Among working women’s successes and comeback stories, there is no better example than woman entrepreneur, Paula Deen.
Paula was a shining star who on worked her way up from being a “bag lady” and making and taking lunches to customers to a successful business woman with a phenomenal career and television show, “Cooking With Paula Deen” on the Food Network,. She also sold a collection of cookware and furniture, published cookbooks, gave inspirational speeches, and much more.
Paula’s business was nearly lost amid highly publicized legal entanglements. When she gave a deposition in May 2013, her brilliant multi-million dollar business quickly began to crumble. She was fired from her television show and lost many of her sponsors and her publisher.
In February 2014, Paula announced that Najafi Cos., a private-equity company, had poured $75 million to $100 million into Paula Deen Ventures. That investment has enabled a variety of new projects. Included is “Paula Deen Live” (a 20-city nation-wide show tour with her husband), the Paula Deen Store (a cookware store in Gatlinbur), the Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen (a restaurant to open in Pigeon Forge later in the summer), a “Cooking With Paula Deen” magazine, and more.
In addition, on September 24 there will be a launch of the paid subscription-based online Paula Deen Network via computer, tablet or smartphone (and Smart TV compatibility to be introduced at a future date). That will give 24-hour access to behind-the-scenes with the Deens as well as 100s of hours of new cooking shows, 1000s of recipes, and interactive features from Paula Deen, the Queen of Southern Cuisine.
If you want to applaud a woman leader who refused to give up even at her age, look no further than our “down home” “southern style chef” Paula Deen. Although she could have easily just given up and retired in her mid-60s, she felt she was still full of good ideas and amazing recipes, and she wanted to share them with her loyal audience.
Many of Paula’s fans stood by her and now are flocking to her “Paula Deen Live” shows and subscribing to her new magazine to show their support and faith in her endeavors. They will enjoy her Family Kitchen restaurant, sample some of her famous southern cooking, and buy her cookware and dinnerware.
What woman entrepreneur inspires you?
Mary Isabale
Mary Isabale is a career expert and experienced hiring manager. Isable prefers to be known as career doctor. She has written more than 100 articles on career advancement and unemployment issues.
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Sorry, but Paula Deen inspires me about as much as Donald and Shelly Sterling. Any time one finds someone like this ‘inspirational’ it reminds me of what is more important in life – dignity or money. Clearly, she cares more about making money than being a good person who treats and views everyone the same. I am inspired by women (or men for that matter) who actually care about treating others with respect, and leverage that within their ‘brand’.