Honorees

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. We frequently spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This Q & A is with Yvette Alberdingk Thijm, human rights activist and Executive Director of WITNESS.  Yvette is innovating her field of work by employing media and technology (cell phone video and visual data and platforms to share it) to advocate for and advance global human rights.

1)  What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

In my life, it’s hard to pinpoint one specific moment, there have been many smaller moments of meeting people who inspired me, like the committed WITNESS staff when I was a Board member, who individually were inspiring and committed. For me, it has been a succession of inspiring individuals, not all super-heroes but ordinary people who have the right values and make life choices with passion and commitment.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

Currently, the President of the WITNESS Board, a human rights activist herself, Regan Ralph. She leads the Fund for Global Human Rights and is one of the smartest, most experienced human rights experts I know – my conversations with her cover the whole spectrum of leadership, human rights, it is a true partnership with her.

The second one is Peter Gabriel, WITNESS co-founder, he continually sees well beyond the accepted horizons and pushes me and the organization to take risks, to innovate, but also to be humble and that taking credit is a barrier to progress.

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

My biggest goal is to make the act of safe and effective witnessing for human rights something that anyone can do. That means bringing our programs to scale with new investments. We road-tested the programs, have the right team in place, but what we need now is investment to scale up the early impact.

4)  How did you get your first job? How did you jump to your second job?

I wrote a letter to Jane Ginsburg, the daughter of RBG. I was a law student in The Netherlands and had no idea who she was, just that she ran an amazing program called Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts at Columbia University. I asker her if I could come and join and to my surprise, she said yes. I flew over, joined her clinic and stayed at the Salvation Army. My second job, a television job, came through a headhunter.  I did not even have a TV at the time, but to prepare for the interview I watched every I Love Lucy episode that ever aired and aced the interview.

5)  What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning?

I am not a morning person, but you can talk to me until late at night. I do my best work when everyone is asleep.

6)  How did you feel on your 30th birthday? What were you doing at that time?

I had just moved to New York and I remember feeling lucky to be in this vibrant city and I still feel this way.

7)  How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

I unplug in two very Yin and Yang ways. I box and I love to watch Esoteric Documentaries. 

8)  What’s the best networking contact you’ve made? How did you make it?

I am part of a small global group of amazing leaders who met at a Rockwood Leadership Course in 2013.  We stay in touch no matter what and support each other. 

9)  What challenge / achievement are you most proud of?

I am most proud of helping to build our reputation as a good partner and collaborator.  I am convinced that it takes an ecosystem to create true change in the world and that effective collaboration is a precious commodity. 

10)  What was the last business book you read? 

On Photography by Susan Sontag.  Even in our selfie era, it is an incredible insightful observation on the power of the visual image and our ability to ‘witness’.

11)  What cause do you most want to advance? 

In the US, I care deeply about creating true accountability for systematic police violence and in a bigger sense the structural violence, inequality and the lack of racial justice in our society. Citizen video exposure truths that we have long been denied, now we need to make sure that more video actually leads to more rights. 

12)  What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

As a human rights activist your work is never done, so pace yourself, incremental progress is meaningful. 

13)  What is your “keep me going” quote?

When elephants fight, the grass suffers.

14) What is your secret indulgence?

Sleep

15)  Who on the list of prior Honorees would you like to meet?

Anne Marie Slaughter

Check out Yvette Alberdingk Thijm’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. We frequently spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This Q & A is with Vanessa Quigley, Co-founder and Chatbooker-in-Chief of Chatbooks. Vanessa is innovating her field of work with Chatbooks and its design to break the digital-only mentality. Chatbooks prints from social media and camera roll favorites to create hard copy photo and memory books.

1)  What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?  

I was a cheerleader for my husband throughout his entrepreneurial career as I worked as a stay at home mom and a part time singer/actress. It wasn’t until he started to build a business around one of my ideas that I decided that I didn’t just want to watch from the sidelines this time. I wanted to be part of the founding team that would bring my idea to life! My youngest child had just started full time school and the time was right to reinvent myself as a tech entrepreneur.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

After 20 years of supporting my husband in his career, he is now cheering me on. It didn’t matter to him that I didn’t  have any business experience. He knew my strengths and abilities, believed in me and has encouraged me stretch myself in ways I didn’t know possible. I am so grateful for the new dynamic this has brought to our relationship.

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

More than anything I want to grow our company into a billion dollar business while continuing to help people hold on to what matters. I see a world where Chatbooks is helping people all over the world safeguard, organize, and enjoy all their memories without adding any additional work or stress to their lives.

4)  What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning?

During the school year I usually wake up at 5:40 to exercise before helping kids get out the door to school. Exercise is how I stay sane and that early morning hour is the only “me time” I seem to have. By 9 am I’m showered and dressed and the kids are all off to school and I head into the office to work until school is over.

5)  How did you feel on your 30th birthday? What were you doing at that time?

On my 30th bday I felt relieved! I had 4 children by then and thought that being 30 with 4 kids seemed less crazy than 29! I was a stay at home mom at that time of life and my oldest was only 7. My life was busy with playdates, cooking, cleaning, and shuttling my little ones all over town for errands and activities. My outlet at that time was scrapbooking and after putting the kids to bed I’d stay up late working on my beloved books.

6)  How do you unplug? How often do you unplug?

Honestly I hardly ever completely unplug. Even when I’m not working I’m usually listening to a podcast or audiobook while running errands or cleaning up around the house. But I love to recharge mentally by going outside and up into the mountains in my backyard with friends or family. Nature and great conversation are always a winning combination for me!

7)  What was the last business book you read?

I’ve most recently finished reading The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni. It was recommended to me by a very successful entrepreneur as mandatory reading. I learned so many fascinating things that are guiding our leadership team as our company continues to grow.

8)  What song can’t you get out of your head?

Honestly the entire soundtrack of the Broadway musical Hamilton is on constant repeat in my head and in my home. My whole family is obsessed! Who knew the founding fathers could be so hip and cool?

9)  What is your “keep me going” quote?  

“Fake it ‘til you make it!”. I know lots of people hate that quote but it’s what got me through high school and more recently, my entrepreneurial debut. There are so many things that I still don’t know but there’s nothing wrong with feigning confidence while I figure it out, right?

10) What is your secret indulgence?

First thing that comes to mind–chocolate. But that’s not really a secret. However, I”m pretty sure no one know that I sometimes watch Keeping up with the Kardashians late at night.

Check out Vanessa Quigley’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. We frequently spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This Q & A is with Vanessa Schenck, who is empowering tween girls as the founder of TIA Girl Club and the Co-Founder of Girl32.  Vanessa is innovating her field of work with TIA as the program teaches girls to preserve their identities through three pillars: contact with powerful female role models, connecting with other TIA Girls, and reinforcing empowering messages.

1)  What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?

When my daughter was born.  Knowing the struggles I went through keeping my voice as a girl, when Julia was born I knew I had to do something to give her a better experience.  I made it my mission to find solutions to help her live an empowered life.  From that mission I started TIA Girl Club.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

My friends Tracy Chadwell and Fran Hauser have been amazing mentors for me.  Both were top executives in their respective fields before deciding to become private investors.  Tracy was the one I first told of the idea for TIA Girl Club.  She wouldn’t let me off the hook.  She emailed and texted constantly, pushing me to see the idea become a company. She saw the value in it, and encouraged me to move forward.  And Fran shares her wisdom and contacts, and is available 24/7 to answer questions, encourage and inspire me.  With the two of them in my corner, I really do think anything is possible.   

Most recently however, my husband Will has been my greatest mentor.  He was diagnosed with metastatic stage four prostate cancer in October of 2015 (the same day we launched our Kickstarter campaign!), and the way in which he has approached the challenges he’s had to face has been the most empowering experience to see.  Being witness to his strength, determination and love for life, has been the greatest inspiration.  If he can do what he’s doing (beating cancer!) surely I can do what I am doing.  

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

To reach as many girls as possible and introduce them to TIA Girl Club because when they become members, girls’ lives change for the better.  We supply community, mentors and encouragement. When girls know they have an encouraging and supportive community in their corner, they feel comfortable to do whatever it is they dream and they SEE what’s possible with our Trailblazers.  When they see what’s possible, they dream BIGGER.  I believe that these dreams are the fuel of their futures.

4)  How did you feel on your 30th birthday? What were you doing at that time?

I was feeling hopeful.  I was finalizing my divorce from my first husband, someone who had been verbally abusive during our relationship.  He was someone I married very young, when I didn’t have a voice, and I had finally found my voice again, and was finally saying to myself, “I deserve better.”

5)  What was the last business book you read?

Three Simple Steps by Trevor Blake.  The three steps to achieving your dreams (business or personal) are super easy, but super hard to implement.  Since I’ve been following his advice, my life has absolutely started to flow in the direction of my dreams, so I trust it.

6)  What cause do you most want to advance?

The empowerment of girls.  The statistics for girls self esteem are devastating.  When a girl loses her confidence and her voice in her tween years, psychologists say she is at risk for not getting it back until she’s at least 40 years old.  That’s unacceptable.  I believe a lot of girls DO lose their voices.  That’s why we have so few women, as Sheryl Sandberg says, “leaning in.”  They have no voice to lean in with!  My hope is to give girls the tools to help her stay self confident as she navigates what we now know to be the most critical years of her development – the tween years.

7)  What song can’t you get out of your head?

There’s two that are constantly playing: Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift, and Roar by Katy Perry.  It’s when I moved to NYC that my authentic self emerged and I got my voice back, so those songs completely resonate with me.  

8)  What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

“What you say becomes reality.  You speak life into being.”   It’s something Oprah said, and it’s TRUE.  Your words have creative power.  That’s why you always want to speak what you want to see in your life.

9)  What is your “keep me going” quote?

It’s from a TIA Girl.  Her name is Isabella and she wrote to tell me, “Because of you (TIA Girl Club) my self esteem is off the charts.”

10) What is your secret indulgence?

Cocktail rings.  

11)  Who on the list of prior Honorees would you like to meet?

EVERYONE.  Why limit yourself to just a few?

Check out Vanessa Schenck’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. We frequently spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This Q & A is with Susan Danziger. Susan is a serial entrepreneur. She is currently running Ziggeo, a tech startup she founded three years ago. Prior to this she founded and ran multiple companies including DailyLit, a publisher of digital books which was acquired in 2012, and Fox Meadow Media. Her education includes a law degree from NYU.

1)  What was a pivotal moment of reinvention for you?

A pivotal moment early on in my career was when I decided to quit my job as an associate at a New York City law firm (that came with a big salary) and moved to Europe to lead bicycle tours.  What a great feeling that was!  And ironically, I learned more leading that first bicycle tour than I did during my entire time at the law firm.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

My mom was my biggest mentor from a young age. She was a professor of English literature at Hunter College and Chairman of her department at a time when few women were working. She was definitely a trailblazer.

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

My biggest goal is to empower others to follow their passions and create something wonderful for the world.  I do that through the technology we develop at my company, Ziggeo, the salons I host for women entrepreneurs, and the education of our 3 teenagers, all of whom have left traditional school to follow their passions.

4)  What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning?

I typically wake up around 6:30am or 7am (I  get at least 8 hours of sleep) and go to the gym first thing where I do my email and write blog posts on the stationary bike.

5)  What was the last business book you read? 

YEAR OF YES by Shonda Rhimes which I LOVED.

Check out Susan Danziger’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!

Welcome to the Forty Over 40 blog. Frequently we spotlight one of our honorees and their thoughts on reinvention, mentorship and momentum…plus a peek into what makes them tick.

This Q & A is with Lisa Congdon a Fine Artist, Illustrator, Author and Blogger. Known for her colorful abstract paintings, intricate line drawings, pattern design & hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including the MoMA, Harvard University, Martha Stewart Living, Chronicle Books, Simon & Schuster, and Cloud9 Fabrics. She is the author of several books including the starving-artist-myth-smashing Art Inc: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist, and illustrated books 20 Ways to Draw a Tulip, Whatever You Are, Be a Good One and Fortune Favors the Brave. Her latest book The Joy of Swimming: A Celebration of our Love for Getting in the Water will be released in 2016.

1)  What was a pivotal momentum of reinvention for you?

I spent the first 15 years of my adult life working in public education, first as a teacher and then through a non-profit organization. I felt exceptionally committed to the cause of public education, but I also felt like there was something missing from my day-to-day experience. I For years, I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. As a way to relieve the stress of my job I started to take art classes in my early 30’s. Pretty quickly, I fell in love with drawing and painting, and I realized that having a creative pursuit was what was missing from my life. I was a pretty horrible artist at first, but it woke something up in my that I’d never experienced before. At the time, it never occurred to me that I could make a living as an artist or build a business around my talents. I had friends who’d gone to art school and were struggling to make a living, and they had twice the talent that I did. But I was lucky: around the time I discovered drawing and painting the Internet was beginning to blow up as a place for artists (new and experienced) to share their work, sell their work and to build an audience. I jumped into the internet bandwagon early on and realized if I worked steadily and patiently, through the Internet, I could eventually make a living doing this thing that I loved– no matter how statistically “unrealistic” my goals. From that moment on, I focused intently on finding my voice as an artist, putting my work into the world, and making sound financial decisions that would support building a thriving business. And slowly, but surely, everything fell into place.

2)  Who has been a valuable mentor or sponsor?

You would think as an artist my greatest mentor would have been another artist. But my greatest mentor has been my accountant. Even though I’d been making a decent income in the world of non-profit education, I wasn’t a financially responsible person. Once I became self employed, I had to find an accountant, because doing my taxes was going to be too complicated on my own. The day I met her changed the course of my life forever. She gave me real straight talk about getting out of debt, saving, and bookkeeping. Fortunately I was ready to listen. She even had me over to her office on numerous occasions to help me understand how to use Quickbooks, balance my accounts, and understand every aspect of accounting and money management that it was important for me to know. That was over 10 years ago, and to this day she is a valuable confidant, mentor and advisor in my life and ever-growing business. Every year we chuckle about how far I’ve come.

3)  What is your biggest goal right now?

For years when I was starting out, I worked alone. I did everything myself. And then, even as my business diversified and grew, I found that I was still doing almost everything myself! I now have a team of people working for me and my goal is to get really adept at delegating — at trusting a few smart people to do the work that doesn’t have to be done by me. I still do all of the art-making and teaching, but now I work with others to market my business, write books, answer email, book travel, etc. Now I say, “How did I ever survive without a team of people?”

4)  What time do you typically wake up? What do you do every morning?

I wake up at about 6:30 every morning. The first thing I always do is meditate for at least 10 minutes, but up to 30. Before I began meditating, I found that my day would be run by what I was worried about when I first woke up — which was sometimes a myriad of overwhelming and competing priorities. Now, before I allow myself to go there, I walk to the next room over and sit. I have done some meditation programs and practices that have really helped, because meditation is so hard. It grounds me in the day. Then I walk downstairs and share coffee and morning conversation with my wife and then head to the gym or out for a run. Now that I have an employee who shows up at 8:30 and starts to answer my email, there’s not such a rush for me to jump right into work first thing the morning. Having a relaxed morning sets the tone for my day. I could not manage my crazy schedule and workload without it!

Check out Lisa Congdon’s full 40 Over 40 profile here!