Linda Rottenberg

"Innovator for the 21st Century" (TIME), "America's Best Leader" (U.S. News), "The World's Mentor Capitalist" (Thomas Friedman, The World Is Flat) and "The Entrepreneur Whisperer" (ABC, FOX, NPR) are among the designations given to Linda Rottenberg. The subject of five Harvard Business School and Stanford GSB case studies, Linda is primarily known by another name: Chica Loca ("the Crazy Girl"). Why crazy? Two decades ago, Linda insisted that innovative, high-growth, high-impact entrepreneurs exist outside of Silicon Valley; almost no one believed her. As co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, Linda has led the global entrepreneurship movement since 1997. With 60 offices spanning the world, Endeavor's 500+ member team and international mentor network rigorously identify, select, and scale up the most promising entrepreneurs in emerging and underserved markets, including secondary U.S. cities. The 2000 selected Endeavor Entrepreneurs now generate over $20BN in annual revenues and produce more than 3 million jobs. Linda also oversees the Endeavor Catalyst LP Fund, currently over $200M AUM, which co-invests in top Endeavor Entrepreneurs raising equity capital. Beyond Endeavor, Linda currently serves on three corporate boards: a leading bandwidth infrastructure company (NYSE: ZAYO); a pioneering software developer (NYSE: GLOB); and a digital food-ordering platform (OLO). Linda is also a member of the Yale President's Council on International Activities (Yale PCIA). Her book, CRAZY IS A COMPLIMENT: The Power of Zigging When Everyone Else Zags, became an instant NYT bestseller. Other recognitions include: Global Leader for Tomorrow/Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum); 2017 Visionary Award (Silicon Valley Forum); Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (Babson College); 2018 Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment (Heinz Family Foundation). A graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, Linda lives in Brooklyn Heights with her husband, author Bruce Feiler, and identical twin daughters, Tybee and Eden.