Who is Ja-Naé?

A Paradigm Shift in Thinking, Living, and Leading…


Strategist, artist, creative economist, and author of “How to Start Your Business with $100” Ja-Naé Duane, has been written up and seen in dozens of media, including by Associated Press, NPR, Classical Singer Magazine, Boston Globe, and Business Week. Mostly recognized for her diverse skill set and unwaivering commitment to improving the quality of life for our global community, Ja-Naé was nominated as one of New England’s “Most Innovative Leaders of 2007.” She is CEO of Wild Women Entrepreneurs, CEO of Ja-Naé Duane Ventures, Co-Founder of the Massachusetts Artist Leaders Coalition, and Founder of The Leaders. Ja-Naé is also a professional opera singer, social media strategist, and a faculty member at Northeastern University.

As a renaissance woman and polymath, some personal highlights for Ja-Naé are:

  • Award winning public speaker since age of 13
  • Founding Wild Women Entrepreneurs with $100 (now have 55 chapters in 7 countries)
  • Founding The Leaders
  • Co-Founding the Massachusetts Artist Leaders Coalition
  • Founding the National Artistic Effort
  • Joining the faculty at Northeastern University’s Music Department (her alma mater)
  • Emerson College Guest Lecturer in Entrepreneurship
  • Performing at the White House at 17 years old
  • Becoming an Ordained Minister
  • Becoming a published poet
  • Mentoring and advising over thousands of companies
  • Composing music soundtracks and over 100 compositions
  • Receiving the Key to the City of West Haven (twice)
  • Meditating at the Taizé monastery, in Taizé, France whenever she can


Always innovative, Ja-Naé created her own major through a collaboration of Northeastern University and New England Conservatory, earning a BA degree in opera. She completed her graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University and she received her Master of Arts degree in a collaborative program with the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. Additionally, she holds an Associate Degree from Boston University’s Opera Institute and she is currently studying Mark Oswald and Carrie Matheson at the Metropolitan Opera.

Watch her video bio to get to know her better.

“Enthusiastic. Energizing. Enterprising. Those are the words I would use to describe Ja-Naé Duane. She is a born leader who is passionate about making a change in the world and helping others succeed. I’ve seen her take Wild Women Entrepreneurs from a small organization to one of the leading places women turn to make their dreams of becoming a business owner come true. She will build our global community in the same way.”
– Shannon Cherry, CEO of Be Heard Solutions and Cherry Communications

“Ja-Naé’s initiative and drive is infectious. It’s clear how she’s been able to grow a great organization in such a short time. The relentless pursuit of her dreams keeps her far ahead of the curve.”
– John Bailey, President, My Event Guru

“Ja-Naé has all the qualities I admire in an entrepreneur–she is smart, unafraid of anything, and most of all, she understands how to create something from nothing–which, in this environment, is critical for young entrepreneurs everywhere. This is a must-read for people–especially women–starting their own business. And as a side note, from one opera-singing CEO to another, you go, girl!”
– Genevieve Thiers, Founder and CEO, Sittercity.com

Connect with Ja-Naé:

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Want Ja-Naé Duane’s book on Starting a Business with $100? Get it Now for Less than $21!