By #15: Martha Stewart
Lesson: A conviction isn’t a career killer.
Martha Stewart is easily one of the most recognizable names in America. And with good reason. After graduating from Columbia University, she began her professional career as a successful stock broker in the 1960s. Later, following her move to Westport, Connecticut she started a catering business, restored a farm house and ran a gourmet food store in 1976. From there, she built her business juggernaut, Martha Stewart Omnimedia and by 2001 was considered one of the most powerful (and richest) women in America.
Then in 2004 things hit the skids. Following a questionable sale of stock in one of her business ventures, she was convicted of lying to investigators and sent to prison for five months. While that could have been the end for her celebrity-based lifestyle business, Stewart re-emerged and recovered quickly. By 2006, her company had returned to profitability and she is one of the most ubiquitious food and lifestyle personalities on television today.
