Podcast appearances and mentions of Kay Koplovitz

The more diverse your organization, the more successful it will be Today I bring to you a most fascinating and consequential woman leader, Melissa Andrieux. Born and bred in Queens, New York, Melissa became a prosecutor, then Queens District Attorney, then civil litigator. She is now Chief Diversity Officer at the law firm Dorf Nelson & Zauderer. She is also Chief Client Relations Officer, and is tapping into her extensive experience in marketing, business development and recruitment to drive business growth within the firm by establishing a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. What's more, she helps other firms bring DEI&B into their own cultures. Melissa is not only a trailblazer but a beacon for others to emulate. Do enjoy. Watch and listen to our conversation here Key takeaways from our podcast It's never too late. Don't let people tell you that you're only good at one thing. Just because you're good at it doesn't mean you should keep doing it.  Yes you should have a plan, but don't get so fixed on it that you miss the opportunities that come.  You need diverse perspectives within your organization, because the clients out there are so diverse. They can pick and choose who they want to work with, who they want to give their money to, and if they're not seeing representation at your organization or at your business, they're going to go elsewhere. Diversity is a reference, a representation of different cultures, different backgrounds, different races, sexual orientations. Diversity can also be the differences in education, socioeconomic background, marital status. People often think that it's just racial or gender, but that's not it. There are so many different aspects to diversity. It's what makes us different and unique. Equity at its basic level is about fairness and leveling the playing field. Contrary to what some people think, it's not about taking from one group to give to another group. It's about making adjustments to imbalances. It's really about fairness.  Inclusion is related to belonging. Inclusion is, you're being invited to the party to play, you're being given a seat at the table, you're being considered. And as a decision maker, as a colleague, your voice is being heard. If we do not start with the basics, the foundations, and understand why people feel a certain way, why people think that they need to gravitate towards their own groups, their own culture, then we're never going to get to where we need to be. It's all about knowledge, education and understanding. When it comes to DEI, the leader is instrumental because nothing can be done without the leader's buy-in. You can connect with Melissa by LinkedIn or email: mandrieux@dorflaw.com. More stories of women making DEI a reality, not just an idea Maureen Berkner Boyt—Diversity and Inclusion: Let's Go Beyond Hoping and Make Inclusion Really Happen Rohini Anand—Can Businesses Create Cultures Based On True Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? Andie Kramer—Can “Beyond Bias” Take Your Organization To Great Heights? Maria Colacurcio—Stop The Revolving Door. Help Your Employees Embrace A Diverse And Equitable Workplace. Businesses Must Sustain Diversity And Inclusion For Women Additional resources for you My two award-winning books: Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business and On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights Our new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success, co-authored by Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman and Andi Simon, PhD Our website: Simon Associates Management Consultants Read the transcript of our podcast here Andi Simon: Welcome to On the Brink With Andi Simon. Hi I'm Andi Simon and as you know, as my frequent followers who come to watch our podcast, I'm here to be the guide and the host to take you off the brink. Our job is to help you see, feel and think in new ways. And in order to do that, you have to listen to people who have changed. Change is painful. Your brain hates me. But don't run away. Today we're going to have a great, great time. I have with us today Melissa Andrieux who's an attorney whom I met at a wonderful party. And she has really given me some perspective on something that I think is important for us to share. She's smiling at me. Here's a little bit about her background and then she's going to tell you about her own journey. Melissa is an experienced litigator. She leveraged her background in law to lead Dorf Nelson & Zauderer, the law firm, in their initiatives as chief diversity officer. She's also the firm's chief client relations officer, and she's tapping into her extensive experience in marketing, business development and recruitment to drive business growth within the firm. But what's really important is, she's gone from being a litigator to being an expert in the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging professional space. So she's helping the firm help other firms begin. And this is my world: see, feel and think in new ways so they can begin to understand why having a lot of diversity of all kinds, including cognitive diversity and listening to each other is important, and understand how to include people in things that you might have not thought they were part of. Melissa, thank you for joining me today. Melissa Andrieux: Well, thank you for having me, Andi. It's a real pleasure to be on your show. Andi Simon: Well, it was a real pleasure to meet you when we did the book launch at Josie's. I asked people if they wanted to share their wisdoms and Melissa had a story she wanted to tell. She's going to tell it again today. But first, who is Melissa? Tell us about your journey, please. Melissa Andrieux: Well, when you called me up to tell my story, I was a little shocked. I hadn't planned on being called upon. But I love sharing my story. I was born and bred in Queens. I am a lawyer, as you said. And I came to that profession kind of, I didn't have mentors in my life who were lawyers or judges. I learned by watching TV what was interesting. That's why I chose my profession and what was on TV? You're a prosecutor. You are a criminal defense lawyer. So I chose the prosecution route. I always wanted to be a Queens District Attorney, and I became one. I loved that job. I represented the people of the State of New York, the county of Queens, and as most people in government, we move on into civil practice. And then I moved into civil litigation. I did that for a very long time. You may find that shocking, but I did it for 12 years at a firm and then I moved to Dorf Nelson & Zauderer, which was then Dorf Nelson. Now it's Dorf Nelson & Zauderer. And I did that for a while, and it's kind of sad looking back on it, but I did it for such a long time when I didn't really enjoy it, but I didn't know what else was out there. I had no clue what to do with this law degree. So I just kept on doing litigation, and it got to the point where I started speaking with people at the firm, and I was told that this opening for marketing and business development was available. And I said, well, I've never done either. I'm a litigator, I'm a lawyer. But then it got to the point where I was just candidly miserable. I didn't want to get out of bed, I didn't want to go to work. So I said, you know, let me try the position, and I'm not a failer. I don't like to fail. So I said, I'm going to put my heart and soul into it. And I started learning about the business side of law, which I had no idea that law was a business. I thought you just went to court, the depositions, blah blah blah, but I found it very interesting. I was meeting clients, I was meeting prospective clients, I was learning about the business. And then that developed into marketing, which opened a whole new world for me. And with the marketing, I was looking at other law firms, I was looking at businesses, and the DEI aspect clicked. I mean, as you can see, I'm a woman of color in the legal profession, which another story is really not as diverse as should be, but we'll leave that for another time. So I started looking internally at what we could do to make the law firm better, more inclusive, more attractive to candidates. We wanted to hire people. So what do you do? So I spoke with leadership. I had to get their buy-in or else this would never work. And the first thing that we did is, we started a Diversity and Inclusion Council. And I hand-picked the members, and we just had candid conversations about what was going on at the firm, what they wanted to see change, and I studied. It was not easy. I spoke with people in the DEI space. I found the experts, I read, and it got to the point where I was being called upon to do panels and advise people on their own DEI journeys. I mean, it wasn't a quick thing, unfortunately. It took a lot of hard work. I had a lot of mentors and sponsors in my corner. Luckily, I'm one of those individuals who actually found people who wanted to invest in me, and that's kind of how I ended up here. I know that a lot of people, and I've heard this, think that the law firm hand-picked the Black attorney to be the DEI officer, but I assure you that it's not the case. I wanted this role. I advocated for this role, and I believe that I'm doing a very good job with the role. It's not done. It's hard work. And we continue every day to do the important work. Andi Simon: Let's reflect for a moment, which is how I think our listeners or our viewers want to pick your brain, because there have been a number of articles that have come out about how companies, large and small, are de-emphasizing the work of DEI or the Department of DEI. I'm not quite sure, being an anthropologist, why you need a department of it and who they put there. But, it's a very important part of transforming the way we live together. And it's both inside and outside. It changes how people come to work, what they expect of each other, how we listen to each other. And here, give them some of your own, both learning and experiences, because while they didn't pick you, they were wise enough to select you and to open up a space to let you go. I'm curious about that first group that you pulled together and how you managed to get them thinking. So give us a little of how did Melissa do it and how others might as well. Melissa Andrieux: So the how-to is: I decided to leave leadership out of these council meetings because I felt that in order for me to get a true sense of how people were feeling, I couldn't have the partners in these meetings because then people would feel like they cannot be honest. And that was the first thing that we did. And then I took the feedback. I took the information, and I looked at our policies. I looked at the procedures, the internal information that the firm has. And then I went to leadership and I said, this is what we can do. Let's do X, Y, and Z. Let's look at our policies. Are they gender neutral? Do they apply to everyone across the board? And we started slowly but surely. And as I say to everybody, DEI is in the long run. You cannot expect to finish DEI in a week, a month or even a year. It's an ongoing process. So that's how I started my DEI initiatives at the firm. Andi Simon: You spoke about having mentors and sponsors. Clearly you had teammates because as you think about it, this requires people to stop and rethink their story. And the story of the firm they're in. Their livelihood is dependent upon it, but also their personal experiences and what's happening. So as they were working with you, were there some key issues? I can hear your policy changes, but policies don't do much if people don't do much. So what kinds of things were you beginning to implement? Melissa Andrieux: So candidly, of course, as with any new initiatives, there is a little bit of pushback. So we had to get the team members at the firm on board and explain to them why this was important, why the time was now. And, it's not perfect. Nothing is ever perfect. But people do understand why diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is important. I mean, the thing is, you want to attract talent. You want the firm to continue to grow. And the way that we do that is bringing diverse perspectives into the law firm, bringing different people into the law firm, because neurodiversity, everybody comes from a different place in their lives. Their thinking is not the same as, let's say, somebody who's been here forever. You want to bring in fresh blood. And so when they started to understand the business reason behind this, they started to really buy into what we were doing. And they embrace it and they welcome it at this point. Andi Simon: One of the women I met recently is a Vassar professor who had a bunch of faculty go to court about equal pay for equal jobs. And of course, being a former academic, I remember well how they hired men at different salaries than the women and they came in with less experience. And that's at a female college. Come on. So give us a little bit of a breakdown because there's diversity, equity, equal pay for equal work, equal position, equal opportunity, inclusion. And inclusion and belonging are a little bit different. Give us a little bit more detail. I think it would be helpful. Melissa Andrieux: Sure. So diversity is a reference, a representation of different cultures, different backgrounds, different races, sexual orientations. Diversity can also be the differences in education, socioeconomic background, marital status is diversity. People often think that it's just racial or gender, but that's not it. There are so many different aspects to diversity. It's what makes us different and unique. Andi Simon: Somebody once said to me, we're all diverse. And I said, that's great. We're all unique. Go ahead.  Melissa Andrieux: And that's what makes the world a great place to live. Imagine living with everybody who's like you. I mean, I think that would be pretty boring. So that's diversity. Equity at its basic level, equity is about fairness and leveling the playing field. Contrary to what some people think, it's not about taking from one group to give to another group. It's about making adjustments to imbalances. It's really about fairness.  Inclusion is kind of related to belonging. But I look at them as two different concepts. So to me, inclusion is, you're being invited to the party to play, you're being given a seat at the table, you're being considered. And as a decision maker, as a colleague, your voice is being heard. Andi Simon: You mean you can say something in a meeting and people can hear you? Melissa Andrieux: Exactly, exactly. They listen to you. They might not buy what you say, but they give you the opportunity to be seen and to be heard. And to me, belonging is an individual's feeling that you feel that you are connected to the community that you belong to, that you can be yourself with the people that you're around you. Andi Simon: You find that you know humans. I'm an anthropologist. Humans are very tribal. Yes, they look at the world that they're moving into, such as a workplace. Do I belong here? And it is everything from the tangible: Am I dressed right? Do I look right? Will people look me in the eye and trust that I make good decisions? Plus all of the intangibles that are there that often I don't hear people talking about, which disturbs me because inclusion without belonging isn't cool. I did work for a university once and all the students at a conference we were holding sat at tables with others where they belonged, but none of them were diverse. And then they literally stood up and said to the administration, you think you've built diversity, but we are really in enclaves with our tribes. And yes, the whole place may have diversity, but we don't feel like we're diverse. We feel like we have a tribe to belong to, and that's comfortable for us. But it may be uncomfortable for you. It was a very profound conversation about what these words mean. Melissa Andrieux: It is. So I do some consulting, DEI consulting as part of my duties. And one of the things that I always start my programs with is defining what diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility mean. Because if we don't understand these core concepts, we're not going to understand anything. So I truly think that if people do not start with the basics, the foundations, and understand why people feel a certain way, why people think that they need to gravitate towards their own, their own groups, their own culture, then we're never going to get to where we need to be. It's all about knowledge, education and understanding. Andi Simon: And an openness to want to know more about the other.  Melissa Andrieux: Seriously. Andi Simon: Ask questions and be happy when you can sit together at lunch and share. How's life? Humans are human and nobody likes to be the whistleblower or the soloist. They want an orchestra where they can all play their instruments, but play them together with a good conductor. How important is the conductor? The leader? Melissa Andrieux: Oh, wow. When it comes to DEI, the leader is instrumental because nothing can be done without the leader's buy-in. And I truly believe that. If so, Jon Dorf, Jonathan Nelson, and Mark Zauderer, they are the leaders of the firm, if they did not embrace the concepts of DEI, what I am doing at the firm would never succeed. It would just be some box that you're checking. You know, your documents. But because it's something that they truly believe in, it's in the fabric of the firm. Long before I got here, it just wasn't apparent until I got here, I suppose. If you don't have the leaders who have your back, we're going to fail. Andi Simon: Well, do they do intentional things in order to broaden their own comfort with a diverse workforce and with diverse clients? I mean, do they live the promise? Melissa Andrieux: Absolutely, absolutely. One of the things that we do is: we started a scholarship at Pace University. It's called the Beth S. Nelson Memorial Scholarship, and we wanted it to go to a woman embarking on a second career in law. And it's in honor of Jonathan Nelson's mom, who was a teacher and then she went into law. So that is something that the firm does in order to show its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We want to bring up the next generation. We want to give these women who are embarking on these second careers the opportunity to get in the law and graduate on time, and that's one of the ways that we do it. Another way that we show our commitment, that the partners show their commitment, is: they embrace every single client, regardless if you're black, white, LGBTQ. You know you deserve equal treatment when you come into Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP and you need representation, never turned away. Andi Simon: I think that it's really a model for others to both hear about and to learn about. You also work with clients and how do you bring the purpose and mission out to them as a consultant or as an attorney or a little of both? Melissa Andrieux: I wear many hats, Andi, I gotta tell you. So, being that I am a lawyer and working at a law firm doing business development, that has helped me tremendously when I go out there and I network because I understand the language. I know what clients want from their attorneys and what they don't want. So I'm able to talk to them as they need to be spoken to. And I also do consulting, which kind of develops organically as well. I go out and I do these panels. I go to these networking events and people ask me what I do. Somebody said, Will you do consulting for us? And obviously I said yes, because I love to do that. I love to teach and help other organizations grow and start their DEI journeys with the foundations, and then we move on from there as their needs become apparent, as whatever they need. Andi Simon: So as you're looking out there, you're seeing some trends that are both interesting or disturbing to you. Melissa Andrieux: Some interesting trends are that a lot of the firms that have started their DEI, they're continuing it, which I'm so happy about, even post- the Supreme Court decision. They are doubling down on their DEI initiatives, which I'm so happy to see because we cannot go backwards. We absolutely cannot go backwards. It takes the courage of these leaders to say we are going to forge forward. We're not going to let anything stop us, because it's also good business. Having a diverse workforce is good business. I always say, if you want to attract more clients, you need to have your organization reflect those clients that are coming to you for help. And one of the disturbing trends is, people who are using the Supreme Court decision as an excuse to not continue their DEIB initiatives, or those that say, we've reached the endgame, we can stop now. Unfortunately, that is not how you look at the DEI. I wish that were the case where we no longer needed these initiatives, but unfortunately they must continue and we are not done. We are never done. So to those organizations that think that it's okay to stop, I caution you. Andi Simon: But, you know, it's an interesting philosophical question because it's a gig to them. It isn't fundamental. It isn't transformative. It is a way of thinking about people or business. It's something that seemed to be cool to do, like ESG [environmental, social and governance], you know, pay a little attention to the environment. We're social creatures. We live in a very complex society and don't shortchange yourself by letting others put you into some box. Take the initiative and see why it's so important. I mean, women who lead lead companies in very good ROI, their returns are there and the people stay and they become places one wants to work. And that's not inconsequential, is it? Melissa Andrieux: It's not. People gravitate to people who are like them. So I always use this as an example. I will attract a different type of client than, let's say, a John Dorf or a Jonathan Nelson. I will attract the women. I will attract the people of color. I mean, not to say that they won't, but we're just going about business development and recruitment differently. That's why you need diverse perspectives within your organization, because the clients out there are so diverse. They can pick and choose who they want to work with, who they want to give their money to, and if they're not seeing representation at your organization or at your business, they're going to go elsewhere. So I think it's a really good practice to have so many different perspectives within your firm going out there representing your organization. Andi Simon: Often when I do workshops, I remind the CEOs in the group that 13 million companies are owned by women. And there's a tremendous amount of effort to get women, women of color or people with diverse backgrounds into the supply chain, right into businesses so they can be in the supply chain. They're looking for gender and gender fair. Johanna Zeilstra‘s company Gender Fair is trying to establish it as a standard, not as an afterthought, and this is sort of a very important time for us not to let us go backwards. And not make it hard. I mean, I don't think this is hard work. It's important work. But I am just thrilled that you're on this podcast because I think that many people aren't really aware of the challenge and the opportunities that are before them. Is it easy? No. Should you do it? Absolutely. And will it help you and your purpose, your meaning, your business, your happiness grow. Aha! Oh, God. Melissa, it should be easier. Tell the listener as we're just about ready to wrap up, give them 1 or 2 things that they should focus on. I always like Oprah's small wins. If you're going to get somewhere and don't try to move the battleship a little at a time, but know where you're going. And let's assume that what you want to build is a really exciting organization that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging intentionally and intelligently. And that's going to help your business grow. Now, if they're going to start and they can see that 1 or 2 things you think should be important for them to do in a small win style. Melissa Andrieux: So before I answer that question, Andi, you reminded me the firm, the law firm, is Gender Fair certified, and we're actually one of the first law firms to be gender fair certified. So that's another way that we show to the world that the partners are putting their money where their mouth is. So I wanted to put that out there before I forget.  Andi Simon: Little push for Gender Fair, because it's a great way for you to demonstrate that you care about the right things in the right way. So that's one of the 2 or 3 things you want them to small win by. But learn more. And we can certainly introduce you to Gender Fair and its leadership. That's terrific Melissa. Please, some other things. Melissa Andrieux: So from my personal journey, I want to share with your audience that it's never too late, as I know it's a little cliché, but for me, I always thought that I could never leave. I thought it was too late for me to unlearn being an attorney. Unlearn being a litigator. But then when I opened up my mind and decided finally that I was ready to make the move, I said, you're going to do it. You're going to be great at it. And it was a long process, but I did it. So one of my things, one of the things that I always say to myself and to the young attorneys or folks that I meet in the world, is that it's never too late. Don't ever be pigeonholed. Don't let people tell you that you're only good at one thing. And I had a lot of naysayers in my life, not to be a Debbie Downer, but a lot of people thought that I had lost it when I made the career change, and because I was so good at what I was doing. Well, just because you're good at it doesn't mean you should keep doing it. So never too late. Ever. Andi Simon: You know, it's so interesting. I met you at a book event for our new book, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success. And I've been doing podcasts with a number of the women who are in the book. There are 102 women, 500 wisdoms, and they all are sharing a good deal about their own life's journey. Now, Lorraine Hariton we did the other day and she said no, there was no straight line. I was dyslexic, and I managed to realize I was really good at math. And from there I got into computers early, and then I was in Silicon Valley, and then I went to raise money for Hillary and I said, um, no straight line, is there, no straight line, no straight line. And in some ways, that's the exciting part about being a smart person, I'll say a smart woman, but a smart person, right?, where you can see the opportunities. One of the wisdoms I love there is: sure you should have a plan, but don't get so fixed on it that you miss the opportunities that come.  I'm a big serendipity person, so it's just listen. And here Melissa stood up at an event and said something and I introduced her and I said, please come and speak on our podcast. And I'm just thrilled that you were here today. If people want to reach you and talk to you more, put you on a panel or help you help them, where's the best place? We will have it on the blog, of course, but sometimes they hear you and it sticks. Where should they reach you? Melissa Andrieux: Well, I'm at Dorf, Nelson and Zauderer. My email is mandrieux@dorflaw.com and the website is DorfLaw.com. You'll find me there. Andi Simon: Good. This has been a great, great conversation. Every time I do these, I learn more and more about wonderful women who are really transforming our society and themselves. You, the company you work for, the people you work with, and I'm happy too. So let me wrap up for those of you who come and send me your emails and push out all of our podcasts. Last I looked, we're in the top 5% of global podcasts, and in some places like South Africa, we're really high. And it's sort of like, really? So you never know where you are. So the message today is: take your heart and follow it a bit. You never know what's in it for you. My books, of course, are on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your local bookseller. Women Mean Business is a fascinating book. I'll turn around and I will bring it over here because as you look at a book, you begin to realize, it's my third book, and the other two were all Amazon best sellers and award winners, but each book has a different insight. And so as you open it, I mean, I love Kay Koplovitz, not by chance, I opened it by chance. They teach you something, and I often say that a book has a fingerprint, and the fingerprint gives it a uniqueness, but its power is inside. And so as the book is opened at all of our events, and if you'd like an event, please let me know. What happens is something magical. Kay Koplovitz said at one event, think fast and act fast. And she said: if I had time to analyze all the things I had to make decisions about, I'd never make a decision. And I said to myself, you know, as an entrepreneur, I thought fast and acted fast and that's how we learn from others. We get inspired by them. And it does spark our success with new ideas that we know aren't so crazy. It's fun. So thank you again for coming. It's been a pleasure. And we'll see you next week as we post all of our great podcasts. Enjoy the journey. Thanks, Melissa. I'll say goodbye now. Melissa Andrieux: Thank you, Andi, for having me. Andi Simon: It's a pleasure.   WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO)

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 886, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: a few good men 1: This general announced the end of the Revolutionary War and disbanded the army in Newburgh, New York. George Washington. 2: The 1973 Nobel Peace Prize went to Le Duc Tho who declined it and this Secretary of State who accepted. Henry Kissinger. 3: In 1987 this outfielder for the Kansas City Royals was also a running back for the Los Angeles Raiders. Bo Jackson. 4: (Cheryl gives the clue from the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum.) In 1927 Babe Ruth and this fellow Yankee accounted for 107 home runs, one-quarter of the American League total. Lou Gehrig. 5: This pop artist created 1958's "Three Flags", a triple portrait of the American Flag. Jasper Johns. Round 2. Category: "king" of the world! 1: Perhaps based on a real monarch, this nursery rhyme figure called for his bowl, his pipe and his fiddlers three. Old King Cole. 2: This long poisonous snake is also known as a hamadryad. king cobra. 3: If and when Prince Charles succeeds Elizabeth II, this will be Great Britain's national anthem. "God Save the King". 4: Before being imploded in 2000, it was home to the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks. the Kingdome. 5: Found east of Bullhead City, this city of northwest Arizona has a population of only 20,000. Kingman. Round 3. Category: on the stage 1: 2 actors play a townful of characters in the comedy "Stones in His Pockets", set in County Kerry in this country. Ireland. 2: Title of a Jonathan Larson musical, or what the East Village residents in it have trouble coming up with. Rent. 3: In 2002 this actress who plays Carmela Soprano hit Broadway in "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune". Edie Falco. 4: In the hit play "Madame Melville", he played a teen who was "Home Alone" with older woman Joely Richardson. Macaulay Culkin. 5: This playwright hit the right note with "Amadeus" and then horsed around with "Equus". Peter Shaffer. Round 4. Category: famous amys 1: She guided fans through gracious living with etiquette books, columns and radio and TV shows. Amy Vanderbilt. 2: She married Barbra Streisand in "Yentl" and Steven Spielberg in real life. Amy Irving. 3: Her No. 1 hit "Baby Baby" was written for a real babe, her daughter Millie. Amy Grant. 4: Film director who captured teen America in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Clueless". Amy Heckerling. 5: (Hi, I'm Kirsten Dunst) In "Little Women" Amy is the youngest of 4 sisters with this last name. March. Round 5. Category: women's work 1: This future Supreme Court justice hid her pregnancy for fear of losing her teaching job at Rutgers. Ginsburg. 2: In 1977 Kay Koplovitz founded what is now this cable network, now home to "La Femme Nikita". the USA Network. 3: "America's Sweetheart", she was just 24 in 1917 when she commanded $350,000 per film. Mary Pickford. 4: She was the leading financial columnist for the New York Post from 1935-1978. Sylvia Porter. 5: (Hi, I'm Jane Seymour.) This woman not only founded the 1st birth control clinic, she also pioneered the term. (Margaret) Sanger. Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia! Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/

Marty Brooks is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District in Milwaukee. In this role, Marty also oversees business growth and operations for the Wisconsin Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre. He works closely with VISIT Milwaukee to secure unforgettable acts and diverse conventions year-round that heighten WCD's value and brand in the Midwest. With his vision to be bold, proud, and experience-obsessed (BPX), Marty is an energized leader driving WCD toward strong and focused financial performance and growth that results in a thriving community. By thinking unconventionally and taking strategic risks, Brooks is elevating the WCD as a top local and national entertainment and convention center destination recognized for its captivating and buzzworthy experiences. I loved my conversation with Marty, and I believe you will, too.  Enjoy!To learn more about Marty, please visit the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-brooks-7137539/Website:  https://www.wcd.orgAlso mentioned on this episode: Kimberly Kane, Omar Shaikh, Peter Feigin, Kay Koplovitz, Bob Gutkowski, Raj Saha, Russ Staerkel, Scott Neitzel, Gary Witt, Sarah Maio, Jim Dolan.To Connect with Mike: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube Coaching Please LIKE

Marty Brooks is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District in Milwaukee. In this role, Marty also oversees business growth and operations for the Wisconsin Center, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre. He works closely with VISIT Milwaukee to secure unforgettable acts and diverse conventions year-round that heighten WCD's value and brand in the Midwest. With his vision to be bold, proud, and experience-obsessed (BPX), Marty is an energized leader driving WCD toward strong and focused financial performance and growth that results in a thriving community. By thinking unconventionally and taking strategic risks, Brooks is elevating the WCD as a top local and national entertainment and convention center destination recognized for its captivating and buzzworthy experiences. I loved my conversation with Marty, and I believe you will, too.  Enjoy!To learn more about Marty, please visit the links below:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-brooks-7137539/Website:  https://www.wcd.orgAlso mentioned on this episode: Kimberly Kane, Omar Shaikh, Peter Feigin, Kay Koplovitz, Bob Gutkowski, Raj Saha, Russ Staerkel, Scott Neitzel, Gary Witt, Sarah Maio, Jim Dolan.To Connect with Mike: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube Coaching Please LIKE

Representative Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator, is the first woman ever to represent Pennsylvania's 6th District in Congress. In 2018, Houlahan flipped the district blue, which had previously been held by a Republican for over two decades. Join us to hear her thoughts on the historic infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better legislation as they churn through Congress as well as her other legislative priorities. Moderated by Kay Koplovitz.

Join Kay's zoom call replay, where she discusses overcoming obstacles, reaching leadership goals through the pandemic, and four milestone billion-dollar+ deals that beat the odds. Recorded May 19, 2021.

USA Network Founder, Kay Koplovitz is the visionary who created the business model for cable networks. In this episode, we dive into the details of her journey as the founder of a multi-billion dollar television cable network, and how she found inspiration learning about satellites and science.  As the first woman to head a television network, Kay is passionate about bringing women to the forefront of social media and the news and believes that young girls everywhere should know that they can do anything they set their minds to. This is why it's critical to continue telling extraordinary stories like Kay's.    In This Episode: [00:20] All about Kay Koplovitz and how she describes herself. [05:10] Kay speaks about her relationship with her dad and what she remembers about her first time negotiating a deal. [12:30] Kay talks about a pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of her career. [22:00] How Kay would coach herself differently at the start of her career.  [28:50] What it is like being the only woman in a boardroom. Plus, Kay speaks about her vision for Springboard Enterprises. [47:40] All about Kay's books.   [57:40] There are nothing but infinite opportunities out in the world; find something you love!   Key Takeaways:We have to continue to highlight and bring women to the foreground. A little girl can grow up and do whatever they want to do. It is imperative that we keep telling stories of women doing extraordinary things. You should see nothing but infinite possibilities out in the world.  Life is so much more fulfilling if you're doing something that captures your imagination. Bio:  Kay Koplovitz is the Founder of USA Network and the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the concept of two revenue streams, licensing and advertising. When she founded USA Network under the banner of Madison Square Garden Sports in 1977 she was the first woman to head a television network. As a visionary of what sports television would become, Ms. Koplovitz launched major professional and collegiate sports on cable television by negotiating the first contracts for cable coverage for Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, the Masters from Augusta Georgia, the US Tennis Open and a collection of NCAA conference sporting events. CONNECTIONS:For more Kay Koplovitz, follow her on Twitter. Also be sure to check out Koplovitz.com and SpringBoardgc.com Check out our website, Potential to Powerhouse, for more details and to learn about past, present, and future guests. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and join our Facebook Community for a deeper connection with the P2P tribe. Grab your free copy of our guide, 4 Daily Habits Essential to Becoming a POWERHOUSE Entrepreneur, and don't forget to subscribe to our show and leave a rating and review. Do you know any other female powerhouses that could benefit from listening? If so, please let them know to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever they like to listen to valuable audio content. Until next time… High Five

For Women’s History Month, we’re showcasing women entrepreneurs and revisiting some of our favorite episodes. One standout is Kay Koplovitz: She changed the way we watch TV, and was the first woman to lead a TV network.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re showcasing some of our favorite episodes of our Made by Women podcast, which starts its second season on March 4. Please enjoy this conversation Kay Koplovitz, founder of USA Network—and the first woman in history to head a TV network.

Tracy is a founder, investor, executive chairman, and entrepreneur who is an authority on beauty and wellness, with a global track record of incubating and launching brands. She co-founded the HATCHBEAUTY brand incubator in 2009, leading development strategies and launches for brands like Naturewell by Jewel, Nuance by Selma Hayek, Bliss, FOUND, and more...On February 26th, Tracy is launching From Potential to Powerhouse podcast, which brings together experienced women entrepreneurs to share their success secrets and proven business tactics with up-and-coming powerhouse women. Guests include names like Christie Hefner, Sallie Krawcheck, Kay Koplovitz, Kimora Lee Simmons, and many more.

Two powerful women leaders are working together to support women’s entrepreneurship: Kay Koplovitz founder and former CEO of USA Networks and co-founder of Springboard Growth Capital and Springboard Enterprises, and Annette Rippert, who leads Strategy and Consulting for Accenture. They explain why women’s innovation is crucial to everyone’s future.

Kay Koplovitz changed the way we watch TV when she created the first cable sports network in 1977, and, as head of USA Network, she was the first woman to lead a TV network. And she did it all while insisting on her place at the table in a male-dominated industry. Host Kim Azzarelli interviews this industry ground-breaker who is now using her unmatched experience to advance other women entrepreneurs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The founder of USA Network—and the first woman to head a TV network in history—Kay Koplovitz had a vision that transformed the television industry. Now she's helping other women entrepreneurs succeed. Hear her advice for women in business, and for anyone who wants to pursue a bold vision.

Kay Koplovitz revolutionized TV viewing by creating the first cable sports network--and she did it despite being the rare woman in a heavily male industry. Hear about the obstacles she faced, and overcame, in this preview of our latest Made by Women podcast. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week, on The Conscious Consultant Hour , Sam welcomes Financial Literacy Expert, *Natalie Wynne Pace*. Natalie is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. She is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude project and the author of the Amazon bestsellers The ABCs of Money for College ( https://d38rqs2egh08o4.cloudfront.net/link_click/fnGcEFUDeM_bkFoj/52ea0225dd3ef4369757ae09b239cb2b ) , The Gratitude Game ( https://d38rqs2egh08o4.cloudfront.net/link_click/fnGcEFUDeM_bkFoj/2e6516bf5b36d18c9e4bab2d5548848f ) , The ABCs of Money ( https://d38rqs2egh08o4.cloudfront.net/link_click/fnGcEFUDeM_bkFoj/6444be18505f8f80d400202cebced653 ) and Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is ( https://d38rqs2egh08o4.cloudfront.net/link_click/fnGcEFUDeM_bkFoj/b9b766cc5412dbf918e10ce8304e96f3 ) (aka You Vs. Wall Street in paperback). She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 3rd edition of The ABCs of Money ( https://d38rqs2egh08o4.cloudfront.net/link_click/fnGcEFUDeM_bkFoj/0b4c1aae6d9973ed2fe5fc038d4f3769 ) was released in 2020. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Watch the *Facebook Livestream by clicking here* ( https://www.facebook.com/InspiredThoughtsWithSam/videos/1255972338093374/ ) *.* * Segment 1:* Sam delivers his weekly quotes from Abraham and the Universe. Then he introduces returning guest Natalie Wynn Pace. Natalie jumps right in with her thoughts on prosperity consciousness. Sam says that there are so many life skills that we aren't taught as a child, like banking strategies, that we must become educated about. He is all for empowering people in all aspects of life, financial situations included. *Segment 2:* Natalie says that if you have credit card debt, you have a budgeting problem. She suggests the “thrive budget” which is detailed on her website. This budget is centered on spending 50% of your income on “thriving” and the other 50% on “surviving”. She also advises not to drain your bank account in order to live a lifestyle that is out of your price range. However, by taking responsibility for how much you are spending, you are empowering and enabling yourself to have fun and enjoy yourself more. If you feel like you can't afford to have fun, this is another sign you have a budgeting problem. Natalie urges the audience to do an equity check, as it is hard to live in an “underwater” asset. *Segment 3:* If you are an employee you need to consider how reliable your income is and protect your wealth. Many employees are not paying attention to their 401Ks. They may not be aware that they can take easy actions to improve this because after all, you are the boss of your own money. Sam says that you can have power over your own money instead of handing it over to someone else to deal with, (it's not as hard as it seems)! Natalie knew we were in a recession before it was announced because she is tuned into the happenings of the economy which is why her methods should be trusted. Like Natalie, it is important to stay educated on the financial situation of the current time. Furthermore, businesses should be reassessed during this pandemic to see how they can adapt to the changing times. The future is going to look very different and your business must adjust. *Segment 4:* Natalie says your money must be properly diversified and says you must lead your money from wisdom. They pivot to discussing how people are fleeing the city and moving towards the countryside. In the last 20 years, there is a lot more volatility in the financial market and an eye must be kept on it. Real estate usually takes 4 years to hit it's bottom, so Natalie says to “stay tuned”. You can find Natalie on NatalicePace.com for her information. You can also email her at info@nataliepace.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-conscious-consultant-hour8505/donations

Join us as legal scholar and former Principal Deputy Solicitor General Neal Katyal discusses all the new legal challenges facing the 2020 election. Moderated by business legend and co-founder of Springboard Enterprises Kay Koplovitz, the two will lead a fascinating conversation, headlined by pressing issues such as mail-in ballot and combating the spreading of misinformation. General Neal Katyal served as Acting Solicitor General of the United States, where he argued several major Supreme Court cases involving a variety of issues, such as his successful defense of the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, his victorious defense of former Attorney General John Ashcroft for alleged abuses in the war on terror, his unanimous victory against eight states who sued the nation's leading power plants for contributing to global warming, and a variety of other matters. As Acting Solicitor General, Neal was responsible for representing the federal government of the United States in all appellate matters before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals throughout the nation. He served as Counsel of Record hundreds of times in the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also the only head of the Solicitor General's office to argue a case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, on the important question of whether certain aspects of the human genome were patentable. Ms. Kay Koplovitz is the founder and former Chairman & CEO of USA Networks, the SyFy Channel (formerly Sci-Fi Channel), and USA Networks International, today a multi-billion-dollar cable television network. Ms. Koplovitz ran the network for 21 years before stepping down in 1998. As founder of USA Networks, Kay is the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the concept of two revenue streams: licensing and advertising. To RSVP for upcoming events, visit our events page at: https://www.thecommongoodus.org --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

What are the specific steps we can take to increase diversity and inclusion in the media and advertising industry? What is "intersectionality"? How are some of the biggest content producers and organizations - Intel, Twitter and the 4As - making strides with employees and the communities they create at work, and around their brands? E.B. Moss captured the voices and ideas of a dozen esteemed attendees - ranging from Dalana Brand of Twitter to Julie Coppernoll, corporate vice president, global marketing strategy at Intel, to Publicis Americas CEO, Tim Jones, and the legendary Kay Koplovitz of Springboard Enterprises. As you’ll hear in the coming weeks when we roll out more episodes of the Advancing Diversity podcast created during the MediaVillage Advancing Diversity Honors event held at CES, these leaders share recommendations and points of view about what impacts them the most both personally and professionally.  

Kay Koplovitz is the founder of USA Network and developed dual revenue stream and introduced disruptive satellite technology to the cable television industry. She joins Janice to share her unique story and explain the importance of diversifying boards.

Kay Koplovitz Founded the USA Network and is currently the CoFounder & Managing Director of the Springboard Growth Capital. She is the Chairman of Springboard Enterprises, a non-profit accelerator that has fostered the investment of more than $8.3 billion in women-led firms, and has served as its Chairman since inception. Kay acted at CEO and Chairman of the USA Network, the Sci-Fi Channel, and USA Networks International which today is multi-billion dollar television cable television networks. Ms. Koplovitz ran the company for 21 years before stepping down in 1998, at which time it was sold for $4.5 billion. Not a bad run! "Great to be lucky but you make your own luck, its when preparation and opportunity converge, you can get really lucky." -KK https://sb.co springboardgc.com https://twitter.com/KayKoplovitz Author of Been There, Run That & Bold Women, Big Ideas. Link Below. https://www.amazon.com/Kay-Koplovitz/e/B001K8ESGS/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Kay Koplovitz is the founder and former Chairman & CEO of USA Networks, which includes USA Network, the Sci-Fi Channel, and USA Networks International – today multi-billion dollar television cable television networks. Ms. Koplovitz ran the company for 21 years before stepping down in 1998, at which time it was sold for $4.5 billion. Kay co-founded Springboard Growth Capital to bring growth stage investments to technology and life sciences companies emerging from Springboard Enterprises ecosystem. Since 2000, Kay has served as Chairman of Springboard Enterprises, where under her leadership, the venture-catalyst accelerator has been bringing women founders leading transformational businesses to full parity in raising capital. The value of Springboard Enterprises has been validated by a strong 17-year track record of success of $8.3 billion capital raised with 179 exits and 17 IPOs. Companies in the portfolio include technology and life sciences, and in 2014, Ms. Koplovitz co-founded the New York Fashion Tech Lab bringing promising technology companies in collaboration with the fashion and retail industry. Kay currently serves on corporate boards of CA Technologies and ION Media Networks and served previously, on the Boards of Time Inc., Kate Spade, Oracle, Instinet, Nabisco, General Re and Sun New Media, and trustee of The Paley Center for Media and International Tennis Hall of Fame. Some of Ms. Koplovitz’ notable accomplishments include her nomination as Chairman of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) in 1998 by President Clinton as well as the publication of her book Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning to Play the High Risk Entrepreneurial Game, written by Ms. Koplovitz to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs. She recently published Been There, Run That, an anthology of best practices from Springboard Enterprises’ expert network of thought leaders. Ms. Koplovitz is frequently interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, CNBC, MNBC, and Bloomberg TV. This episode is sponsored by Liberty Tax, InStitchu, and Elitra Health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A little more than 40 years ago, there was a live event that changed television forever. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier. A boxing match: "The Thrilla in Manilla." But the men in the ring weren't the only ones with big career stakes on the line. A 30-year-old entrepreneur named Kay Koplovitz had waited about a decade for this moment. She was the driving force behind making the fight the first live satellite broadcast. It changed the cable industry forever, and laid the groundwork for her to become the first woman to head a television network – one she launched two years later – USA Network.  Kay Koplovitz today is a venture capital investor, a board member, and an advocate for women in business. I got some time with her on a busy day at the Nasdaq Marketsite in Times Square to talk about her journey, and lessons for the rest of us who – maybe in our jobs, maybe with some new venture – are trying to do what's never been done.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview w/ Luan Cox, CEO & Founder of FinMkt, Mentor at Techstars, and Advisor at Springboard Enterprises. We discuss early business experience in Silicon Valley, inventing FinTech, her Mentors in Kay Koplovitz, Amy Millman and Debra Walton. Luan tells how she founded FinMkt, protips on growth, the importance of a good cofounder, company Culture and entrepreneurial traits. “Do the work the others aren’t willing to do & be good to people" - Luan Cox Follow Luan on Social Media: Twitter: @LuanCox ENSE: @LuanCox FinMkt Website: www.FinMkt.io Twitter: @FinMkt Netflix: Seeing Allred - Documentary on Gloria Allred EnseApp Install: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ense/id1136044148?mt=8

There are not a lot of women who can say they’ve helped 600 other entrepreneurs raise $8 bn in venture capital. Kay Koplovitz, the game-changing founder of USA Networks, shares with WINGS’ Melinda Wittstock how she came to co-found Springboard Enterprises, the accelerator for female founded tech companies. We talk what it takes to get funded and how the game has changed.

Kay Koplovitz grew up in the 1950s. At this time, It wasn’t common to tell little girls they could be whatever they wanted. But Kay’s parents were different. From a young age, they supported her and her instinctual habit of pushing the envelope. She even negotiated an allowance when she was five years old. Years later, Kay Koplovitz became the founder of USA Network and the first woman to serve as a network president in TV history. Listen to this week’s episode of Fortune Unfiltered to learn about her love of adventure travel, the importance of embracing change, and how to create your own luck.

August 26, 2015 - Greatest Hits! Smithsonian Exhibit Lon Safko & USA Network & Sci Fi Channel founder Kay Koplovitz

April 14, 2015 USA Network & Sci Fi Channel Founder Kay Koplovitz & Wirkn w Derek Szeto

When Board Leadership Makes a Difference, TK Kerstetter, President, Corporate Board Member, Scott Cutler, Executive Vice President, NYSE Euronext, Kay Koplovitz, Chairman, Liz Claiborne Inc.