Who wants to be a millionaire? For Deb Knowles, Michele Fuller and Rosalia Holmlund, the first million in revenues was more a major milestone than the ultimate goal. What propelled them forward were the ethics of hard work, persistence and a passion for what they do, as well as a desire to provide for their families and to give back to the Sarasota/Manatee community. All three women forged their way through the traditionally male-dominated business world of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s to establish their own companies. Here are their stories.

A HEALTHY START
Deb Knowles

From an early age, Deb Knowles knew she wanted to retire young. With the unwavering support of her mother and two sisters, Knowles, whose father passed away when she was 11, grew up to found Corporate Health Strategies—a company that revolutionized the way healthcare data was analyzed in the early ’80s—at 28 years old. She sold that company to Metropolitan Life just two years later, then founded another data analysis company, The Raleigh Group, and achieved success again. After retiring at 42, just two years later than she’d originally planned, Knowles, now 55, moved to Sarasota, where, in addition to doing “a very little bit of consulting,” is now actively involved in philanthropy and recreational outdoor activities. “My husband and I love hiking, biking, swimming and kayaking,” she says.

Mother knows best: I came home from school crying one day and told my mother that I didn’t want to be a nurse, a teacher or a librarian. Mom laughed and told me that I could be anything I wanted to, and that she’d help me.

Preparing for takeoff: After graduating from business school at Cornell, I started doing research with a group of male professors from Yale who came up with an innovative technology and methodology for analyzing healthcare data. When I saw what they had, I said, “Hey, we can make a lot of money with this.” But they weren’t interested in starting a private company, and they literally patted me on the head and told me to go do it. I said, “Great.”

Marketing to the masses: With a handful of transparencies and some made-up data, I maxed out my student credit card on Amtrak tickets and traveled up and down the East Coast, cold calling every corporation I could reach along the way. A major problem for these businesses was managing their healthcare costs; when I told them I could help, it got me in the door. They were shocked that a young woman was assuring them that she could manage their multimillion-dollar problems.

Her first million: I started my company in the early 1980s and sold it to Metropolitan Life two years later. When I got the contracts, I called my mom and said, “I can’t believe it! You should see all these big numbers!” But I knew that wasn’t the end—I wanted to do it again.

The XX factor: At that time, it was very unusual to be a woman in my position. All my clients were men; I was [often] the only businesswoman in first class on a plane or at a hotel. But thankfully, my clients were very accepting and supportive.

The taste of success: At one point, I was staying at a hotel in California and went down to have a quick breakfast before seeing a client. The waiter brought me raspberry jelly, which was my father’s favorite, and I sat there and thought about him and how he would be proud. Another big reward, of course, was knowing I could take care of my mom. It was wonderful to achieve success for her.

Words of wisdom: Set a goal and have a plan. Push as hard as you can. Learn how to listen—that was a main contributor to my success. I also hired people who were smarter than me. I never saw them as a threat; they were a fabulous benefit.

COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
Michele Fuller

The most appropriate word to describe Michele Fuller would be “dynamo.” A powerhouse real estate agent with Coldwell Banker and the former owner of a successful inn on Martha’s Vineyard, Fuller and her business partner, Jag Grewal, formed Commercial SRQ Real Estate Group and were recently recognized as Coldwell Banker’s top commercial real estate team in Florida and the No. 5 commercial sales associates in the United States. In addition to her packed work life and community involvement, the 40-something Fuller also recently adopted her two-year-old son, Raj, from Nepal. She credits her success to never questioning herself when she started both businesses. “My passion drove them; I just knew that they would grow,” she says. “Trusting yourself and your judgment, even when things are down, is so important. You can’t ever let that go.”