Yeah, we know: Resolutions are great in theory but seldom pan out the way we’d planned. We resolve to wake up early, exercise more, spend more time with family and forgo our favorite sinful foods in favor of healthier options. Kale, anyone?
But we can’t help but make them — because every year offers the opportunity to start fresh, to chart a new course, to do what you wanted to but didn’t the year before. So we asked some of the business leaders we’ve spoken with in 2014 what they are hoping to accomplish come 2015, whether personally or professionally, and they answered. Probably because putting it down in writing, on a national website, will serve as motivation not to let another resolution go un-accomplished.
Ilana Stern
CEO of Weddington Way
My 2015 New Year’s resolution is to meditate daily first thing in the morning, even if it is only for 5 or 10 minutes. No matter how busy the day, I can always carve out 5 minutes. I have always been intrigued by meditation, but I have never made the space for it. After reading about Harvard’s recent study that proves that just eight weeks of meditation can actually change the brain, I resolved that 2015 would be the year of mindfulness for me, starting with meditation.
Click here to learn how Stern raised $9M for her company — on her own terms.
Reshma Saujani
Founder of Girls Who Code
My resolution is to empower my incredibly talented team at Girls Who Code to take this movement we’re building to the next level. The potential to close the gender gap in technology is here, and as a leader, it’s my job in 2015 to unleash it.
Read more about the latest developments at Girls Who Code, including major corporate partnerships.
Dahna Goldstein
Co-founder and CEO of PhilanTech
My favorite Peter Drucker quote is: “Do first things first, and second things not at all.” My New Year’s resolution is to apply a stricter lens to which things are “first things” and which things are “second things.”
Check out how Goldstein, Pipeline Fellow’s first exit, successfully built and sold her business.
Doreen Bloch
CEO of Poshly
Here is one that I’m excited to focus on this year: company culture. Now that Poshly’s team has grown to 10 full-time employees and five-plus contractors in two offices, I am focused more than ever on how we maintain an exceptional company culture and set of values that keeps us passionate and productive with our work.
Click here to read Bloch’s three tips for wow-ing potential investors.
Marla Rausch
Founder and CEO of Animation Vertigo
I don’t usually do resolutions. I just set goals and then head toward those goals. This year I want to: write more things down so I am more organized and feel less out of control; have less fear to pursue opportunities and try new things to reach the goals I’ve set for this year; and find time for myself to gain energy, to center myself and be able to function better for others.
Maggie Lord
Founder and editor, Rustic Wedding Chic
It is very easy to get consumed with side projects and new business ventures often getting in the way of the day-to-day basics a company was built on. I want to spend 2015 really getting back to the basics for Rustic Wedding Chic and focus our efforts on making sure that each and every blog post lives up to the readers’ expectations.
Read more about how Lord’s quest for the perfect rustic wedding inspired a business.
Meg Seitz
Co-founder of the “Bea is for Business” book series
We are doubling our product line in 2015 because of this resolution from our team — an all-in commitment to design more opportunities for kids to learn about business. We want to be bolder, more strategic and more innovative to mirror the energy we see and feel from this young generation of entrepreneurs.
Click here to find out how Seitz is trying to get young girls interested in business — by way of a pig-tailed girl named Bea.
Shunee Yee
CEO of CSOFT
My 2015 resolution is about empowering my employees to do more. I hope to achieve this by further defining their roles, increasing their accountability and finding new opportunities for growth.
Ingrid Vanderveldt
Founder of Empowering a Billion Women by 2020
Continue growing EBW2020 and serve women more with resolutions including: completing the remaining items on my to-do list (releasing my how-to book and workbook), continuing to expand our partnerships to help more women grow and carving out more time to personally share success secrets I have been fortunate to learn and survive through in ways that can be easily shared.
Read more about Vanderveldt and her hunt for her first billion here.
Azi Jamalian
Co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tiggly
First, seek help. Before jumping on a new project, ask myself, ‘Am I the best person to do this? Who can I ask to help me, collaborate with me or even do this for me?’ Also, manage my time wisely. As entrepreneurs we are used to wearing many different hats, learning things on the spot and working on tasks that are outside of our comfort zone (after all someone has to do them, so I’ll get it done!). But in the New Year, before committing to a new task I will first ask myself ‘Is it a good use of my time?’
Click here to find out how years in academia prepared Jamalian for the startup world.
Kelly Stickel
President of Remodista
My business resolution for 2015 is to have the resolve to uphold bold disruption: a mission to educate our brands and businesses on the No. 1 truth that laptop usage is going down and consumer mobility is changing the way the world does business.
Read about how Stickel helped Eileen Fisher learn about tech.
Brennan Barthelemy
Principal of the talent team at Sterling Partners
Make a concerted effort to take time every day — even if for only 10 minutes — to center myself and meditate. We lead busy, hectic and sometimes chaotic lives; it is so important to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally. We spend so much time focusing on physical health, such as exercise and eating right. And that’s very important. But I notice that we often sacrifice the time we need to focus on our mental wellness. I resolve to improve on that this year.
Read about Barthelemy’s tips for networking like a recruiter.
Shannon Van Buskirk
Co-founder of GovX
“Tackle email. I just started using a new app called Mailbox that will help me easily keep my mailbox clean and up to date. I was drowning in emails this past year and spent far too much time trying to keep up, and in the end, I felt I wasted too much time dealing with stuff that wasn’t critical. So far, this app seems to make me zero out my inbox each day. NICE.
Rose Hamilton
EVP & CMO Pet360 Inc
T.S. Eliot once said, ‘Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.’ As I look ahead to 2015, I’m certain of one thing; The pace of change will continue to accelerate. To help support Pet360 Inc. on our road to greatness, my 2015 resolution is to accelerate smart risk-taking by encouraging a culture of courage and curiosity. I’m dedicating this year to unlearning old ways, re-learning new ways, encouraging bold leadership and celebrating what we’re learning on a regular basis.
Click here to find out how Hamilton and her CFO learned to get along.
Cathy Baron Tamraz
Chairwoman and CEO of Business Wire
Business resolutions include: More innovation — it’s how we’ve built our business and will continue to build our business. This year we launched the News and Picture Capsules, two innovative, digital multimedia products that are being very well received by our clients. We will also continue to develop our human capital, one of our greatest assets and continue our focus on security. Personal resolutions include being more patient and practice mindfulness on a more regular basis. Also, to improve my tennis game.
Baron Tamraz was recently named a Women of Influence honoree by the New York Business Journal, a Bizwomen sister publication.
Valerie Grillo
Chief diversity officer for American Express
American Express has provided me with many roles, responsibilities and opportunities to learn and grow as a leader. So my resolution every day I enter the office is to create and support an inclusive culture where everyone can reach his or her full potential.
Click here to find out Grillo has created an inclusive environment — for 50,000 employees.
Shannon Eusey
President and co-founder of Beacon Pointe Advisors
My No. 1 New Year’s resolution is to help women become more knowledgeable about their finances.
Read more about how Eusey built her investment firm from scratch to $7B in assets.
Reba Miller
RP Miller Realty Group
My plans are to continue with good, solid, reliable business and to continue setting ourselves apart with innovative marketing and strategic planning.
Miller was recently named a Women of Influence honoree by the New York Business Journal, a Bizwomen sister publication.
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