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It's 6:30 a.m.,
and the "serial
CEO" is on her
cell phone, at
yet another
airport, in yet
another city
heading to yet
another meeting.
For
businesswoman
Charlene Steele
Vaughn, this is
just a typical
morning. Vaughn
began her
illustrious
career at
Recycled Paper
Products, where
she says she was
able to grow and
learn a lot from
a company that
was in the early
stages of its
own growth. "That
was my first
real
entrepreneurial
experience. I
learned that you
can gather a
wealth of
knowledge and
build your
business skills,"
she says.
Vaughn believes
that that first
real job out of
college can
teach people a
great deal. She
adds, "It will
give you the
opportunity to
see where your
weaknesses lie.
You'll be
surprised how
much you will
push yourself,
how motivated
you will become."
One word comes
to mind when you
think of Vaughn,
and that's "entrepreneur."
She doesn't mind
the label, and
jokingly recalls
that colleagues
in Silicon
Valley used to
refer to her as
a "serial CEO."
Experienced with
numerous
technology start-ups,
financing, and
mergers, Vaughn
has covered a
wide spectrum of
roles in her
career. She
worked for the
global
advertising
giant Ogilvy &
Mather and was a
founding
executive of
Time Warner
Interactive.
Vaughn was also
president and
CEO of Chuck
Jones Studio
Productions. She
served as
president and
CEO of the Tunes
Network, Inc.
and as the
Chairman and
founding CEO of
Middlewire, Inc.
Vaughn also
serves on the
boards of
several
prestigious
organizations,
including the
Asian Silicon
Valley
Connection, The
Red Herring
Asian Advisory
Board, Women
Impacting Public
Policy and Women
in Technology
International.
Incredibly, she
has acquired
this wealth of
experience and
success in only
10 years!
Currently,
Vaughn is
founder and CEO
of the Algonquin
Group, a venture
fund and
development
company where
she serves as an
advisor to a
number of
leading emerging
technology
companies. This
global
consortium of
multi-national
service
companies aids
U.S corporations
in their global
expansion into
the Pacific and
Chinese markets.
"If you're an
American company
that wants to
expand and grow
in those markets,
how do you know
where to go? The
same holds true
for an Asian
company. We're
here to help
bridge that gap
with our
knowledge and
years of
experience,"
Vaughn says.
It's easy to see
how enthusiastic
she is about the
prospect of
helping emerging
companies expand
their markets.
As far as Vaughn
is concerned,
the "glass
ceiling" is not
a problem for
her. "I see
myself just as
an executive,"
she says. Vaughn
believes women
in the business
world should
help each other
with any
challenges they
may face. |
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She also has advice for
any woman about to enter
the world of
entrepreneurs - follow
what you enjoy. "All
your energy and
inspiration will help
you build a great
business. Seek out
mentors, people who have
done it right and even
made a few mistakes. You
will learn a great deal
from them," she says.
Vaughn that adds it
doesn't matter if your
mentor is male or female
- it's more important
that they be an
inspiration.
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Vaughn's Travel Tips
As a frequent business traveler, Vaughn suggests ways to keep yourself safe when you're on the road.
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Travel light. Don't overpack, especially when it comes to your wardrobe - be versatile.
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Leave the laptop. Many hotels have business facilities for customers to use; take advantage of this if you can.
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Wear minimal jewelry. You will have to take it off every time you go through the checkpoints.
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Use smaller airports. This will save you time - the lines tend to be smaller, wait time is cut down and there are fewer delays.
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Patronize regional carriers. The smaller carriers can be helpful for business travelers.
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Be a frequent customer. Whenever possible, stick to the same hotel chain, car rental, airline etc. It is better to be in a place where people recognize you. In addition, you will get superior service when they know you are a repeat customer.
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Be aware of your surroundings. Let people know what you're doing, and look out for others as well.
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