Kay Koplovitz

Kay Koplovitz is the founder of USA Network and the first woman network president in television history. A pioneer in cable television networks and new media ventures, she is a visionary woman who led the cable television industry in challenging the mighty broadcast networks for coveted audiences. Koplovitz was the first to negotiate cable rights to major league sports; later she developed the station into a leading provider of original programming. Under her leadership, the company also launched the SCI FI Channel, one of the top ranked networks in viewership today. In 2000, she co-founded Springboard Enterprises, a national organization that has fostered the investment of more than $4 billion in women-led firms to date. Currently, she is Principal at Koplovitz & Company, a media investment and management firm specializing in new media investments and the Chairman of the Board, of Liz Claiborne Inc.

She continues to be a leader in raising venture capital for women entrepreneurs and in launching new programming companies that challenge the frontiers of the digital age. She is the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. Koplovitz speaks on subjects ranging from media and the digital revolution, to venture and private equity and corporate governance.

Among her recent accomplishments, Koplovitz co-created Springboard Enterprises, a national organization that fosters venture capital investments in women-led high growth companies. In its first six years, Springboard has presented 350 companies that have raised $3.7 billion in new capital. She also co-founded Boldcap Ventures, a venture capital fund backed exclusively by leading women executives. Boldcap invests principally in early to mid stage companies in the media, technology, and healthcare sectors. Always advancing professional women, Koplovitz co-founded The Directors’ Council, a search firm founded to fulfill the need for independent and qualified director candidates. Koplovitz counts among her accomplishments the Presidential appointment as Chair of National Women’s Business Council (1998-2001).

Koplovitz is the founder of USA Network, television’s first advertiser-supported basic cable network. She served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from USA’s premiere in 1977 as an all sports service (Madison Square Garden Sports), until stepping down in 1998. During her tenure, she built USA into the #1 ranking in primetime viewership among cable networks, for 13 consecutive years at the helm. In April 1994, she launched USA Networks International, which now operates in countries around the world. The company was sold in 1998 for $4.5 billion and became a publicly listed company.

Koplovitz currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Liz Claiborne; and has previously served on the boards of Instinet, Oracle, Nabisco, General Re, and Sun New Media. She serves as trustee of the Paley Center for Media, The Central Park Conservancy, and The International Tennis Hall of Fame. She holds a master’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin as well as honorary doctorate degrees from Emerson College, St. John’s University, and Michigan State University.