Mia Haugen, Former Forbes Video Editor and Now Video Entrepreneur 

Writers and Journalists…if there are two categories of professionals I have longed admired, it is those two.

So In 2011, I advised Atlanta-based media startup NewsCertified and collaborated with them in the development of “Influencing the Headlines” media skills workshops for executive women. At the inaugural event in New York, I had the pleasure of meeting Mia Haugen (and fortunately for me, we’ve stayed in close contact).

Mia’s career is both impressive and inspiring. She’s held the roles of Managing Editor for CNN Business News and Forbes Media before taking a cross-country startup leap of faith, leaving NYC for the west coast to launch “The Gavin Newsom Show” [hosted by the lieutenant governor of California] on Current TV.  When that gig ended (Al Gore sold Current TV to Al Jazeera in 2013), Mia did what one does in San Francisco, especially when one has discovered their entrepreneurial itch: launched her own company!

Her first entrepreneurial venture is a media start-up, VorVideo, that creates high quality, short-form strategic story-telling with videos tailored to web, smart phone and tablet distribution. Mia has been meddling in video since her Executive Editor days at Forbes where she was publishing nearly one hundred original series a week, from the flagship show, “Intelligent Investing with Steve Forbes” through the launch of the second video series with Moira Forbes, “Women to Watch.”

Mia has always sought out cutting-edge opportunities (an attribute that explains her career in media and now launching her own venture) – and yes, Mia, we’re curious to see how the story arch of your current adventure plays out.

Who are your heroes? 
Ordinary people with extraordinary lives.

What is your current challenge?  
Building my start-up to a sustainable company.

Your greatest achievement? 
Maintaining my integrity.

What is your motto?  
Every day is a clean slate.

Why are you an entrepreneur?  
How can I be anything else?

What problem are you solving?
Moving from selfies and YouTube to engaging people in strategic story-telling.

What problem would you like solved? 
ISIS.

Item you wish you had invented?
Stylish pumps.

Biggest regret?  
Living too long in my comfort zone.

Which talent would you like to have?
I wish I could sing. 

Best pat on the back you’ve ever received? 
Becoming managing editor of CNNfn.

Advice you wish you’d had (or had followed)? 
Don’t worry about the naysayers.

Your pitch in 140 characters?
“VorVideo delivers high quality, short-form strategic story-telling with journalistic integrity and clear messaging, at a great price.” 

Your bio in 6 words?
Mia Haugen loves to climb mountains

The Twitter follower you can’t live without?
@blendedvalue 

Your nails on a chalkboard moment? 
People chewing gum.

The job you’d actually like?
Running a global, enterprising media company. 

Biggest misconception about being an entrepreneur is?
That it’s lonely. 

Inc. or Rolling Stone or…..? Which magazine cover? 
Bergens Tidende, Norway (oh! I did that…).

What are you reading?
Behind the Beautiful Forevers… in paperback.

What book is your must-read? 
 The Road Less Traveled  (and every book written by my husband, Jed Emerson). 

What book did you read which would have been put to better use as a doorstop?
Dick Cheney’s autobiography. 

If I wanted to do what you’re doing…what’s your advice?
Keep a positive attitude in face of adversity. 

What conference would you like to keynote?
Just give me a bullhorn at the opening night of Burning Man. 

Short cut, long route, road less travelled? What’s your roadmap?
You make your path as you walk.

Podium you’d like to stand on?
Speakers’ Corner, London’s Hyde Park.

What makes you LOL?
My husband’s bad jokes. 

What’s the most important startup/entrepreneurship lesson you’ve learned?
Change is hard. 

What would be the title of your biography?
Please Don’t Say (I Did it My Way).

Your Ferris Bueller moment. If you could goof-off/skip out for a day, what would you do?
Hike the Pacific Coast Trail.

One place in time you’d like to visit?
The present. 

Part of the trick to staying focused is?  
Knowing what you’re supposed to do. 

You take a three-hour ocean tour and get stranded…what three items do you have with you? 
My latest book, next month’s newspaper, and sunscreen.

One last thing: what’s the question I should be asking you?
How did you raise children, make a career and find true love?