Mary Kay Mehaffey

Growing up in a Detroit suburb "on the wrong side of the tracks" taught Mary Kay the street smarts that launched her career. "I learned that, if you pay attention, people will show you who they are and what matters to them," says Mary Kay. "They'll teach you everything you need to succeed."

When Mary Kay brought her street smarts and people skills into the corporate world, she was quickly catapulted up the management ladder. Working within two international manufacturing giants, she won notoriety for her unique ability to assess market conditions and gain competitive edge. She won acclaim for her innovative ideas and breakthrough use of technology.

In the 80s, Mary Kay transitioned full-time into advertising and marketing in management for major media corporations. For twenty highly-successful years, she was deeply involved on both ends of growing businesses, for her employers and for their clients.

From her unique access inside hundreds of big and small businesses, Mary Kay witnessed costly marketing and advertising mistakes. "Many businesses think it's enough just to advertise," says Mary Kay. "I showed them how to get better results by listening to their consumers and reading market conditions so we could build marketing and advertising strategies that hit the mark. I taught my clients to pay attention to the market because it will teach you everything you need to succeed."

Mary Kay opened her own agency in 2006. "It's been my most fulfilling career experience yet," she says. "A client once told me I improved the quality of his life because of what I did for his company. What a high! Let's face it. What other industry would let me meet so many fascinating people and interesting businesses that use logic and creativity to such a good end?"