Description:
More and more women are striking out on their own in cyberspace. DotCom Divas, by Internet strategist Elizabeth Carlassare, profiles 20 of the best and brightest of these founding females, distilling key e-business insights and strategies. Moving beyond the model of two guys working in a garage, the author describes "successful women who are creating real, thriving Web companies from visions that were initially just twinkles in their eyes." Her choices of women Web entrepreneurs are intriguing and eclectic: Nancy Evans and Candice Carpenter at iVillage, Janina Pawlowski of E-Loan, Eugenie Diserio of the astrology site Astronet, and oneNest founder Durreen Shahnaz, who links disadvantaged artisans with global markets. Carlassare's readable profiles are not puff pieces. She organizes her visionary leaders into four areas of the Internet economy: Web portal, Web-based services, e-commerce, and e-business applications. Each chapter explores one company and founder in terms of the source of their winning business idea, the business plan, fundraising, team building, and meeting the challenges of growing and marketing their business. Chapter summaries capture the essence of each woman's strategies for success. Carlassare offers many engaging excerpts from a day in the life of her divas. For example, oneNest CEO Durreen Shahnaz trekking in Bangladesh; Nancy Evans and Candice Carpenter raiding their personal bank accounts to meet the iVillage payroll; and Janina Pawlowski, standing on the floor of Goldman Sachs, sweating out E-Loan's public offering. The book could have been strengthened by a concluding chapter to underline key success patterns. Still, each chapter offers specific insights and inspiration for both experienced and aspiring Web entrepreneurs. And these powerful perspectives are not for women only. --Barbara Mackoff
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