Pitching takes practice, in the baseball leagues as well as the business leagues. I've been pitching and making speeches since I started working. At age 16, I stood behind a Godiva Chocolates counter pushing truffles and bon bons. I sold more Lion of Belgium goodies than the most seasoned salesperson....

Pitching takes practice, in the baseball leagues as well as the business leagues. I've been pitching and making speeches since I started working. At age 16, I stood behind a Godiva Chocolates counter pushing truffles and bon bons. I sold more Lion of Belgium goodies than the most seasoned salesperson....

I'm sitting in Vegas thinking about the fascinating conversations I've had over the last several weeks in my hometown San Francisco. The city isn't just about Rice-a-Roni or cable cars, it's an environment filled with productivity, conversations and a start-up on every block. In just the last couple of weeks,...

Earlier this week, I first learned about Amit Gupta and his story from a Twitter post. A friend of Emily Olson, co-founder of foodzie.com, sent me a tweet asking for help getting a Virgin America ticket donated for his friend who needs to...

I sat in my new office, Rose's Cafe, on Union Street. My daily agenda included a meeting with Kara Goldin, the CEO of Hint Water--a company that launched in 2005. Several weeks ago, Fortune Magazine selected Kara as one of 2011's "Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs." As I sat...

We've all heard that getting your foot in the door is more than just being at the "right place at the right time." But there are other factors people often neglect in the timing of business breakthroughs, especially when it comes to pitching. What's a big factor in landing your...

This is Part 2 in a series on entrepreneurialism and career changes by Porter Gale, Former VP of Marketing at Virgin America. Part 1 is here.

In the spirit of collaboration (and entrepreneurship), I sent a quick email out to my successful self-employed friends and asked, "What is...

Some people thought I was crazy when I announced that I had resigned as Vice President of Marketing, at Virgin America. Others applauded and sent kudos. It's time to try something new. Crazy? Maybe, but as the phrase goes, "we only live once." So, all systems go.

My story begins...

I travel. A lot. While some people sit in traffic, I sit on runways so often that it's not uncommon for me to fly domestic at least six times a month, let alone fly international each month. This week, I was back on the runway again, headed to an airline...

After miles and miles of rocky dirt roads, the aromas of cut hay and lavender fill the air while couples do fancy footwork to the commands of a square dance caller with a Brooklyn accent.

"No running through the dance floor. Get that little kid a partner. A four-year-old...

The thing I'll miss most when I leave my post as VP of Marketing at Virgin America — other than skipping the TSA line and our amazing teammates — is seat 4C. It's a great seat, designed with a sexy, leather seat cover, a power outlet and the best seat-back...