Laura Tidwell
Founder, President and CEO
Enginehouse Media
Laura Tidwell, founder, president and CEO of Enginehouse Media, one of the fastest growing Internet advertising agencies in the country, distinguished herself early on as a pioneer of the Internet.
In 1992, Tidwell jump-started her own company called Circulation Sales Inc., which specialized in promotions and sales for the San Jose Mercury News, The San Francisco Chronical, and The San Francisco Examiner. She also gathered valuable Internet information for the Mercury News during an early Internet partnership program with AOL.
In early 1994, Tidwell met Vince Gelormine, author of several Internet books and founder of LinkStar. Convinced of the enormous possibilities for success in the Internet world, Tidwell decided to sell her business and work with Gelormine for one year to gain the experience needed to start her own Internet Company. As director of sales and marketing at LinkStar, she developed one of the first revenue-generating banner advertising programs and secured top name advertisers such as Microsoft and TravelWeb.
One year later Tidwell formed Advantage Advertising, specializing in consulting for online advertising and developing online media buying strategies. She successfully serviced clients such as Encyclopedia Britannica Online, and Thomas Register on American Manufacturers. In November of 1998, the company name changed to Enginehouse Internet Media Buyers.
Today, Enginehouse Media operates as a full service ad agency with offices in major markets around the country.
1. What was your first job in technology?
2. What has been your greatest challenge and what strategies did you use to overcome obstacles?
3. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Why?
4. What lessons have you learned that would be valuable to women beginning their careers in technology?
5. What new technology do you believe will have the most positive impact on the world in the next 20 years? The most negative impact?
On a lighter note:
2. What was the last book you read? What books do you love to recommend?
3. If you couldn't do what you are doing now, what profession would you choose?
4. What is your definition of success?
My first job in technology was selling and building Web pages back in 1994 before anyone even really knew what the Web was.
My greatest challenge was overcoming my fears, and realizing that I could do anything I put my mind to. I think back now to the early days of Enginehouse Media and AdOctane, and I realize how silly I was to be afraid to take that next step. Overcoming that challenge took lots of positive self talk. I had to convince myself that building something (whether it be the company or the technology) just meant taking a lot of little steps in the right direction. It's all about putting one foot in front of the other ... moving forward one step at a time, and next thing you know, you've built something great!
My parents were the most influential people in my life because from the time I was a baby they taught me to have faith and believe in myself.
Accept challenges. Don't be afraid to think outside of the box.
Advances in medicine through the technology of genetic engineering will have its impact on everyone from newborn babies and top-level executives to athletes and grandparents bound to wheelchairs. These genetic advances will truly affect the length and style of our life over the next 20 years. Genetic engineering, arguably, will have tremendous positive and negative impacts on life in this world and how we do business in it.
1. If you could have dinner with any 2 people (living or not), who would they be?
My husband and Queen Elizabeth 1.
Elizabeth 1, CEO. I definitely recommend that book to all women!
I really enjoy being a mother and would like more time for that, but as another profession I'd choose art because of the freedom of expression it gives one.
For me success is happiness for myself and my family. I think if you can find true happiness then you are successful no matter what you do to earn a living.
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