Linda McMahon is the current Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as a former President and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. A Republican, she ran for U.S. Senator from Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 (losing both times), and is rumored to be considering another Senate run in 2020 Known for its large female fanbase, WWE was under Linda McMahon’s leadership between 1997 and 2009 during which time it became a publicly traded company worth over $1 billion. Linda Mcmahon young is a member of the Yale University Class of 1978, and is a former professional wrestler.
Linda McMahon was born in 1962 to Paul (born 1932) and Grace McMahon (born 1936). Her parents owned and operated a successful small business which included 18 sub shops as well as a huge construction company. Even as a young girl, Linda’s parents stressed the importance of hard work; they would take her on her first job at age ten—cleaning meat slicers at their sub shop—but taught her that a paycheck was only owed if she did an honest day’s work. After graduating from high school in 1979, she attended the University of Bridgeport where she studied accounting.
McMahon worked for her family’s construction company until she was 26. She then began working in sales positions at a medical diagnostics company and a gourmet coffee shop. In 1992, she was hired by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). She started as an assistant to the WWF president and became the organization’s Chief Financial Officer, overseeing finances within its domestic television, pay-per-view and monthly cable television programming divisions.
Linda McMahon served on the Board of Directors of WWF from 1993 to 2009. She was named CEO in 1997, when she began implementing changes to make the organization profitable. During her tenure as CEO, WWE has grown into a billion dollar enterprise with more than 800 employees worldwide.
Things You Most Likely Didn’t Know About Linda Mcmahon :
1. Linda Mcmahon helped found the Small Business Administration.
Linda McMahon co-founded and served as Chairman of the Women’s Leadership Forum, a nonpartisan organization focused on helping women achieve success in their careers. McMahon is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. As part of the Forum, she was an active participant in the Democratic National Convention and the 2000 Presidential Debates in California, she also hosted a forum for women with then New York City First Lady Glorious Giuliani. In 2001, Linda Mcmahon helped to launch “The Entrepreneurial Spirit”, a program which helps introduce school children to entrepreneurship and business ethics.
2. Linda McMahon ran for the Senate in Connecticut twice, losing both times.
McMahon’s first run for political office came in 2006 when she made an unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent Senator Chris Dodd as the Republican nominee. Her second attempt, against Richard Blumenthal, ended with a similar result in 2010. She spent $50 million of her own money on those races.
3. Linda McMahon is the only female CEO of a publicly traded company to ever make more than $1 billion while in charge.
In 2009, Linda McMahon was named one of the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes magazine. She has also been listed twice on Fortune magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Women in Business”. In December 2009 she received the 2009 George W Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service from former U.S. President George W Bush at a ceremony at The White House.
McMahon has also been recognized by other organizations. She was elected a member of the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Board of Directors in 2002 and is a current member of the National Chamber Foundation’s (NCF) Board of Governors. In 2006, she gave the keynote address at the NRF’s annual convention. In January 2009, she was appointed as a director to the board of directors for Visa USA Inc. Most recently, in 2011, McMahon was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Board for Engagement of Women Leaders at The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in Washington D.C., and she continues to serve on their Global Advisory Council for Executive Membership.
4. Linda McMahon was the first woman to serve as the President and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment.
McMahon was elected as the President and Chief Executive Officer of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. in July 2005. She was also co-founder with Vince McMahon of WWE; she continues to be a member on its Board of Directors and to represent it publicly, she serves on the board of directors for both NASCAR and American Specialty Sports Association (ASSOCIATION), an organization that promotes motorsports for women and girls.
