profession:Founder, president and CEO of Discovery Toys, which creates and sells developmental and educational toys.
company's annual revenue: $93 million.
the basic story: Known for her highly successful line of quality toys, books, games, educational software and clothing that is safe, durable and not related to war or violence. Former head of a day-care center, Lane realized her kind of toys would have a little chance competing with the usual glitzy, "shoot-'em-up" or celebrity toys sold in stores.
born: March 27, 1947
educated: B.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh. M.A. in Education from Seton Hall University.
household members: Ed, husband of nearly 30 years. "He's a real Renaissance man who stays at home; has a background in physics, teaching, investing and has designed toys for us." Daughter Tara, who she describes as, "my girlfriend as well as my daughter."
favorite pastimes: Collecting dolls from around the world. "I also knit and read, but by listening to books on tape since I am spatially dyslexic."
on raising children: "The single most difficult thing is having two parents that work. Kids are very difficult and stressful, you need to really want them, and someone has to have more time to be at home for them -- the father or mother."
life goal: "Raising a daughter who knows she is a wonderful valuable person --and keeping my marriage together."
philosophy: "Relationships are the most important thing. A company doesn't care about how you feel when you get home, it's the people in your life who care."
On managing stress: "Exercise is the only way for me -- swimming, walking or bicycling in the morning."
how life might be different if she were a man: "It wouldn't be as much fun."
future plans: Write a book. Oversee huge growth for the company in the next 10 years, including having more men on the sales team.
tech-savviness: "Technology scares me. If it doesn't talk and doesn't have emotions, I have no use for it. But seriously, we have to be very careful about how we use technology with children since society today is increasingly isolating, and kids sitting in front of computers all the time doesn't help."
company's annual revenue: $93 million.
the basic story: Known for her highly successful line of quality toys, books, games, educational software and clothing that is safe, durable and not related to war or violence. Former head of a day-care center, Lane realized her kind of toys would have a little chance competing with the usual glitzy, "shoot-'em-up" or celebrity toys sold in stores.
born: March 27, 1947
educated: B.A. in English from the University of Pittsburgh. M.A. in Education from Seton Hall University.
household members: Ed, husband of nearly 30 years. "He's a real Renaissance man who stays at home; has a background in physics, teaching, investing and has designed toys for us." Daughter Tara, who she describes as, "my girlfriend as well as my daughter."
favorite pastimes: Collecting dolls from around the world. "I also knit and read, but by listening to books on tape since I am spatially dyslexic."
on raising children: "The single most difficult thing is having two parents that work. Kids are very difficult and stressful, you need to really want them, and someone has to have more time to be at home for them -- the father or mother."
life goal: "Raising a daughter who knows she is a wonderful valuable person --and keeping my marriage together."
philosophy: "Relationships are the most important thing. A company doesn't care about how you feel when you get home, it's the people in your life who care."
On managing stress: "Exercise is the only way for me -- swimming, walking or bicycling in the morning."
how life might be different if she were a man: "It wouldn't be as much fun."
future plans: Write a book. Oversee huge growth for the company in the next 10 years, including having more men on the sales team.
tech-savviness: "Technology scares me. If it doesn't talk and doesn't have emotions, I have no use for it. But seriously, we have to be very careful about how we use technology with children since society today is increasingly isolating, and kids sitting in front of computers all the time doesn't help."