Bold Women, Big Ideas

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY APR 8, 2002

Koplovitz ran the USA Networks for 21 years, negotiating enormously successful deals, including the televising of National Baseball League games. However, in 1997 USA Networks became a bargaining chip in an unpleasant lawsuit between Viacom and MCA, and was sold for $4.5 billion. Since Koplovitz had no equity in the company, she made no money from the sale. She suddenly found herself looking for a new employment opportunity and confronted with the reality that women, according to her, are still at a distinct and tangible disadvantage in the business world, whether in raising venture capital or finding ownership opportunities. This led Koplovitz, along with some other well-connected women, to form Springboard, a venture capital group intended to help women start and grow businesses. Now involved in Springboard, as well as a company that televises Broadway shows, Koplovitz tells her own career story and gives advice for female entrepreneurs on such subjects as how to create a pitch and how to prepare for the tough questioning of investors. She offers readers a look into the psyche of today's venture capitalists and shares the business stories of other women who've sought funding from Springboard. Though Koplovitz's claim that female entrepreneurs face greater challenges than men may be true, this topic has already received much attention, and readers might be familiar with some of the material here. Also, Koplovitz only discuses professional life; this is not a book for those who want to read about balancing career and family. However, for fledgling female entrepreneurs and anyone else who wants an inspiring and educational look at successful businesswomen making high-stakes deals, this book fits the bill.