Kay Koplovitz

Kay Koplovitz
Born (1945-04-11) April 11, 1945
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Residence New York, New York
Nationality American
Alma mater University of Wisconsin–Madison and Michigan State University
Occupation Co-Founder and Chairman of Springboard Enterprises and Springboard Growth Capital

Kay Koplovitz (born April 11, 1945) founded the USA Network, Chairman & CEO from 1977 until 1998 when it sold for $4.5 billion. Developed dual revenue stream and introduced disruptive satellite technology to the cable television industry. Scaled business through organic growth and acquisitions. Kay is the first woman ever to head a television network as the founder and former CEO of USA Networks. She is also the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning to Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game. She more recently published "Been There, Run That," an anthology of best practices from Springboard Enterprises’ expert network of thought leaders.

Early life, education

Kay Koplovitz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a B.A. in communications and earned a master's degree in communications from Michigan State University.[1] She is married to private investor William C. Koplovitz, Jr.[2]

Career

USA Networks

Koplovitz founded the USA Network in 1977 as an all-sports service, Madison Square Garden Sports.[3] USA would eventually become the number one ranking cable network in primetime viewership for 13 consecutive years.[3] Under her leadership, the SyFy Channel was launched in 1992 and USA Network International was launched in 1994, operating in countries around the world.[3] Koplovitz is also credited for creating the concept for two revenue steams of licensing and advertising.[1] She served as chairman and chief executive officer until 1998, when it was sold for $4.5 billion and it became a publicly listed company.[1]

Springboard Enterprises, Koplovitz & Company

In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed Koplovitz to chair the bipartisan National Women's Business Council.[4] This helped create a platform for her to Co-Found Springboard Enterprises in 2000. Springboard is a national organization fostering venture capital investments in women-led high growth companies and has raised over $8 billion and created over 10,000 jobs since its inception. Since 2000, Kay has served as Chairman of Springboard Enterprises, where under her leadership, the accelerator has been bringing women founders leading transformational businesses to full parity in raising capital and building scalable, sustainable companies.

Also in 1998, Koplovitz & Company LLC was established to provide advisory services to entertainment companies, sports organizations, advertisers and distributors. It advises companies on growth strategies and the firm makes investments in early and mid-stage companies in media and technology.[5]

Board memberships

Koplovitz currently serves on the board of CA Technologies, ION Media, and The International Hall of Fame. She previously served as chairman of the board of Kate Spade formerly, Fifth & Pacific, formerly Liz Claiborne, from January 2007 until May 2013.[1] She also previously served as a board member of Time Inc.,Instinet, Oracle, Nabisco and General Re.[4] Sun New Media and a trustee of The Paley Center for Media.

In April 2014, it was announced that Kay Koplovitz would sit on the 10-member board of Time Inc., the publishing arm of Time Warner Inc. [6]

Awards and honors

Koplovitz holds honorary doctorate degrees from Emerson College, St. John's University, Michigan State University and Canisius College.[7] Other honors and awards she has received include the following:

  • Pioneers & Innovators in Sports Business: Champions 2018
  • Advancing Diversity Honoree 2018 - Media Village
  • Advertising Hall of Fame (2017)
  • 100 Top Tech Leaders (Tech Titans) by Washingtonian Magazine (2017)
  • Elly Award: Elly Guggenheim Honoree, Women’s Forum NY (2016)
  • Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for Finance at the United Nations (2016)[8]
  • AlleyWatch, 100 NYC Tech Influencers You Need to Know (2014)
  • Entrepreneurship Hall Of Fame Inductee, November (2013)
  • 100 Top Tech Leaders (Tech Titans) by Washingtonian Magazine (2013)
  • Women’s Bond Club, Isabel Benham Award for women who have made outstanding contributions in improving the lives of women (2012)
  • Wisconsin Alumni Association 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award
  • Athena Leadership Award Recipient for Women’s Leadership (2005)
  • Women's Leadership Exchange, Compass Award (2003)
  • Cable Hall of Fame: Induction For Leadership in the Industry (2001)
  • Babson College: Induction into Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs (2001)
  • University of Michigan Business School: Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2001)
  • New York Economic Development Council: Alley Entrepreneurs Award (2000)
  • Anti-Defamation League’s Champion of Liberty Award for the Erase The Hate Campaign (1998)
  • Women In Film: Lucy Award for Outstanding Program Executive (1998)
  • Chairman’s Award from the National Association of Television Programming Executives (1996)
  • Cable Ace Governor’s Award (1995)
  • International Crystal Award from Women in Film (1993)
  • Ellis Island Medal of Honor (1993)
  • Broadcasting Magazine Hall of Fame (1992)
  • Muse Award, New York Women in Film and TV (1992)
  • Chairman’s Award for Leadership from the Cable Advertising Bureau (1987)
  • Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Award by the City University of New York (1986)
  • Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Michigan State University Graduate School of Business (1985)
  • Distinguished Service Award, Young Adult Institute\ (YAI) (1985)
  • Entrepreneurial Women Award (1984)
  • The Matrix Award for Women in Communication (1983)
  • Cable Television Association Vanguard Award (1982)
  • Advertising Age’s Top Ten Newsmakers (1980)
  • Action for Children’s Television Award (1979)
  • The National Cable Television Association Vanguard Award for Young Leadership (1979)[2][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Kay Koplovitz". Bloomberg Link. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Kay Koplovitz Biography (1945-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kay Koplovitz". Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "About Kay". Koplovitz.com. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "KOPLOVITZ & CO". Koplovitz.com. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Trachtenberg, Jeffrey. "Time Warner Unveils Time Inc.'s 10-Member Board". Dow Jones Business News. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Speakers". WE Summit. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Wendy Diamond. "Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization Pioneer Awards 2016 Winners". WED. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
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