Valerie Demicheva

Aarti Shahani reports on all things tech for National Public Radio. A native New Yorker, Shahani is determined to understand Northern California and to bring to light emerging innovation as well as contradictions within the tech ecosystem. Shahani brings a sober perspective to her stories – free of rose colored glasses, yet fair to her subjects. She’s been recognized for her ability to unearth hidden gems with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, an award from the Society of Professional Journa...

In a modern Edwardian home in Russian Hill, more than 60 women gathered recently to hear the founders of billion-dollar children’s clothing company Gymboree, venture-backed health elixir brand Rebbl and the largest nonprofit treating anorexia, Project Heal.
The women weren’t there for a standard “how I succeeded in business” lecture or afterwork networking event. The draw was an unfiltered conversation about battling the unhealthy aspects of results-driven perfectionism that can lead to anore...

The Chronicle's Valerie Demicheva reports from the food technology front: Earlier this month, developers, bloggers and all kinds of food lovers banded together for two straight days (and nights) at......

The gala raised more than $350,000, which goes toward Global Green's initiatives such as building low-income housing for families in the East Bay, helping rebuild cities affected by natural disasters, and advancing the organization's Green Schools Initiative in San Francisco. Global Green's interim executive director, Richard Wegman, said: "The mission is to create a value shift to a more secure and sustainable future."

Kiehl's on Fillmore Street was abuzz with shutterbugs and fans earlier this month as brawny men in black indestructible Belstaff jackets spoke about their commitment to LifeRide, a nine-day motorcycle ride that raises awareness and money for the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). The riders included photographer John Beck, TV...

John C. Jay was voted one of the “Top Ten Most Influential Art Directors of the Past 50 years” by Graphic Design USA Magazine and has received numerous awards for his work in advertising, which includes campaigns for Nike during his time at Wieden+Kennedy as Global Executive Creative Director. Today, Jay serves as President of Global Creative at Fast Retailing Co. and is widely lauded as one of the most creative thinkers in the business.

“I want to bring consumers closer to makers and to take a democratic approach to fashion,” says Lim. Earth & Beauty’s business is driven by customer demand, meaning that rather than warehousing pieces in anticipation of demand, the boutique orders each piece upon purchase. While the business model is not...

A closer look at a few Bay Area organizations with specific missions and dinner series featured in “Bay Area’s new wave of salons encourage real talk and face time — in real life.” The Cosmos: Co-founded by social entrepreneur and former venture capitalist Karen Mok, the Cosmos is a community of creative Asian American, often immigrant, women who help each other thrive through workshops that tackle intimidating, stigmatized issues of being an outsider, such as imposter syndrome, body shame, l...

Code of Honor: New and Old San Francisco Cultures U...

TSG, Chuck Esserman's private equity firm, has delivered net returns topping 24% over his last three funds and more than 35% for TSG’s most recent fund. Yet thirty years ago, Esserman’s brand-centric approach was met with skepticism.

Even giants have a dress code. These masters of their crafts may prefer their t-shirts and jeans when they're out of the limelight, but sooner or later, they have to suit up. Closer Sergio Romo say......

Biking is a kind of meditation for Rich Silverstein, co-chairman and partner of the award-winning advertising agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners - known for the "Got Milk?" commercials, among many others. Having recently moved to San Francisco, his new morning routine includes a quick ride to see his beloved bridge....

500 startups founding partner, Dave McClure, is known for his unfiltered opinions and a diverse portfolio of investments that include Twilio, Credit Karma, MakerBot and Wildfire Interactive. McClure started working at PayPal in 2001, doing technology evangelism and education—geek marketing, as he calls it. He’s witnessed Silicon Valley’s rises and falls from the inside for over two decades. Today, he’s not worried about the threat of the putative tech bubble; he’s concerned about the country’...

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's at TCD.