"I've always been more drawn to things that enable me to challenge people's perceptions and expectations, " she says.

WSJ: Libby Sellers Knows the Art of Design

Chertavian, author of the recent New York Times bestseller A Year Up: How a Pioneering Program Teaches Young Adults Real Skills for Real Jobs -With Real Success, says the first challenge is shifting public perceptions.

FORBES: How Business Can Help Close the Opportunity Divide

But he knows his real challenge is to turn around perceptions of Blackberry.

BBC: Blackberry boss - don't underestimate us

The biggest challenge for many home workers is that they labor to combat perceptions that they have cushy roles, or that they're not getting as much done a reason why remote workers have reported longer hours in some research.

WSJ: Yahoo's Move Puts Work-From-Home in the Spotlight