentally strong enough to live through a bad thing.
Q. Do you have any tips for handling those days when you may wake up a little insecure?
A. I am never insecure. No matter how I feel, I go to work.
Q. Do you have any advice for women entrepreneurs?
A. Women entrepreneurs need to keep up with technology. I download all the pictures from my camera into my computer myself and make it a point to use the latest gadgets.
Image credit: T. U. Dawood
