Gotham Gal

Speaking to Simmons Women

I graduated from Simmons College, an all-womens school in Boston many moons ago.  I went to Simmons for a handful of reasons but the main one is that the school is focused on careers.  I knew that when I walked out the door, I would have a job and trust me nobody else was going to be paying my bills.  

Socially I didn't love the school.  I loved freshman year and truly lost psych on the women I met as time went on.  When I went abroad for my Junior year, I came back with a different head.  This past Friday night, I spoke to a group of Simmons women who were sophomores, seniors, recently graduated and older alumnae to discuss my long off the beaten track career and my time at Simmons. 

I haven't been in a room of women like that for years.  Janet Buyers Russo, who sits on the board of Simmons, interviewed me.  Four short questions and then we opened it up to the audience which I really like.  We talked about risks I have taken, recognizing opportunities and mentoring other women. 

She asked me if my experience of going to an all-womens college influenced my perspective and choices in life.  In all fairness, she sent me the questions in advance so I had some time to ponder.  This particular one was the one I thought about the most.  I spoke to my friend about it and she wasn't so sure that the circumstances of all women made that much of an impact at the college level.  Did being in that environment make me a better negotiator, give me sharper elbows, make me be indifferent to the other men who I was competing against as I went forward in my career or just be fiercer.  I also had that conversation with someone who came earlier in the week to interview me for a book she is writing about women who have broken the glass ceiling.  She is finding that there is a constant among many of those women and it starts at a young age. 

I answered that I did believe there is something about competing all day long in a classroom with only women and that is certainly special and rare yet the truth is I think I have always been the way I am and maybe that part of my path confirmed the way I operate.   

The favorite take away was this.  The kids that were still in college wanted to know about how they perhaps get into the start-up industry or even the importance of getting jobs in the field that they majored in.  I said that going to college is about expanding your mind, forcing you to look at things differently, having an amazing experience and meeting a lot of different people so regardless of what you have majored in, it is not imperative that they find a job in that field unless they are set on it.  Jane, who had interviewed me, asked the question to all the alums...there were probably 25 of them there if not more...lets see a show of hands on how many of you are not in the same field that you started out in after college?  I kid you not, almost every single alum raised their hand.  So there you have it, there were some amazing women in that room and it is all about the road we travel as the dots always just seem to connect. 

change is happening around the globe

I met Nicholas Noe during my days at MOUSE.  Super smart creative person who really was into politics.  Fast forward, Nic moves to Beirut and becomes the co-founder of the Mideastwire, a news translation wire.  Nic was in NYC maybe a few years ago and we caught up.  He was presenting his report, Century Foundation report, 'Re-imaging the Lebanon Track', to a group and I was impressed how he is really trying to create change in an area of the world where we have a hard time creating new ways to imagine peace. 

I got an email from Nic this past week asking me to speak with David Nabti who is involved in the tech community in Lebanon with hopes of getting as many women involved as possible.  I got on Skype with the two of them this past week.  I still find it amazing when 3 people, Nic happened to be in Tunisia, can get together and talk so fluidly when we are across the globe from one other. 

David is working on AltCity and their tag lines is "a community collaboration production start-up space designed to support innovative, creative, high-impact and socially-relevant media and and entrepreneurial initiatives".  They are working on supporting non-profit and profit at the same time.  I love that they are thinking big but my gut is to go with the profit and take it from there. 

The concept is similar to others we have seen here at home from Techstars and YCombinator even with a little bit of 3rd Ward thrown and General Assembly thrown in.  There will be an AltCity where there are collaborative spaces, a multi-media lab including a resource room and a cafe.  Companies will apply, they will get mentors to work with ( could be through Skype ) and there will be a pitchfest.  After the pitchfest there will be a 3-month accelerator program to get companies to the point of pitching to investors.  So they are spending some time honing the companies first before moving into the regular 3-month program that most companies start in once they have applied in most of the incubators you see around the country.

Here are two guys, who both grew up in the US, that have spent almost the last decade in Lebanon trying to help their peerss in a country that they have grown to love try and create new economies, new companies and foster the individuals there that are budding entrepreneurs.  Impressive, exciting and exhilerating.  I hope that I can help.  This is the kind of thing that should be happening around the globe as more countries, particularly those in the Middle East are seeing the youth finally come out to the streets because of the access to social media screaming for change.  This program will provide the education and tools to begin the kind of change we need to see.

 

back to brooklyn

Fred and I went out to see 3rd Ward and stopped at Saraghina for lunch on the way there. 

A total DIY place.  Chairs hanging from the ceiling when you first walk into the coffee/dessert bar area.  The vibe is mellow and the look is edgy in a very cool way.  The menu is simple.  Salads, pizzas, paninis and desserts.

We started with fregula (an italian version of israeli couscous), roasted tomatoes, chunks of tuna, pieces of arugula and a light dressing.  This is my kind of salad.  I will be duplicating this all summer long.

The pizza is just fantastic.  Thin crust with a light tomato sauce, pieces of fresh mozzarella and a spicy ham and a few sprigs of basil.  This is called the capocollo.

While I was in the bathroom, Fred ordered a flaky yet dense plum cake.  It was perfect with my americano coffee.  Lunch was so good.  Keep in mind, cash only.  I was so incredibly full that for dinner I basically had a few oysters and that was it.  Worth every bite.

We made our way over to 3rd Ward which is located in Bushwick.  What can I say?  I love this place.  A continuing education hub for the DIY generation where you can use the equipment, take a class, become part of the community and be creative.  A pretty good combo. 

Wood shops.

Lockers for rent.

Photography studio.

Jewelry shop.

Friendly dog hanging out.

Groovy office areas with chandeliers.

More wood shops. 

Brilliant place.  Looking forward to more conversations with the people behind 3rd Ward.

 

 

 

NYU-Poly Incubators Program

I am a huge fan of the incubator programs.  If you get in and can figure out how to make the time (aka not easy for Moms with kids) they are well worth it.  The benefits are huge.  You have the ability to drill down on your business with a new set of eyes, you meet other people who are in the same boat, you begin to understand how to build a property on the web/app, how to brand, how to market, how to raise money, how to how to how to. 

What I really like about incubators is that they are like playing a competitive game.  If you play against someone who is just a little better than you it forces you to play at a higher level.  When you get a bunch of super smart entrepreneurs in the room who all have very different assets...everybody ups their game. 

NYU-Poly has a program that you can apply to here.  They are looking for potential high-growth companies that will create job and change the economy with new products and services while leveraging the strength of the exisiting start-up community.  Their focus is on adtech, fintech, gaming, mobile, social and digital media, and cleanweb.

Their program is a rolling admission.  To date they have had 10 companies graduate, get funded and have created over 400 jobs.  Really great mentors in this program too. 

I am a huge fan of NYU-Poly and I love what they are doing over there to be leaders in ever-growing the tech community. 

don't be a loser

Losers from Everynone on Vimeo.

My brother has been involved in the running and growth of a production company for the majority of his career.  He has an amazing eye and a smart business head.  He has produced some of the most memorable commercials for brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniels, Old Navy and more.  It is always great to get together and have him show me what he is working on.  He is passionate about his directors and has a moral compass around what they are trying to create.

One of the projects he is working on now is called Losers by Everynone.  Everynone is three guys who are seriously talented in the medium of short films/advertisements ( maybe long films one day ).  My brother showed me their work some time ago before they became part of his company.  This particular short is very powerful and deals with the societal problem of bullying. 

Bullying has been around forever but now with social media, people can bully others through Facebook and other online sites anonymously making it even more difficult to deal with.  We have all read some of the terrible reprecussions that have taken place including the suicide of teenagers who just couldn't take it anymore. 

How do we deal with this issue?  Facebook should be all over this as a public service to educate people about how bullying is not okay.  Truth of the matter, I bet some of the most successful Internet entrepreneurs were bullied when they were kids...and then they grew up to run the world.  Why can't those entrepreneurs get behind this message and make this a national campaign using their brands?  They could and they should.  BTW, I'd be happy to put you in touch my brother. 

Watch the video.  It is pretty powerful.

a very mellow day

Last night we took about 15 of Jessica's friends and bunk mates out for dinner.  It was really fun to meet everyone.  A real international crew. Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Boston, Texas, California, South Africa, and more.  Hearing about their explorations in South Africa and also where they came from to get here was great.  No doubt an incredible experience for all of them.  

The following day Jessica had to write a paper and she wasn't feeling too good either so we took it easy.  At one point I took a short stroll outside to the craft market which is pure shlock.  We took advantage of the spa later in the afternoon and that was the day in a nutshell.  Kind of nice to just relax.

Before dinner Jessica had to turn in her paper.  You have to turn in your paper by a certain time through email and also drop off a printed copy of the paper on campus.  A bit archaic but that is the system. The campus looks over Cape Town.  Another beautiful view.

I particularly love these steps going all the way up to the main building at UCT.  

This is an just a walkway where a bunch of buildings are.  Jessica takes classes in these buildings and also takes classes in a totally different area of town where the art school is.  

For dinner we went to Beluga.  Beluga is located in an area that we had eaten in last time I was here in 2004.  At that point it was the beginnings of old warehouses being taken over and now it is really built up. The restaurant reminds me of the type of places that were big in NYC during the mid-80's.  Large restaurants with a great vibe and vast menu.  Makes everyone happy and you really can't go wrong.  

Jess had the mussels.  The seafood and fish here is so good.  I have never seen mussels that size before.  They were done with a light curry sauce.

I had thinly sliced raw calamari piled up high with an Asian chili sauce around the edge of the plate.  The greens were pieces of basil and mint.  NIce.

The sushi here is really good, so fresh.  Jessica had a mixture.

I went for the lamb ribs.  We had lamb ribs this summer at South Edison in Montauk and they were so good. These were probably roasted about 12 hours and then they take them off the bone for you so you don't get your fingers sticky.  They are finished off with an Asian bbq paste with large potato fries on the side and crunchy onion rings. I am making sure to find a butcher to get lamb ribs for me when I get back to NYC.  

Went back to the hotel and crashed.  

Junk Food vs. Cooking?

My Mom was a really good cook, my Grandmother was an amazing baker and my Dads Mom was quite the cook herself.  Cooking was just part of our life.  My parents threw dinner parties, my Mom had cookbooks and was definitely creative in terms of the day to day meal.  Not that we didn't have our basics like broiled chicken, rice and a vegetable but we weren't picking up a bucket KFC for dinner. 

Josh and I were talking about the costs of junk food vs real food this past weekend.  He told me that you can actually buy a 20 piece bucket at KFC for $10.  $10 can also buy you a whole chicken, a box of rice and a stalk of broccoli.  Hmmm, which is healthier? 

I have been reading Kathleen Flinn's latest book, The Kitchen Counter Cooking School.  The book will be released 9/29.  She writes about nine culinary novices and how she turned them into fearless cooks.  She became obsessed with helping these people improve the way they eat after literally following a woman in the grocery store with a cart filled with bad food for her and her family.  She convices this particular woman to swap out the processed food for healthy food that she can make at a lower cost but soon realizes that this woman has no idea how to cook. 

Mark Bittman wrote an article in the NYTimes about pretty much the same issue called Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?  The answer is no.  The core problem is that not only is cooking is work, I am not sure that many people really know how to cook healthy.  I also believe that the biggest problem lies with low-income families who can't afford to go to a high-end store and buy prepared food.  BTW, that food isn't so good either but at least it is healthier.  The good news is that there are a variety of organizations trying to help change that by teaching young people to cook and understand where their food comes from.  It has to come from within to change the culture.  

The other good news is that food has become a big part of our economy.  The DIY generation is very interested in where their food is coming from as the farm to table revolution is underway.  They are also taking that piece from the 50's where people, friends and family sit down to have a meal together vs grabbing something on the go.  

Many years back I had two friends who wanted to cook but always felt that they would somehow fail in the kitchen.  They didn't enjoy the process and one of them was seriously concerned if she didn't make it right that she would make someone sick.  One of my friends really for the sake of her children and family got into cooking and figured out to make a meal quickly.   She is not only a good cook at this pont she actually enjoys the process and is definitely proud of the outcome.  For my other friend, for her birthday many years back, I went to her house with a box of spices from Penzeys and gave her a list of basics to have when I got there.  I taught her how to roast a chicken, roast vegetables and a few simple tricks on how to take those basics and mix it up.  

She threw a luncheon for a bunch of people last spring and sent me her pictures.  They were amazing.  She has turned into a pretty damn good cook and for her family it has been a joy.  It doesn't take much to whip up some eggs, mix together some vegetables and olive oil and roast in the oven or roast chicken.  After you do that you generally become a little more adventurous once you see how easy it really is.  The question is, how do we teach as many people as possible to feel comfortable cooking in the kitchen even if it is only a few times a week.   

 

education and technology

I went to Lake Normandy Elementary School for 5 and 6th grades.  Although a public school, the mission was new and modern and the curriculum was designed to let the students learn at their own pace. 

Each classroom was a bit different depending on the grade and teacher.  The school was physically designed like a pentagon.  In the middle was the library and off the back end was the gym and lunch room.  The other hallways entered into a round hang out area and open classrooms with small pods that had different projects.  Each pod had about 4 chairs so you could do your project independently or with a friend.  The teachers monitored your work with the hope that you would complete the options available for learning every four weeks.  That is basically what I remember.  For me, those two years were a complete wasteland. 

I was the supreme tether-ball and spit (the card game) champion.  I also got into gymnastics and enjoyed doing cartwheels.  On occasion, a project grabbed my interest and I actually do recall doing a research project on cancer.  The teachers were probably surprised that I could put a sentence together.  When my mother went in for the parent/teacher conference, she was a bit concerned as the teacher spent more time discussing her than me.  Many of the teachers were a bunch of stoners from the 60's and were into this new educational concept. 

Fast forward, I get to seventh grade in an old fashioned structured school where you move from class to class every 50 minutes and culture shock sets in.  My parents weren't exactly paying attention to my education because when I didn't know what a verb, noun, adverb, adjective or proper sentence was.  My math skills weren't exactly riveting either and Science was a blur.  They sent me to the dumbest class of the grade for English.  It took me about 3 months of ramping up before they sent me up to the classroom with the smarties but those basic English principles still haunt me today.  What would have happened if I actually had a decent education in 5 and 6th grade?  In reality I learned absolutely nothing those two years except social skills and of course card playing skills.  I obviously ended up fine but learning is a life long gift and the system basically took two precious years away from me. 

Today there is an article in the NYTimes about a district in Atlanta that has taken a high-tech gamble by filling the classrooms with technology.  The students each learn at their own pace by embracing the minds of the youth and how they think these days using facebook, blogging, hip-hop and more.  As I read between the lines, what I see is Lake Normandy Elementary School on technology.  Digital devices might let kids learn at their own pace and that might be a good thing if the system is seriously managed. 

I am a big believer in progressive education.  Learn how to break something down and put it back together stays with you forever whereas rote memorization can fly out the window the next day. I love that there are a variety of disruptive educational start-ups happening in the world from online learning to group classrooms with students all over the world.  Yet, when it comes to grades K-10th grade (I do believe that 11 and 12th grade can be looked at differently) there needs to be serious monitoring to insure that each of these kids are learning basic fundamentals be it reading certain books, knowing their math tables, understanding the basics of the English language, how to write and research a paper.  We can't just let kids educate themselves as they see fit within a classroom.  At the college level, the new generation of teachers should be learning how to incorporate technology into the classroom to get great results instead of sticking them in a random district where they are set up to fail because the curriculum they are creating around technology is a learning curve for them too. 

Lake Normandy was a learning curve and although the teachers probably walked away with an interesting experience, kids like me walked away as the losers.  If we are going to use technology which I am all for, lets make sure the people teaching it are taught how to use it before they walk in as the leaders of a classroom. 

Wrapping up the Fifty for Fifty Campaign

I am still amazed by the endless donations to this campaign.  Pretty awesome. 

As we said, there is a Meetup event to celebrate on November 9 between 6-8 at the USV offices.  Here is the page if you would like to attend.  We would hope that as many of you will get there and greet us and each other to celebrate quite an achievement.

Enjoy the holiday weekend...

 

 

Donors Choose

I am seriously blown away by the overwhelming response and outpouring of donations to Fred and my 50 for 50 challenge for Donors Choose.   We thought it would take about 3 months but we hit the number in less than a month and even went over. There are few communities who could have pulled this off. 

A few things.  A big thank you to everyone who participated.  We will be having a meet-up on November 9th bewteen 6-8 in the USV event space.  The other thing is that what Donors Choose has created, the ability for individuals to give back to teachers across this country who are in need of more money to provide better education for their students from books, cameras, science projects, reading tablets, etc. is incredible.  They have filled a void in the market place that so badly need to be filled. 

In many ways, Donors Choose is a band-aid for the cash strapped Government who is not providing the right amount of capital to schools to fund the curriculum.  It makes all of us feel good to give back and make a difference in education but on the other hand it is crazy that the number one priority in this country isn't education.  To both Fred and I, education is number one.  If everyone could be educated, challenged and pushed to their highest level the benefits for society are endless. 

Bottom line, thank you to everyone and Donors Choose for creating such a unique company that is dedicated to providing a better eduation for everyone.