Gotham Gal: First Growth Panel

Lowenstein Sandler (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ed Zimmerman chairs the legal tech group at Lowenstein Sandler. Ed not only legally represents many companies in the tech industry he also does a little angel investing on the side, has a passion for wine and brings entrepreneurs together to learn, greet and network. I was delighted to be part of a panel this past week about "how to build a brand".

The panel was all women. Aslaud Magnusdottir, Co-Founder of Moda Operandi, Christine Beauchamp, former Brand President of Ann Taylor and President/CEO of Victoria's Secret Beauty and is currently a guest Professor at NYU, Katherine Barr who is a General Partner of Mohr David Ventures and Deirdre Bolton, anchor of Bloomberg TV's Money Moves. An amazing group of smart women who gave sound advice. I was honored to be part of this group.

What did we talk about? The difference between a professional brand, a product brand, the interplay between both including how to launch a brand. Each vertical is different. I loved the presentation Deirdre Bolton gave on "Are you ready for TV".

We broke into breakout sessions afterward with some other amazing women leading the charge; Dayna Grayson partner at NEA, Ellie Wheeler at Greycroft Partners, Kathy Leake, President and co-Founder of Local Response and Stacey Burr, VP Adidas Wearable Sport Electronic, former founder-CEO of Textronics which was acquired by Adidas.

I have to applaud Ed for putting together a group of women leaders who all come from a different place. I got to meet a bunch of entrepreneurs and catch up with some people I have not seen for awhile. A solid agenda with the ability to do what we do best in the tech industry....share information, give guidance and try to help everyone succeed.

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books of the moment

Rachel Kushner: The Flamethrowers: A Novel
A beautiful intelligently written book that threads together NYC and Rome in the 1970's. The prose is just amazing. There is an underlying theme about lies and trust. The main character, Reno, whose eyes the book is written through is like a sponge taking in a world and essentially educating herself. I admit I did not love the ending and the book bounces around a bit although an interesting look at a time that bounced around too so the story defines those times.
Peggy Riley: Amity & Sorrow: A Novel
A mother drives for days with her daughters and ends up in a random Oklahoma town after crashing the car. They come from a polygamous community where there were 50 wives. The mother had grown up knowing life outside that community. Over time, after leaving, she almost becomes deprogrammed. The realization of what she did to her daughters who no nothing outside the world they came from including how to read. Then there is the family that brought them in. It is a fascinating story. Well written. Worthy read.
Charles Graeber: The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder
An amazing true story of a male nurse who was arrested in 2002. I actually remember the story as I followed it in the papers. This nurse was a serial killer who had probably murdered over 400 patients that were under his care. A seriously well researched book. Great read.
Meg Wolitzer: The Interestings: A Novel
Wolitzer writes about a group of camp friends who all come from different walks of life (some on scholarship) as their friendships continue through their mid-50s. At the beginning the story seems trite but as you continue to read there is a lot of be said. The story is sticking with me. She makes the case that everything that happens to you from your childhood makes an impact on who you become or don't become. Worthy read.
Elizabeth Strout: The Burgess Boys: A Novel
Strouts last book won a Pulitzer. She focuses on family issues. I enjoyed this book much more than Olive Ketteredge which I found utterly depressing. This book follows two brothers and a sister who live in the shadow of their fathers accidental death. Like most siblings, all have turned out very different yet they are connected. I did not love any of the characters, like her last book, yet as The Burgess Boys moves forward and memories are revealed, it is an interesting perspective on human character.
Tamara Shopsin: Mumbai New York Scranton: A Memoir
Great book. A witty spare inventive personal diary of Tamara journey from Indian to New York to Scranton. Really really enjoyed the book.
Michael Lavigne: The Wanting: A Novel
An incredible book that tells the human side of the many layered issues in the Middle East. From immigrating to Israel from Moscow, to being a victim of a suicide bomber yet surviving, to being pulled into an Israeli radical group. Each character is connected. Very layered well written book. Powerful
Alessandro Piol: Tech and the City: The Making of New York's Startup Community
A history of the Internet that I lived through. Great job of recording what happened.
Amity Gaige: Schroder: A Novel
Not sure how much I loved this book. A father loses his child in divorce and decides to kidnap his own daughter. He is not a stable person but he obviously loves his daughter. His own childhood has made him a disconnected human being. An interesting journey but not sure I'd recommend.
Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea
Classic.

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