Jessica speaks with Jean Oelwang, Managing Director of Virgin Unite, the independent charitable arm of the Virgin group. Jean speaks about Virgin Unite’s entrepreneurial approach to social change, from scratch.
When you used to call an airline or computer company for tech support, you used to speak to someone at Microsoft, or Dell or Delta, but instead of speaking to someone in Ohio or Indiana, chances are you’re now speaking to someone in the Phillipines or India. Who are some of the pioneers building international call centers? Jessica’s guest is one such entrepreneur, PV Kannan.
PV founded 247 Customer, one of the leading business process outsourcing centers, with offices in India, the Phillipines, and Latin America. PV explains how he’s changing the customer call center landscape, from scratch.
It’s hard enough for an entrepreneur to launch one successful business, but Jessica’s guest, Sir Richard Branson, has launched over 200.
Richard founded Virgin in 1970, and his empire has grown to include airlines, mobile phones, trains, space travel, cosmetics, and financial services, just to name a few. Virgin has recently become a leader in building more socially responsible businesses, with green projects that focus on climate control and sustainable energy. The Virgin Earth Prize will offer $25 million to someone who invents a commercial solution to climate stability; Virgin Atlantic will use more fuel efficient Boeing planes; Virgin Fuels will invest $3 Billion on friendlier fuels.
Richard speaks with Jessica about his entrepreneurial approach to responsible business and social change, from scratch.
Boutique hotels have become leaders in hospitality and design. The hotels’ swank bars and creatively designed lobbies have become the social scene for guests and even locals. Who are some of the pioneers who created among the first fashion forward hotels?
Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur, Ian Schrager.
Ian was the co-founder of Studio 54 in New York City before reinventing himself and becoming a leading hotel developer. Some of his hotels include the Delano in Miami Beach, the Royalton, and the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City. Ian discusses how he managed to build both the country’s most memorable night club, as well as some of the most stylish hotels and residences, from scratch.
Elisa Strauss founded Confetti Cakes when she was in her twenties. In addition to baking the traditional wedding cake, Elisa designs cakes in the shape of cars, purses, Cambell soup cans, x-ray machines, sushi, bathtubs, Monolo Blaniks, you name it. Her cakes are so identical to the real things that it’s hard to believe they’re edible. Elisa’s Confetti Cakes cookbook shares some of her baking secrets, and Elisa shares with Jessica her inspiration and launching process, from scratch.
What do pregnant women wear when they’re expecting? There are many options nowadays, but until recently the choices were grim. Who are some of the pioneers now offering fitted, fashionable clothes to moms-to-be? Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur Liz Lange, founder of Liz Lange Maternity.
Liz explains how she helped to change the world of maternity fashion, from scratch.
Jessica speaks to David Neeleman, the founder and CEO of Jet Blue Airways. Jet Blue was the country’s most highly capitalized start-up in US aviation history. David discusses the challenges behind launching Jet Blue (while also being a father to nine children).
One might think of an entrepreneur as someone who takes a risk and builds a business, but Jim Rogers is an entrepreneur of life. Jim is an author, pioneer investor and world traveler. He’s been around the world twice, one time on motorcycle, and has visited 116 countries. Jim built a hedge fund in 1970 before hedge funds were “in,” and he’s written books about commodity investing and his global adventures (Investment Biker, Adventure Capitalist). Jim tells Jessica how he built an unconventional investing and personal life, from scratch.
The best writers take a piece of life and describe it as if you were touching or tasting it yourself. Adam Gopnik is one writer who demonstrates the small stuff best. He’s been a staff writer for the New Yorker Magazine since 1986, and his books include Paris to the Moon, about his years living in Paris, and Through the Children’s Gate, about life in New York City with his wife and two children.
Jessica talks to Adam about his writing process, and how he built a career as one of the country’s leading essayists, from scratch.
Esopus is an arts magazine where artists of all stripes can contribute their work and connect directly with the public. Esopus does not contain ads or commercially driven content, so the magazine survives on funds from its readers and donors. The magazine uses materials like construction paper, cardboard, vellum, expensive inks, photographs, etc. and it looks more like a coffee table art book than a twice-yearly magazine. Tod speaks to Jessica about his inspiration for this one-of-a kind project, and his process, from scratch.
