Interviews with SME Business Leaders – A Series – Mary Lou Jepsen, PixelQi

The mission: to interview growing small and midsized businesses this year as part of a series

The plan: to glean insights specifically from women business leaders which will not only be really exciting to share, but will start to crystalize a picture of how 2010 will take shape from a business perspective.

The questions: (samples)

1) What do you do?

2) How will your business change this year?

3) What advice can you give other business leaders especially women who are looking to learn from your success?

In so doing, I expect to share insight into the way the business world is changing for small and midsized businesses and the way in which women business leaders can rise to the occasion and capitalize on the opportunities, best practices, and advice from other business leaders.

Bright enough to read outside in the natural sunlight.

The business:

For the first of our interviews, we are delighted to have Mary Lou Jepsen, entrepreneur extraordinaire, one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential people in 2008, and currently, founder of a fascinating global company which has offices in the US – Silicon Valley – and Taipei, Taiwan, called Pixel Qi. Pixel Qi designs and manufactures innovative LCD screens for netbooks and ebook readers allowing for a high resolution reading experience without sacrifice to super color for graphics.

The conversation:

Mary Lou, What do you do? I am the Founder and CEO of company making e-paper screens with color and video.

What advice would you give to Women who are growing their business on a fast track like you? It takes total commitment – and big sacrifices.

What was a seminal moment in your professional life? Nicholas Negroponte as a mentor. He was also my boss (which can be the same thing). Nicholas worked closely with me because I could deliver what he needed (the lowest cost, lowest power laptop ever made). I cofounded One Laptop per Child with him and served as CTO. He taught me lots about not just how to think big, but how to execute big. It was the most valuable professional experience of my life so far.

Thanks so, Mary Lou, it has been a real pleasure to have shared your experience. With all the new developments in tablets, the iPAD, netbooks, eBOOK readers, and the like it is sure to be a very exciting year for Pixel Qi.

Mission accomplished? Feel free to suggest other business leaders to interview in this series. I’ll mix it up with video and podcasts, too. I’m looking forward to hearing from readers, so your ideas and nominees are most welcome!