Deborah Reber - In Their Shoes. Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers

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To Derin, my workmate, playmate, and partner for life

SIMON PULSE

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

This Simon Pulse edition January 2015

Text copyright 2007, 2015 by Deborah Reber

Cover illustration copyright 2015 by Karina Granda

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

Cover designed by Karina Granda

Interior designed by John Candell

Author photograph by Kip Beelman

The text of this book was set in Avenir.

Library of Congress Control Number 2006928451

ISBN 978-1-4814-2812-5 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4814-2811-8 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4814-4046-2 (eBook)

Photo credits:

writing this book didnt actually feel like work at all. I mean, bringing together an incredible group of women to inspire and inform teens? How lucky am I ? For their help, guidance, and support in writing In Their Shoes , I am filled with gratitude to:

My husband, Derin (aka my rock): Thank you for believing in this idea and encouraging me to make it happen from the very beginning. You are my constant source of support, insight, and love, and your faith in me makes me feel like I can do anything!

My son, Asher: The gifts you give me every day help me grow in ways I never knew possible.

My mom and dad, Dale and MaryLou: You have always believed in my ability to do and be anything. Thank you!

My sister, Michele: Thank you for reading countless outlines, notes, and drafts and giving me invaluable feedback at every stage of this book. Your positive reinforcement is a huge force in my life.

My in-laws, Barbara and David Basden: Thank you for your encouragement and interest in my writing ventures.

My support team of Alice Wilder, AnneMarie Kane, Ed Adams, and Rene Adams: I know I can come to you at any time with anything and youre there to share your honest insight, valued opinions, and most of all, your belief in me. I couldnt do what I do without you!

My dog, Baxter: For keeping me company by lying under my desk day after day.

My intern, Anna Minard: Thank you for sharing your great research skills with me, but even better, sharing your enthusiasm for this project and being an excellent sounding board at every step of the way.

Bridget Perry: Thank you for getting what I was trying to do and helping me brainstorm the ideas that shaped this into the book it is!

My friends who allowed me to babble on endlessly about my process: Tip Blish, Alison Bower, Mardi Douglass, Peter Koorey, Stephanie Lucash, Darcey Pickard, and Marty Silano.

Ed Adams, Rene Adams, Crai Bower, Britta Couris, Lee Davis, Loch Phillipps, Dave Rosencranz, Lee Skaife, Lisa Viscardi, Chad Willett, Gia Duke, and Sasha Nosecchi, as well as Avon, CARE, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, Scripps Oceanography Institute, and Seattle WriterGrrls: thank you for introducing me to some of the incredible women inside this book.

My agent, Susan Schulman: Your belief in me and my vision for bringing important media to teen girls is truly valued and appreciated.

Jen Bergstrom: Thank you for bringing this seed of an idea to life and realizing its potential.

Michelle Nagler: You know how I feel about working with you. You are a dream editor! Thank you for trusting in me to do what I do best, and for sharing your incredible creative and business skills with me.

Patrick Price: Thank you for being such a fantastic pro to work with on the updated edition.

Cara Bedick: Your perspective and enthusiasm throughout this project has been invaluable. Thank you for taking a special interest!

The extraordinary women in In Their Shoes : This book would be nothing without your stories, inspiration, and advice to bring it to life. Thank you for opening up and letting us inside your work and personal lives. Each one of you is making a powerful mark on the career women of tomorrow!

Russell Gordon, Ann Zeak, Mike Rosamilia, Lisa Fyfe, Joel Avirom, Jason Snyder, and Meghan Day Healey, the incredible designers who brought the content of this book to life: You took a lot of material and packaged it beautifully to make it readable and accessible. Thank you for doing such an amazing job!

My power team at Simon & Schuster, who put their all into making this book a success: Bethany Buck, Paul Crichton, Katherine Devendorf, Jaime Feldman, Lucille Rettino, and Orly Sigal.

And last but not least, to all the teen girls who gave me feedback and provided questions to ask each woman in the book: Thank you for sharing your dreams, goals, and point of view. This book is for you!

She dreamed up Greys Anatomys McDreamy

She knows what were all made of

She brokers million-dollar deals

She makes women athletes look great

Shes hard on crime

She invented a job doing everything that she loves

She supports special kids

Matt (Damon) knows her on a first-name basis

She designs the products of tomorrow

Shes got her own action figure

Her work hangs in Times Square

She gets paid to snorkel

She works with the masters

Her jobs a beach

Shes there for her patients

She gets paid to play Duck, Duck, Goose

She never leaves home without her calculator

She started her career when she was twelve

She runs an operating room for animals

Shes always in kick-butt shape

She ignites girls to reach their potential

She shops for the stars

She gets paid to play games

She speaks for celebs

She changes the skyline

She always flies first class

They get paid to eat

Her voice is heard around the world

She works with imaginary friends

She writes for the big screen

She welcomes babies into the world

She gets paid to improve peoples smiles

She views the world through a lens

She helps businesses make an impression

She has to reapply for her job every six years

Shes the last word before going to press

Shes breaking barriers in law enforcement

She helps shape the community

Her office is in Africa

She helps people tune in

She knows every IKEA around the world inside and out

She built her own Hollywood empire

She holds the companys vision

Her work is classified

She makes a lasting impression

Shes a pain reliever

She helps people love their lives

She gets paid to be someone else

She reads books for a living

when I was a teen, there were three things my parents heard from me on any given day. The first was I dont know as an automatic response to any question regarding why I had done something stupid. The second was the lyrics to some pop song, sung at the top of my lungs while playing the air guitar. And the third? I figured out what I want to be when I grow up.