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Designing Success: Lessons from 20 Years as a Female Tech Entrepreneur by Catherine Connelly

November 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Catherine Connelly

Book Review

Designing Success by author and entrepreneur Catherine Connelly offers a fresh perspective on achieving true fulfillment and balance in a world where burnout has become the norm. This book is your blueprint for creating an environment that fosters growth and empowers you to succeed on your terms.

Author of the new book, Designing Success, Catherine Connelly began her entrepreneurial journey at fifteen when she cofounded an early social network, which evolved into a thriving portfolio of dating apps serving millions. Despite fierce competition and rapid technological shifts, her team’s intentional approach to growth and strategy led to two sales: $100 million in 2011 and $500 million in 2020. Drawing from her experiences, Catherine shares actionable strategies to help you design a life where you can thrive. You’ll gain practical tools for setting boundaries, automating decisions, and fostering meaningful connections. Learn how to align your life with your core values, create more time for what matters most, and lead with authenticity.

Designing Success is for ambitious dreamers, overworked caregivers, and aspiring leaders. It’s for anyone seeking to break free from the treadmill of constantly adapting to external pressures to build a life tailored to your needs and goals.

Author Quotes

This book is for ambitious dreamers who work hard but want to know what they are working for.

Look internally to find your own definition of success. It doesn’t matter what other people think of it. But don’t keep that definition or the journey of getting there to yourself.

The issue with keeping our values hidden is that, as a society, we cannot work together to achieve our goals. Still, it’s useful to have a measure of success.

About the author

Catherine Connelly is an award-winning entrepreneur, marketing leader, and engaging speaker. Catherine cofounded myYearbook at fifteen and grew it to eventually become The Meet Group, a NASDAQ-listed social dating and livestreaming company connecting millions of active users globally. She led brand strategy and marketing for The Meet Group through mergers, acquisitions, and rebrands. She left The Meet Group after a successful exit. Catherine graduated from Georgetown University and holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner for the Philadelphia Region in 2011. Catherine has been featured on CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, MTV, ABC News, Fox News, CosmoGIRL, BusinessWeek, the San Francisco Chronicle, and CBS.

linkedin.com/in/catherinecookconnelly


Why LoA loves it…

Getting the balance right as an entrepreneur can be a constant juggling game, but it’s possible to navigate a path that works for you and is authentic. In her new book, Designing Success: Lessons from 20 Years as a Female Tech Entrepreneur, author and entrepreneur Catherine Connelly, provides some personal insights and a wealth of experience to help you on your own entrepreneurial and life journey. It’s a fascinating read and one that can help every fellow women entrepreneur to navigate their own successful journey. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
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Morongwe Mokone, a passionate champion of artisanal homeware

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c
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Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized
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Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has
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The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he
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Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi

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