Susan M Lyne

She dropped out of college and lived in a commune. She wrote for magazines and then founded one. While leading ABC Entertainment, she green-lighted "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives." She later led Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia while Stewart was in prison. During the recession she led Gilt Groupe to financial success. Her name is Susan Lyne, and now she's helping more female founders through a fund called BBG, or Built by Girls. Since September 2014, Ms. Lyne has served as President and Managing Partner of BBG Ventures, an AOL-backed investment fund focused on women-led tech startups. From February 2013 to September 2014, Ms. Lyne was Chief Executive Officer of the AOL Brand Group where she oversaw the content brands of AOL, Inc., a global media technology company, including TechCrunch, Engadget, StyleList, Moviefone and MapQuest. From September 2008 to February 2013, she was Chief Executive Officer and then Chair of Gilt Groupe, Inc., the innovative ecommerce company that pioneered flash sales in the United States. From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Lyne served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., a diversified media and merchandising company. From 1996 to 2004, Ms. Lyne held various positions at The Walt Disney Company, a diversified worldwide entertainment company, including President of ABC Entertainment. Ms. Lyne is currently a director of Brit Media, Inc. and has previously served as a director of Gilt Groupe, Inc., AOL, Inc., Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. and Starz Entertainment Group, LLC. In addition, Ms. Lyne is a trustee of Rockefeller University and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.