Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart is an influential business figure, who specialises in health, wellbeing and lifestyle. The published author founded the business, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which is a diversified media and merchandising company created in 1997. Varied and adaptable, the highly successful business is broken up into four different sectors; internet, broadcasting media platforms, merchandising product lines and publishing. From this experience, Martha has developed a keen eye for business, which makes her an ideal business motivational speaker.

Born in New Jersey, Martha started work as a model in her teenage years. Throughout her college education, she modelled for the likes of Chanel, building her brand as a media icon. Martha spent a large portion of her childhood in the kitchen with her mother, cooking, sewing, canning and preserving food, as well as gardening with her father. This foundation of knowledge sparked her interest in food, health and wellbeing - the core values of her business. Martha has a degree in Architectural History from Barnard College of Columbia University, followed by a double major in History and Architectural History.

Upon entering the world of work, Martha was a stockbroker from 1967. A decade later she founded a catering career. The company quickly grew in success, and was later followed by a high profile role as President of the New York City publisher, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. While at a book release party in which Martha's publisher catered for, the Head of Crown Publishing Group approached Martha in regard to her first cooking book, Entertaining, later followed by Martha Stewart's Quick Cook, Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres and Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts.

Martha's magazine, Martha Stewart Living, quickly grew in success, selling two million copies per issue in 2002. She was quickly establishing herself as a prominent media personality in the cooking industry, including a popular television show based on her magazine. New York Magazine even described her as "the definitive American woman of our time". Thanks to her business, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Martha was the first female, self-made billionaire in the U.S. A testament to her trading, investment and business management expertise, she discusses her experience of success as a business motivational speaker. Enthusiastic and passionate, audiences revel in Martha's insight into business organisation, strategy and investments.