Taryn Rose
CEO
Taryn Rose International

Taryn Rose International is a wholesaler and retailer of luxury footwear. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California the line of shoes are sold in 3 Taryn Rose stores as well as upscale department stores and boutiques. The company expects sales to hit nearly $20 million by the end of 2003.

Two days before the fall of Saigon in 1975, 8 year old Taryn escaped with her parents, 2 sisters, grandmother and aunt. They were housed in a refugee camp at Fort Smith, Arkansas until her father, a physician in Saigon, was able to take the medical exam. Taryn excelled in her studies and eventually obtained her medical degree from USC and did her residency in orthopedics.

Taryn saw patients with many serious foot problems that were caused by fashion footwear, high heels and pointed toes. She understood the importance of fashion but also the need for comfort and wanted to provide women with an alternative. In 1997 she took down her shingle and using her appreciation of designer goods, and her knowledge of orthopedics, she created a line of high fashion and comfortable shoes. By 1998 she was selling her shoes to Nordstroms and 5 other accounts and opened a boutique in Beverly Hills. Women all over the country clamored for her shoes and this inspired Taryn to open a second boutique in New York and by 2002, she opened a third in San Jose, California.

One of her greatest challenge has been overcoming her family’s disapproval of her choice to be an entrepreneur rather than a doctor. Her family is still against her decision even though she has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America and CNN and has won numerous awards. When asked what advice she would give to other entrepreneurs, she stated “I escaped to this country with only the clothes on my back. As long as you believe in yourself and your dreams you can truly live the life you choose”.

Despite her busy schedule, Taryn actively supports a number of charitable organizations and has been a big supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Joyce Leisenberg Keefer Breast Center and the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles where she is a board member.

A single mother of a 3 and a half year old daughter, Anneka, Taryn resides in Los Angeles County.

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