Experience: Gun Nowak, founder and CEO of FACE Stockholm in Hudson, NY, developed Scandinavia's first professional makeup brand. After owning successful fashion boutiques in Stockholm in the 1970's, Swedish native Nowak opened Sweden's first stand-alone cosmetic boutique in 1980. Over the last 25 years, FACE Stockholm has expanded to become an international cosmetics brand with over 50 stores worldwide including franchises in Dubai and New Zealand. Dividing her time between Stockholm and New York, Nowak continually works to direct and develop the business to meet the ever-changing needs of the beauty industry and has most recently designed a collection of eyewear, as well as an amenities line under the FACE Stockholm brand. Nowak, who runs the business with her daughter, Martina Arfwidson, has won many international business awards including the Rising Star Award from Fashion Group International, Entrepreneur of the Year from ICMAD, Förening Sparbanken award, Årets Ekonomikvinna (The Economic Woman of the Year), Sweden, and the prestigious Ruter Dams Förebildspris 2005 Business Women Inspiration Award. In April 2009 Nowak received the Royal Patriotic Society Business Medal at the Palace of Nobility in Stockholm, Sweden. The medal is given by King Carl XVI Gustaf and is an award for outstanding entrepreneurship.