media profile

Genevieve Thiers, CEO

Genevieve Thiers, the oldest of seven children and two sets of twins, is the founder and CEO of Sittercity, Inc., America's first company to take babysitting services online. A babysitter that worked her way through Boston College babysitting for over 30 families, Thiers pitched Sittercity to Boston investors in 2001 and was told "We don't fund babysitting clubs." Undaunted, Thiers begged her dad for $120 to buy the Sittercity.com domain and distributed 20,000 flyers through the city of Boston on foot, recruiting babysitters from more than 20 local colleges while working a full time job at IBM and singing opera at night.

Five years later, Sittercity.com now has over half a million users nationally including hundreds of thousands of sitters, and serves a huge cross-section of American parents with its online database and popular SpeedSitting events. Genevieve was recently recognized by President Bush at the White House as the Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur Champion of the Year for 2006, and Genevieve has done hundreds of appearances as a childcare expert on TV, radio, and in print outlets including multiple appearances on the Today Show, Martha Stewart Living Radio, the CBS Early Show, CNN, Live & Style, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Redbook, Parents, Parenting, Better Homes and Gardens, and Working Mother. Other awards that Genevieve and Sittercity.com have received include the Women's Business Development Center Rising Star Award for 2005, a 2005 Stevie Award, and recognition as one of TIME's "Top 50 Coolest Websites" in 2004. Noted for her babysitting expertise and business acumen, Genevieve has spoken at hundreds of mothers' forums, colleges, and conventions across America, and she currently serves as the iVillage babysitting expert. Her first book, Love at First Sit, will be appearing on shelves in 2007.

Prior to her Sittercity experience Genevieve worked for IBM. She is also a former Big Bird, holds a master's degree in opera and is a professional opera singer in the Chicago area.

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