Forty Over 40

Forty Women to Watch Over 40

By

Forty Over 40 Asks: 5Qs for Susan Danziger, Founder and CEO of Ziggeo

susandanzigerWelcome 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!

Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson

Whitney is the author of the acclaimed Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream. She has been named on numerous Smart Thinkers and People to Follow lists by major media such as Inc. Magazine, Business Insider and Huffington Post and is quoted in Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fast Company, Forbes and more.
Whitney Johnson