Reprintable Interview Questions - Business and My Beginnings

When did you get your first computer and what kind was it?

When I was 4 my parents bought my brother and me a Commodore 64. When we got older they got us a Mac to share, so we would rush home from school every day to be the first one to get to use it. Finally my dad got fed up with us fighting over the computer,so when my mother was out of town on a business trip, he went out and bought my brother and me each a PowerMac 6100. I had it on a desk in my bedroom and I used to spend all my free time using it. I grew up in the country so when I got connected to the Internet in 1994, my computer became even more important - it became my link to the world beyond--and a valuable tool for expressing my creativity!

Can you describe the origins of your website business? How did you get started? What were your first sites?

I have always lived in a very computer-literate family. I got my own computer, a Power Mac, when I was 14 and got hooked up to the net as soon as it was available to the public. In 1994 I began the planning and development of New Faces® (www.newfaces.com) and the planning and writing of articles for HILARY Magazine (www.hilary.com). By 1995 the sites were complete,live and officially launched.

Based on my modeling interests (I have modeled with the Ford agency and Elite Model Mgmt), New Faces® is an image-rich online database of models, actors, and photographers portfolios. It became very successful very quickly, because it was the first site of its kind. The success of NewFaces.com prompted me to write several ebooks about modeling, to helping people find out what it takes to be a model while avoiding scams and rip-offs. They are now sold on NewFaces.com

When I was a teenager I read a lot of magazines, really wanted to be a magazine editor. When I was 14, living in Port Hope (just outside of Toronto), I got hooked up to the Internet and started a simple website with a collection of my articles, by posting on a free site. It started out as a very early form of a blog, but with long articles. In 1995, when I was 15, I taught myself code and web design by trial and error, and evolved my articles into "HILARY Magazine". It was the first online magazine in the english language and was created to let people voice their opinions in a fun, magazine-style format. Today, the magazine focuses on luxury lifestyle, fashion and female empowerment, and I have over 30 contributors, full time staff and a base in New York City.

Were you a computer geek?

It depends on your definition of computer geek! My friends affectionately call me a computer geek from time to time. I don't mind it. I think it's one of those words that have gotten a bad rap but in actuality could often be considered a compliment depending on how you look at it! When I was a kid I used to spend a lot of time on the computer writing or occasionally--and I hate to admit it because, wow, what a time-suck!--playing games like Myst and Sim City. I definitely loved both the design and the programming aspects of creating web sites.It fascinated me that I could create something so real with computers, and that it was being viewed by so many people around the world.

I read an article that said you had purchased the domain names to some 115 different websites. Is this accurate? Are domains a better investment than real estate?

I've actually got closer to 300 domains now. I usually only register domains when I have a business idea, but that seems to be quite often, so I have a lot of domains that were for potential company names I was thinking of. Too many ideas and not enough time! I started investing in real estate when I was 18, and so far I've had a much better return on that.

What did (and do) you love about working with computers?

Ever since I was old enough to remember I've had, and loved, computers. My brother and I used to race home from the school bus to see who could be the first to get to the computer. We had wars over who got to use that thing. I love what the computer lets me do. I love design, and the computer lets me do different kinds of design than I would otherwise be able to do. Like Web design, for example.

What inspired you to start your first business?

I started NewFaces.com, which was the first online database of models and actors available for work, when I was 15. It is frequented by the biggest casting names in the entertainment industry and was the first and is still the biggest and most prestigious online portfolio database. I have always lived by the philosophy that I can do anything I put my mind to. I started New Faces® based on an idea I had and it never entered my mind that it would be difficult or not succeed. I guess the eternal optimism of youth paid off in this case!

What kind of support did you have (parental help, business loans, etc.)?

My parents have always been very supportive of everything I do. My mother is a very talented artist and has great business suggestions. She's worked for me part-tiem for the past few years. Other than that, I have done everything myself, including thinking up the concepts and creating the Web sites. Because I already had computer supplies, and designing Web sites doesn't require a lot of capital (just business smarts!) other than a computer and software, I thankfully haven't had a need to get any financial help or loans.

Where did you learn to design Web sites?

I didn't take any classes for Web design. In fact, when I started there weren't any! I started designing Web sites in early 1995 and I learned the tricks of the trade over time. I guess you could say I learned on the job. It was the best way to learn, for me. When I was a teenager I worked about 80 hours a week, not because I had to, but because I loved it!

When I started, no one I knew had any idea what the Internet was, let alone what an email address is. I pretty much learned on the go. HTML was much simpler back then and got more and more complex as the years passed. It was easier to learn progressively rather than jumping in later and having to get up to speed all at once.

What is the most rewarding part of running a business?

The most rewarding part of running my own business is knowing that everything I do is building my company and my future. I don't have to worry about working my hardest to help grow somebody else's company and then getting laid off and knowing that all my hard work was for nothing.

Are there any success stories you could share about the people who are on New Faces?

A large number of emails come in every day from casting agents and modeling agencies around the world requesting to see or speak to the actors and models on New Faces®. It's not uncommon for a model to upgrade and be contacted by top agencies including Elite, Storm, Next, and Ford, or to be cast in a major blockbuster within 24 hours. It happens all the time. We have systems set up that notify agents of each model or actor who upgrades. We get lots of success stories emailed to us. There is actually a page on the site that lists some of them. It's getting to be too long, though! I might have to start editing it down.