Joan (Josie) Hadden
Josie majored in Business in college because she thought it would get her a good job and because it didn’t require a minor so she could take lots of electives. But, no one told her that “women’s lib” hadn’t happened yet. So she entered the business world at Fairchild Semiconductor as an Intermediate Clerk. During her 7 years there, she was the first woman to break through the management gender barrier – in Personnel (Human Resources).
Then, Josie and her husband started their first company the second year they were married and have had their own companies ever since. They are currently into the 19th year of their third company. It is a virtual corporation, outsourcing almost everything, and creating teams of consultants as needed on a project basis.
In philanthropy she primarily supports global issues, especially women’s educational, economic and social opportunities, environmental justice, and human rights, especially women’s equality.