From Shy Introvert to Billion-Dollar Business Leader: The Unlikely Story of Angie Hicks
Before building a business empire worth $1.2 billion, Angie Hicks had to overcome her biggest fear: talking to strangers. As a self-described introvert, Hicks, now 51, is the chief customer officer of Angi, a leading online home services guide with millions of subscribers. But it wasn’t always this way.
Hicks’ journey began in 1995 when she co-founded Columbus Neighbors, a startup that connected homeowners with reliable contractors and service providers. At the time, she was just 22 and had recently graduated from DePauw University with a job offer from a boutique consulting firm in Washington, D.C. worth $40,000. However, her former boss, Bill Oesterle, had other plans for her.
Oesterle, a venture capitalist, convinced Hicks to join him in Columbus, Ohio, to launch the startup with a salary of $20,000, half of what she would’ve made in the consulting job. Despite her initial hesitation, Hicks took a leap of faith, and her grandfather’s advice stuck with her: “What’s the difference between being 22 and looking for a job, and being 23 and looking for a job?”
With Oesterle’s seed money, Hicks worked tirelessly from a small office, often alone, to get the word out about their new business. She borrowed mailing lists, marched in local parades, and developed strategies to overcome her shyness. By setting small goals and celebrating each success, Hicks persevered, and within a year, membership grew to 1,000, proving the concept’s potential to investors.
The company rebranded to Angie’s List in 1996, and by 1998, Oesterle quit his job to work full-time with Hicks. The company moved its headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana, and eventually expanded to New York City and Denver, Colorado. Today, Angi is a dominant player in the $90 billion U.S. home services market, generating over $1.3 billion in revenue in 2023 alone.
Hicks’ story is a testament to the power of taking risks, overcoming fears, and persevering through challenges. As an introvert, she developed strategies to become a more confident leader, and her determination paid off. For more on Hicks’ journey, check out the latest episode of CNBC Make It’s Founder Effect.
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