Kevin O'Leary
Sold his The Learning Company to Mattel for $4.2-billion. Now works as chairman of O’Leary Funds, a company with $1.5-billion in holdings.
The fire-breathing dragon. Known for his ego, steely gaze and scorching verbal lashings.

The cover of Cold Hard Truth on Business, Money and Life— Handout
Judging his book by the cover: With his imposing stance and thick, gold-embossed lettering, the look is very Art of the Deal. (Thankfully, O’Leary didn’t feel the need to imitate Donald Trump’s hairstyle.)
Super-distilled business strategy within: Whatever you pay attention to grows.
Dramatic rags-to-riches narrative: After a series of lost years spent dabbling in photography, filmmaking and playing shuffleboard in campus bars, he finally got his break with SoftKey, now a computer software giant that O’Leary started in his basement using a $10,000 loan from his mom.
Bumper sticker quotable: If I see a stuffed animal in your workspace. I’ll light it on fire. And then I’ll fire you.
Person most likely to play him in the movie version: A scarier Dr. Phil
Arlene Dickinson
Owner and CEO of Venture Communications, one of Canada’s largest independent marketing firms.
The softy dragon. Don’t let the Cruella Deville hair streak fool you; this dragon mixes heart with her business savvy.

The cover of Persuasion— Handout
Judging her book by the cover: With the aqua lettering and Dickinson’s ethereal wardrobe choice, the book, at first glance, looks like The Secret for 2011 audiences. Too bad Oprah wasn’t around to trumpet it.
Super-distilled business strategy within: Success in business is all about persuasion, and persuasion is all about relationships.
Dramatic rags-to-riches narrative: In the mist of her 1987 divorce, a judge ruled she would have to prove she could support her four kids if she wanted to maintain custody. With just a high-school diploma to her name, Dickinson went from minimum-wage-earning bill collector to partner of a marketing firm in a single year.
Bumper sticker quotable: True persuasion is about connecting, not conning.
Person most likely to play her in the movie version: A sassier Geena Davis