I Love Hip Girl Entrepreneurs - In New York

New York has attracted thousands of would-be dancers, artists, actors, writers and entrepreneurs - not least Madonna, who moved here in 1976 to forge her career in dance and worked part time in Dunkin Donuts. "When I came to New York, it was the first time I'd ever taken a plane, the first time I'd ever gotten a taxi-cab, the first time for everything. And I came here with $35 in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I'd ever done." As we all know, Madonna is now one of the world's highest paid women, a brilliant artist and entrepreneur.

New York has been home to some of the world's most prominent writers, artists and entrepreneurs - and with the US rate of entrepreneurial activity amongst women statistically higher than the UK's, what better place for me to go talk to hip, girl entrepreneurs? For the next three weeks, I'm based in New York City, working on the Hip Girl's Guide to Being an Entrepreneur, and hostessing a little 'I Love Hip Girl Entrepreneurs' dinner at a low-fi, laid back restaurant in Brooklyn for savvy, entrepreneurial women. On my first day here, I met a brilliant-minded artist in Brooklyn selling vintage wares on the street to support her art - an entrepreneur. "Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone. Never get too comfortable", she told me: she now has an invite to spend a weekend on my boat, if she ever comes to the UK.

Yesterday, I heard author, Janice Erlbaum, talk on how, at 15, she left an unhappy home for homelessness and drug abuse, and transformed the experiences into the smash hit that is her book, Girl Bomb.

The artist in Brooklyn had told me: "my art is turning negatives into positives". This is the drive that has kept entrepreneurs going so much that, according to some statitistics, the tougher your upbringing - the more successful your business will be. From hip hop diva Missy Elliot, to lingerie star Michelle Mone, this has proved to be true: so, no matter what you have been through, no matter what your background - believe in yourself and your dreams, and you will succeed. Just keep going!