Ina Garten

Ina Garten: Profile

When she left her job in government to buy a small specialty food store 30 years ago, Ina Garten showed how taking risks and pursuing one's passion changes everything.

In 1978, Ina Garten found herself working in the White House on nuclear energy policy—and feeling unfulfilled with the course of her career. With little experience and no professional training as a chef, Garten boldly decided to follow her passion for food and entertaining in buying a small, 300-square-foot food store named Barefoot Contessa. Garten's sheer determination built Barefoot Contessa into a national household name and multi-platform lifestyle empire currently consisting of Barefoot Contessa Pantry products, cookbooks and the Emmy Award-winning Barefoot Contessa show on the Food Network.

Describing herself as a business person who cooks, Garten shares the pivotal decisions and moments that shaped her career while offering insights on creating a vision, following it and being ready to meet challenges head-on. Known for her trademark wit, warmth and humility, Garten's life is an inspiring example of how to align your passion with what you do—and in the process turn both into a true success.