Marcy Clark, Founder of the Women's Mafia

People like Marcy Clark make me want to move back to New York.  Originally from Northern California, Marcy now enjoys what I imagine to be a fabulous, Carrie Bradshaw existence, but with even more friends.

As Director of Publicity at Yellow Sky Agency, and Founder of the “Women’s Mafia”, Marcy has her finger on the pulse of all things social in NYC.  Started just four years ago, the “Women’s Mafia” social club has caught on quickly, and it is easy to understand why.  Social connections, ever important in New York, can be a hard acquisition, and even more so for newcomers to the city.  The Women’s Mafia offers the perfect solution, facilitating social connections between groups of successful women through the organization of fun, upscale events (Champagne, Shoes, and Chocolate, anyone?).

Thank you Marcy.  For showing me that the real Carrie Bradshaws of New York do exist.  You just have to join the mafia to find them.

1. The “Women’s Mafia” is such an intriguing concept.  What is it all about, and how can others become a part of it?

The Women’s Mafia is a social club that I started nearly four years ago based on the simple premise that gathering a large group of women could be a powerful thing in itself.  Fortunately, I have been right!  Restaurants, stores, clubs and other new venues all want us to be in their space.  We recently had a fashion show that was attended by over 600 people.  The select men that are invited to our events never want to leave – I had one guy friend recently tell me after a party “I want to be kidnapped by the Women’s Mafia every night!”

Most importantly, the women at our events are meeting lifelong friends.  I think the fact that they are social events, with a party atmosphere, rather than networking events, makes the connections our members make much more meaningful.  I have had members meet at one of my events and later be in each other’s weddings, start a business together or get a job through their connection.

We started in New York but we do have members in the UK, San Francisco, LA and other destination cities where we plan to grow.  Women, and men who are intrigued, can join the Women’s Mafia by visiting our website and online news and events site womensmafia.com.

2.  You describe yourself as a “very social person”.  Was this part of the reason you started the group, to help more women develop social ties in the city?

That is exactly the reason.  When I first moved to New York I knew two people, and those people already had a life and a network of friends.  It wasn’t especially difficult for me as I had moved to new cities by myself before, but I did have to make some effort to make new friends and that was a strange experience for me.  New Yorker’s are very friendly, but they can be insular once they have established a core group of friends.  To this day, when I meet someone new to New York I always invite them to join the Women’s Mafia and I make sure to introduce them to people in their field or with similar interests at our events.

3. To what degree do you feel being well connected in New York matters?

It makes a HUGE difference – both for your career and personal goals, but also for enriching your life with shared experiences.  And not just being connected to very powerful or successful people.  People at all levels of their careers can help you get a meeting with a television production company to pitch your idea, or get you a killer deal in a Hampton’s share, or even recommend you for a hair straightening commercial (thanks Elisha – that was strange, but fun).

4. What has helped to bring the WM from being just another great idea to becoming a successful business?

Two main things have set us apart.  The name, which was actually given to us by a bartender at Minetta Tavern in 2005, because it completely encapsulates what we are about – power and fun in numbers, and the fact that a lot of our events are more covert and only open to members.

The other key component is our members.  I am very fortunate to have amazing women in the Women’s Mafia who truly take on ownership with the club.  They let me know about new venues, they bring their friends in, they write articles for womensmafia.com and they recommend designers or individuals we should profile.  Our members are our best ambassadors of our brand and they know that I will always be receptive to their ideas.

5. As a PR professional, you must attend events many nights a week.  Do you ever just want to stay home?

Yes!  And I do make sure to stay home at least one or two nights a week.  It’s important to cook yourself a nice meal and catch up on LOST, right?

6.  Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

Someone who knows how to go at two speeds.  I love being out at several events, dressed-up and socializing one night and then staying in all day on Sunday with movies and brunch delivered.  I don’t need to be with someone as outgoing as me, but a gentleman who enjoys the odd social event could be quite nice.

Also, I love open-minded people.  I’m quite involved in non-profits that protect civil liberties.

7.  Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

It definitely can help.  I think that single people can sometimes seem more approachable, and we have freer schedules.  Being in a relationship can also be quite motivating.  I’ve put in a lot of hours when I had a boyfriend in the UK and I wanted to buy plane tickets!

8.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I can see the Women’s Mafia helping launch several designers’ careers, being a retail and branding force in the fashion and art worlds, having a presence in politics and, most importantly, staying true to our mission of connecting great women.

Personally, I’d love to have a beautiful home with an ocean view.  I’m also an actress and a television presenter on the side of everything else that I do, so I would love to have a lot more television and film experiences under my belt.

Oh, and balancing all of these things while spending time with my family – that would be a nice trick!

Soooo… anyone want to go in on a beach house?!

Marcy’s Bio:

In addition to running the Women’s Mafia, Marcy is also a partner in Yellow Sky Agency, a boutique PR and Branding firm run out of the West Village of Manhattan.  Her areas of expertise include publicizing fashion and jewelry designers, artists, interior designers and luxury products and services.  She has secured placements in top outlets such as The New York Times, Reuters, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC News, Business Talk Radio, Lucky, Glamour and more.  Marcy serves as a chair on various non-profit event councils and committees, including being the co-chair for GLAAD’s Annual Art Auction and the Young Professionals Council for Choice.

Want to connect with Marcy?  Follow her on Facebook!

original publish date Jun 25, 2009

Amanda Medders, Founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring

On Independence Day, I thought it was fitting to highlight the type of business success story we find only in the United States.  Amanda Medders, the 26 year-old Founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring, a DC area home tutoring business, epitomizes what is possible with the right combination of dedication, hard work, and in Amanda’s case, brains.

Originally a pre-med major, Amanda quickly realized her love for math, science and all things academic made her better suited for a career in education.  At age 23, and just out of a Masters program, Amanda founded Tri-Ed Tutoring using the experience as a private tutor she gained during her college years.  After six months of tutoring all the Tri-Ed students on her own, she had enough business to warrant hiring outside contractors and began turning a profit soon after.  The following year her older sister joined Amanda as the only other full-time employee, handling the marketing and networking aspects of the business, a partnership that has proved to be invaluable.

Founded just three years ago with only $3000 in startup capital, Tri-Ed Tutoring now boasts over $100K in yearly revenues after reaching profitability within one year.  At 26, Amanda is her own boss and works eight hours a day in a profession she is passionate about.  I call that Independence at its best.  Happy 4th.

1.  You say that education is your passion.  How does that translate into the success you have had so far, and so quickly, with Tri-ed?

Starting a business requires a huge time commitment at the onset. If I wasn’t passionate about what I do, I think I would have burnt out within the first year. It is really a privilege to be trusted enough by parents to be a part of their children’s education. I believe that our passion for education is apparent and the reason why parents put their trust in us.

2.  Competition is everywhere in the world of education.  What sets your tutoring services apart from other big names like Kaplan?

What people tend to like about us is that all of our services are customized to fit each student. We really believe that getting to know each family and their unique goals is the best way to help them work towards accomplishing those goals. Because each person has a different learning style, we do not have a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum. By developing a personal relationship, we are able to alter our instruction and study plans to fit each student more effectively.

3.  If you had to put a label on yourself, would you consider yourself more an educator or an entrepreneur?

My background is in education so I would typically consider myself more of an educator. I have never taken a business class in my life so starting a business has been a huge learning experience. However, I love the variety and challenge that comes with being an entrepreneur.
4.  You are a self-proclaimed foodie.  What is your favorite place to eat in DC?

Hmmmm…that is a really tough question! I really like trying all the fusion restaurants in DC. Mie n Yu in Georgetown is one of my favorites. It has great, unique food and makes you feel like you’re in Morocco. However, if I am in a classic steak and potatoes kind of mood, I would say Ruth’s Chris (sizzling butter…yum)!

5.  Your older sister is both your business partner and your roommate.  Does your close relationship ever get in the way of business?

If anything, our close relationship makes living and working together an ideal situation. There is no one that I would rather have as a partner or a roommate. We are able to say what we are really thinking without any worry of offending the other person. If she thinks an idea I have is ridiculous, she’ll let me know, we’ll laugh at ourselves, and move on to the next (hopefully better) idea!

6. Since you started your business so young, is it hard finding others your age with whom you can relate?

Not really. I feel like one of my strengths is the ability to relate to a wide variety of people.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

It would have to be someone who is both supportive of and believes in me and the business. The ideal person would be positive and inspire me to continue to be better both personally and professionally. Most importantly, he has to be able to make me laugh and be able to laugh at himself.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

If you had asked me 5 years ago or even last year, I would have had my whole life planned out and been determined to stick to that plan. Now, I realize that I am not really sure and, although that idea used to terrify me, I now find that I am excited about the prospect of the unknown. I’ve learned that life rarely sticks to my plan but almost always ends up better than I could have dreamed up on my own.

Amanda’s Bio:

Amanda Medders is the founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring. Together with her sister and partner, Jamie Medders, she provides in-home tutoring services for students of all ages in the DC metropolitan area. She holds a Master’s in Teaching and is licensed to teach in the state of Virginia. With 7+ years of teaching and tutoring experience, Amanda has a passion for education.

Want to connect with Amanda?  Follow her on Twitter!

I got a few great questions in the other day from some younger entrepreneurs and decided to incorporate a regular Q&A feature on the site.  Instead of picking a specific single CEO to answer, I thought it would be more fun leaving it open to discussion…

The first question I’m going to put out there is from 19 year-old Logan Lindabury, Founder and CEO of Laughtub.com.  Logan wants to know:

“Are there any successful advertising methods that a small business can afford?”

OK Single CEOs, give us your best answers!

comments may appear immediately – due to spam they are manually approved

Zachary Weiner, CEO of LuxuryReach

Zach Weiner says he is taking me out on the town in Chicago someday.  I believe him, not just because he said he would, but because partying is as much a part of his lifestyle as are his three businesses.  As the owner of MW Media, Luxury Reach, and GreedReviews.com, the 28 year-old CEO still found time this week to a attend a nightclub opening, street fest, art gallery, and last, but not least, a burlesque show.

In the past year he has also traveled, often backpacking along the way, through places like Morocco, Panama, and Portugal.  Managers back home handle the day-to-day operations and call Zach, traveling with an international cell phone and laptop, with any emergent situations that may arise.

Now, let me ask you.  Who wouldn’t fall in love with a young CEO running three companies who also finds the time to write his own (slightly edgy) relationship advice column?  Not me.  See you in Chicago.

1. We talked a little bit about your newest company GreedReviews.com, a peer-to-peer review site for investment information.  Can you explain it better than I just did?

In basics, Greedreviews.com helps investors conduct due diligence on a wide variety of investment information sources and software. It is our mission to help cut through the clutter of thousands of financial newsletters, websites, and investment software platforms so that investors at any level can find the sources that can help them profit during a rough economy. Our crucial feature is that we enable investors to receive unbiased advice that has come from direct consumer insight or provide their own advice to help others in the investment community.

2. Some entrepreneurs seem to enjoy the startup process more than the ending business result.  With three businesses already, are you addicted to the startup phase?

I lead my life in a constant pursuit to ban any potential boredom that could arise, I hate boredom.  I tend to keep a wide range of diversity in what I do and this carries over to my business life.  I love the inception phase of a company as it’s this point that really allows for potential to be at its peak and true creativity to flow. It’s a rush and it’s fun to brainstorm new ideas and new concepts.  That said, there is nothing more rewarding then watching a company grow and achieving and actualizing that initial potential.

3. What advice can you give other startups, especially those with little or no funding?

I think the best wisdom I could detail would be on finances. The only relevant spending a startup should pursue in the initial stages of forming a new company is on the integrity of the product, the sales (or revenue source) and building relationships. A lot of new companies see their downfall due to extraneous expenses that they engaged in before turning a solid profit.   Investing in large office space, useless personnel and flashy branding is a sure path to ruin if you are not ready for these items. Also, be passionate about anything you engage in- Always.

4. Which of your businesses do you have the most personal connection to and why?

I love Luxuryreach Inc – At its core the personality of that company is a lot like my own. We’re able to wear a lot of differing hats with Luxuryreach.  We work with some of the most affluent brands in the world, so have to be polished, intelligent and sophisticated when we deal with our clients, but at the same time we are still an Ad agency which allows us to be creative types with a young and vibrant edge.  One night I may attend a black tie Gala for a client and the next I might be at a small bar with a vendor wearing ripped jeans.

5. You obviously love to travel.  Where will your next adventure lead you?

I’m planning on doing a month or two backpacking around Brazil. I never go with a real plan when I’m traveling, I usually find a place I want to go and then wander around trains, planes and buses in a random and chaotic pursuit of culture, fun and good food.  Going with a plan keeps you stuck to a schedule and stuck to an “idea” of a place, rather than really getting to know its true vibe. Brazil has some great extreme sports, a wide range of geography and some cool little towns from what I hear, so I’m pretty excited to get myself lost.

6. Has being a single entrepreneur helped you or hurt you in business and why?

Being single tends to help business.  For one there is no constraint on your time or resources.  I have very little to tie me down and this can lead to productivity.  Truth told there is also a lot of flirtation that can occur in the business world, and there is no reason to not take advantage of that fact.  It depends on how you look at it and my perspectives can change.  Relationships to me are a bright spot in what can sometimes be a dark world, and having someone to go home to after a long day can be better than any of these advantages.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

I’m a laid back person who is also ridiculously ambitious.  I look for somebody who is adventurous, honest and up for just about anything in life above all else.  There is a lot of fun to be had and so somebody that can embrace its diversity and enjoy a multitude of activities usually works best for me.  One day, I may be meeting with investors, the next I may be surfing and the one after that I might decide to go travel.  I look for individuals who are passionate about living, laid back enough to be spontaneous, but also have passions in life that they pursue.  Good looks never hurt either.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’d love to say retired on some beach in the Caribbean, but I know with my personality that just wouldn’t work for too long.  Let’s say I hope to be living in a similar fashion as I am now as I  have no complaints in life.  I can see myself married some day, but in no way is it a necessity and it would have to be to the right person.  I learn from the past, live in the present and like to keep my future open.

Zach’s Bio:

Zachary Weiner is currently the CEO of  the boutique advertising agency Luxuryreach Inc. and Owner of the website Greedreviews.com. He is the founder of  MW Media Inc.- A Financial Marketing firm as well as an author of several fictional titles and a world travel writer.  Currently Zachary spends his time working, kickboxing, rockclimbing and pursuing fun (and usually trouble) in foreign countries.