Vanessa Ogle doesn’t believe in balance — she believes in being bold, even when it means standing alone.
The founder of Enseo, the technology company headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Ogle holds nearly 200 patents spanning IoT, Bluetooth streaming and smart devices that reshaped how people connect and entertain themselves. But her journey was never about technology alone, it was about proving that courage could build something lasting.
This fall, Vanessa Ogle will share the hard-won wisdom behind her billion-dollar journey as a panelist at North Texas’ most powerful women’s leadership event: Local Profile’s 24th annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America, on Sept. 12. For Summit details, tickets and sponsor opportunities, visit localprofile.com/womeninbusiness.
When Ogle launched Enseo, she wasn’t just pioneering new products — she was creating a culture where taking risks wasn’t merely tolerated but celebrated. And often, that meant confronting her own doubts.
“I never set out to be the most technical person,” she tells Local Profile. “But I knew how to find people who were. And I knew how to lead.”
Ogle also knew how to persevere. In her twenties, she struggled with impostor syndrome. Sometimes she wondered if she was ready to lead anything at all. And as a young Latina CEO, she faced more than her share of outright hostility. Each time, she asked herself: Do I really want to keep doing this?
But she did. Because she believed in her mission and in her people.
How She Built A Dream Team
Ogle credits much of her success to the team she surrounded herself with, a group that spanned generations, languages and life paths. From the start, she recruited people “above her weight class,” offering them a reason to stay: flexibility, trust and a shared purpose.
Sometimes she modeled vulnerability in the most unexpected ways — like stepping onto a stage as the least musically talented member of Enseo’s corporate band.
“There’s nothing sillier than getting up in front of people to play an instrument you’re still learning,” Ogle says. “But it showed everyone you don’t have to be perfect to be part of a team.”
That same openness fueled a culture where no one had to fear raising their hand or sharing a wild idea.
“Are you safe enough to do something dangerous?” she often asked her team. It became a mantra, and a promise.
Inventing the Future
Today, Ogle’s name is on 195 patents, and counting. Her innovations include classroom safety systems, location technology and the first small devices to stream services like Netflix in hotels.
But behind every breakthrough was a belief that discomfort was part of growth. In 2013, she made one of her boldest moves — transforming Enseo from a hardware sales company into a recurring revenue model that would make the business exponentially more valuable.
Her teams didn’t just invent new products. They changed entire industries.
Culture Over Profit
When the 2008 downturn hit, many leaders resorted to mass layoffs. Ogle did something different. She implemented a sliding-scale pay cut, promising employees she would pay them back. Within a year, she kept her word and introduced profit sharing so everyone benefited from the company’s success.
“Treat people like numbers, and they’ll treat you like a number in return,” Ogle says. “But when you value humanity, you build something that lasts.”
That philosophy became the bedrock of Enseo’s culture — one that valued passionate disagreement as much as passionate agreement.
“So many leaders are afraid of passion,” she says. “But respectful passion builds better ideas.”
Unbalanced On Purpose
Ogle never believed in work-life balance. Instead, she brought her children into the business from day one.
They traveled with her, held “Chief Executive Offspring” business cards and sat in the same boardrooms where she closed multimillion-dollar deals. Along the way, they learned to own their wins and their mistakes.
“It was our experiment in being unbalanced,” she says. “And it worked.”
Her youngest daughter, now a national team wrestler, is growing into the same boldness she once had to teach herself.
“She’s learning how to be strong, strategic and never apologize for being competitive,” Ogle says. “Just like I had to.”
Her Higher Hill Era
After selling Enseo in 2021, Ogle stepped into a new chapter — Higher Hill, a coalition of ventures reflecting her passions: a record label, a travel agency, a private equity fund supporting women-led businesses and medical tech, and other creative projects that keep her inspired.
She’s also published hundreds of articles on LinkedIn covering leadership, culture and building companies that last.
A Message for Future Leaders
Her advice to women building something bold?
Trust yourself, even when you feel outmatched. Make the hard decisions fast, or risk losing time you can’t get back. And don’t shy away from discomfort.
“Everyone talks about building culture,” Ogle says. “But the real question is, can you build a place where people are safe enough to do something dangerous? That’s where the magic happens.”
Hear More at Local Profile’s Women in Business Summit
Vanessa Ogle will share her story and transformative insights as a featured panelist at North Texas’ most anticipated women’s event: Local Profile’s 24th annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America, on Sept. 12.
This extraordinary gathering brings together 500 of North Texas’ most influential women for a day of powerful conversations, high-impact networking and stories that will inspire you to lead boldly and build your own legacy.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a corporate leader or someone who simply wants to grow, you’ll walk away with fresh perspective, renewed confidence and the motivation to embrace discomfort as part of the journey.
Tickets are on sale now — and they won’t last long.
Reserve your spot and get all event details here
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