Find out more about the amazing corporate escapees and experts who told their stories and shared their advice for this book (or at least the ones who wanted to use their real names).

 

Scott Adams

Author, cartoonist, creator of Dilbert, and co-owner of Stacey’s Café in Pleasanton, California.

 

Caroline Barlerin

Board member of the Taproot Foundation, a nonprofit organization that connects professionals with pro bono work for nonprofits.

 

Andrea Beaman

Chef, holistic health counselor, author, and TV host.

 

Marc Benioff

Founder, chairman, and CEO of Salesforce.com, a leading provider of customer relationship management applications and services.

 

Steve Bernstein

Founder and publisher, Zenbu Media, an integrated music media company with magazine and Web properties, a record label, and an events division.

 

Lisa Bodell

Founder and CEO of Futurethink, an innovation consulting firm.

 
Michelle Boggs

Co-founder and CEO of McKinley Marketing Partners, an interim staffing firm.

 

Kim Brittingham

Writer

 

Marcia Call

President of McKinley Marketing Partners, an interim staffing firm.

 

Laura Cantrell

Musician and recording artist.

 

Ben Cikanek

Executive director of operations for Kidrobot, the cutting-edge art toy and apparel company.

 

Maxine Clark

Founder and Chief Executive Bear for Build-A-Bear Workshop, the retail toy chain.

 

Robert Clauser

Co-founder, Media & Entertainment Holdings.

 

Andrew Coleman

Founder, LeadQual, an online marketing and lead conversion company.

 

Cathy Detloff

Founder, Just Because Originals, an online specialty gift retailer.

 

Tracy Dyer

Co-founder, Urban Junket, a handbag design company.

 

Sally Fegley

Co-founder and co-owner, Tom and Sally’s Handmade Chocolates.

 

Mark Fletcher

Serial entrepreneur and founder of Startupping.com, an online community for Internet entrepreneurs.

 

Richard Fouts

Founder and CEO of Comunicado, a marketing communications consultancy.

 

Aliza Freud

Founder and CEO of SheSpeaks, a market research firm.

 

Tevis Gale

Founder, Balance Integration, a company that offers work–life balance training and resources for corporations.

 

Rich Gee

Founder, Rich Gee Coaching, an executive coaching practice.

 

David Hersh

Co-founder and vice president of business development for Multiply, the social networking community.

 

Perez Hilton

Blogger, Perezhilton.com.

 

Andy Hines

Futurist and director of consulting for Social Technologies, a global research and consulting firm specializing in foresight and innovation.

 

Carolyn Hudson

Singer, songwriter, and musician.

 

Ralph Jovine

CEO, Grand Central Solutions, a software and development firm.

 

Alex Kay

COO, Word World, a kids’ entertainment and education company.

 

Jim Koch

Founder and chairman of the Boston Beer Company, the nation’s largest microbrewery and brewer of Samuel Adams.

 

David Kucher

Writer, editor, teacher, dramaturg.

 

Laurence Lederer

Founder and CEO of GuidePoint Health, a health insurance provider specializing in the individual and small-group market.

 

Georgia Lee

Writer/director/producer of the feature film Red Doors and co-founder of Blanc de Chine Entertainment.

 

Lynne Lerner

Founder, Pet Project Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the human–animal bond.

 

Kenneth Lesley

Teacher

 

Paul Lieberstein

Writer/co-executive producer/actor, The Office (US).

 

Rob Malkani

Writer/executive producer of the feature film Day Zero and founder, Curbside Pictures.

 

Erika Mangrum

Founder and president, Iatria Spa and Health Centers.

 

Shannon McCaffery

Founder and chief implementation officer of McCaffery Communications, a marketing services agency.

 

Nicole Arslanian McCarthy

Founder and president of Talene Reilly, maker of stylish laptop bags and handbags.

 

Sarma Melngailis

Co-founder and owner of Pure, a popular Manhattan raw food restaurant, and One Lucky Duck, a retailer of raw food products.

 

Anthony Moody

Executive producer of the feature film Day Zero and founder of Indalo Productions.

 

Daniel Nahmod

Singer-songwriter.

 

Genevieve Piturro

Founder and director of Pajama Program, a nonprofit organization that provides warm
pajamas and books to children in need.

 

Marcia Reynolds

Public speaker, author, and leadership coach.

 

Marie Elena Rigo

Founder and president, MER Life Design, a feng shui and interior design consulting firm.

 

Jon Rochetti

Interim marketing executive for McKinley Marketing Partners and travel blogger.

 

Joshua Rosenthal

Founder and director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, an organization that trains professional health counselors.

 

Michael Sands

Founder and CEO of LesserEvil Brand Snack Co., makers of healthier snacks.

 

Sharon Sausville

Full-time mom.

 

Jeremy Skillings

Founder and President, SEO Help Desk, a search engine optimization firm specializing in small businesses.

 

Julie Smith

Interim marketing executive for McKinley Marketing Partners.

 

Sherrill St. Germain, MBA, CFP

Founder, New Means Financial Planning.

 

Richard Tait

Co-founder and Grand Poo-Bah, Cranium, the toy and game company.

 

Jeri Thorne

Interim marketing executive for McKinley Marketing Partners.

 

Cheryl Todmann

Director of community relations for the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, one of Brooklyn’s most prominent community service organizations.

 

Liz Wald

Founder and managing partner of EDImports, a company that imports handmade goods crafted by women in developing nations.

 

Tim Zagat

Co-founder, co-chair, and CEO of Zagat Survey, the survey publishing firm.