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Margaret (Meg) Whitman is president and CEO of eBay and is one of the most, if not the most, famous female entrepreneurs in America. She has held this position since March 1998 and has brought the company from 19 employees to over 11,000 and has helped generate massive revenue for the online auction site. Although Whitman's worth is estimated to be around $1.3 billion, this Internet entrepreneur doesn't rule from a glass office with a stunning view; instead, she prefers to be in the trenches with the "community" of other employees. This is why she has a cubicle for an office just like everyone else.
Major Accomplishments
Whitman hadn't planned to take the job with eBay; she was already successful as the general manager of Hasbro's preschool division. Prior to that, she was president and CEO of FTD, the world's largest floral products company. As an American entrepreneur, she has done it all. She's also been a part of the executive team for Stride Rite, Bain and Company, Disney, and Procter and Gamble. She also serves on the board of directors for Procter and Gamble and DreamWorks Animation. At age 50, Whitman has blazed a trail for future female entrepreneurs and has set an example for every American entrepreneur, male or female.
Whitman graduated from Princeton with a B.A. and received her M.B.A. from Harvard. This highly successful Internet entrepreneur has graciously donated $30 million to Princeton University, which will be used to build Whitman College. She has been portrayed countless times in such magazines as Forbes, Business Week, and Time.
Webby Awards
Meg Whitman accepted the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award for the community of buyers and sellers that make up eBay. The Webby awards, now in their 11th year, bestow awards in more than 100 categories to the world's best websites. The awards program limits acceptance speeches to a mere five words and our American entrepreneur didn't let us down. Her acceptance speech was, "Bidding begins at 99 cents." To learn more about the Internet's most prestigious awards, click here.
Personal
Perhaps one of the reasons she is so successful at eBay is that she is a consumer as well as a ruler. Not just an amazing Internet entrepreneur, Whitman buys and sells on eBay just like millions of other consumers. When she does, she reveals that she's an employee, but leaves out the part about being President and CEO. Just like millions of other mothers, she peddles her kids' outgrown books and games, and places bids on auctioned items, as well. She likes to purchase electronics and sporting goods for herself and her family, and despite her wealth, participates in the bargain hunting and selling just like millions of her customers.
Whitman lives in California with her husband and has two grown children. America's most favorite female entrepreneur enjoys fishing and skiing with her husband and says they exercise every day. They also enjoy seeing friends and going to the movies. For more information on this amazing billionaire, read this Forbes article about Meg Whitman.
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