Martha Stewart was born in 1941 in New Jersey and grew up in a Polish-American family, learning valuable skills from her family and neighbors. She attended Barnard College, studying chemistry and then European and architecture history. After college, she worked as a stockbroker and model before starting a catering business in her basement that grew to $1 million. She wrote books and launched a magazine, television show, and product lines that made her a lifestyle guru. Her businesses utilize different ownership models like cooperative, sole proprietorship, and her name. She believes in a balanced life and doing what she loves.