Judy Kaplan, is the founder, owner and CEO of Empower Woman Publications, home of Suburban Woman North Shore and City Woman Chicago. Empower Woman Publications, previously known as Suburban Woman Publications, is a small and privately owned 100% woman owned business certified by both the WBE and the Women's Business Development Center in Chicago. Established in 2003, the company mission is to provide information, education and resources to women to help empower them to live better lives as set forth by Judy at its inception.
Judy began her career on Wall Street as a statistical stock analyst after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Ohio State University. She worked at Motorola as project manager in the International Finance Department. In 1977, she and her former husband, Mark, established a residential real estate company. The company ultimately grew into a real estate sales, construction, interior design and project development organization which built six major residential and commercial developments and hundreds of new homes and office buildings over a twenty year time period.
Judy also attended The Family Institute at Northwestern University for graduate study in 1994 and earned a Master's Degree in Individual, Marriage and Family Therapy. She established a psychotherapy practice in Barrington, Illinois, that she still maintains today.
With a vision and great passion Judy was able to develop the conceptual ideas that are now represented within the community as highly respected and well received publications that help and empower women. Originally created to help provide guidance, insight and support for women in the area of relationships, family and midlife, the publications grew to encompass all of the life challenges that women face on a regular basis.
Empower Woman Publications are provided to women free of charge in over 4500 convenient local locations and at community events. The ability to offer our publications free of charge to millions of women annually is thanks to local business sponsors who purchase advertising space to support our mission. In addition to print media, Empower Woman has a strong online presence including a cutting edge Ezine as well as being the sponsor and producer of events and educational programs to support women’s growth and development.
The organization is committed to supporting non-profit and charitable organizations in the community and has done so by donating large portions of space in their publications and sponsoring numerous events to build community awareness of these organizations and the causes they serve. As of the January 2008 issues, Empower Woman Publications has eclipsed the $275,000 mark in promotional expenses dedicated to organizations such as the Alzheimer's Foundation, American Cancer Society, Arthritis Foundation, Avon Walk, Y-Me Breast Cancer Organization, and Race for the Cure to name a few. Additionally, Empower Woman Publications sponsors multiple events annually that raise both awareness and funds for charitable organizations.
Judy does private business consultation and motivational speaking to your groups or organizations. She can be reached at 312-924-1353.
When you first started your career/business did you feel passion for your work?
I have always been a passionate person in all aspects of my life. In terms of career, whatever I set my sights to, I am passionate sometimes to a fault. I believe that one needs that passion in order to excel, overcome obstacles, have a vision and make things happen.
When you first started were you able to visualize your final outcome?
Vision has been essential to each endeavor I have pursued. I had a clear vision of what I wanted to accomplish, what that accomplishment would “look” like and the overall path to achieving that vision.
What were your top three obstacles/challenges?
The three top challenges/obstacles have been being under-capitalized, using my own funding and hiring and maintaining a strong and consistent sales force.
How did you deal with doubt, fear, and self recrimination?
I frequently have to have a “self talk.” I continually ask myself the following questions: Is this a good plan? Is it a realistic plan? What feedback am I getting from my team, my clientele, my colleagues, my mentors, my vendors, my friends and my family? If my “self talk” confirms moving forward, I honor myself with an affirmation: “You are on the right track, stick with it and you will succeed.” I have faith and continue to focus. If the feedback is negative, I must take that into consideration and decide if modifications must be made in the game plan.
Did you feel that the traditional male dominated workplace affected you at all? If so, what did you do about it?
The biggest frustration to me about male dominance in the workplace has had to do with getting business loans. I believe that women use their own funds to support a new venture and take risks beyond what many men might do because in order to pursue the dream, you must have funding and women frequently cannot get it. The requirements, the history and the old practices have not allowed for women to get funding based on a great plan, enthusiasm and energy – banks want more than many women can provide. So many women owned businesses are launched later in life when funds are more available personally.
Did you have mentors?
I consider everyone I come in contact with to be my mentors. I have learned so much from my employees, colleagues, bankers, clients, friends and family. They are not all mentors in the traditional sense. Yet there is something valuable that I take away from every interaction, negative or positive, that is useful in my growth and development. In recent years, I have had a couple of women taking the roles of advisor and cheerleader that I consider to be mentors in a more traditional sense.
Do you feel you were traditional in terms of your steps to your Optimal Level? If yes, if no, please explain.
I feel that I was “traditional” in a “woman kind of a way” in terms of my steps toward achieving my goals. Women (and I) are multi taskers that through the course of their own life and journey create ideas, improve ways of doing things, establish strategies, delegate, use their creativity and imagination to do something special. All of this is not traditional in a corporate way but very common for Women in their own extraordinary style.
Each step of my particular journey has been in response or answer to a particular problem or issue in my life that I was trying to overcome. Case in point, I struggled with relationship issues with my (now) ex husband and couldn’t find a good therapist to help us. I began reading everything I could on the topic. This moved me to apply for and eventually earn my Master’s Degree from Northwestern University as an Individual and Marital Therapist at age 46. I established a practice to help others in a useful way, unlike the unsuccessful experience we had in therapy. Similarly, when I realized the common thread theme of many of my clients in the therapy practice, I wanted to launch a publication that would reach more women than I could seeing one client at a time. I have done that and believe my efforts have helped many women become empowered in a variety of areas of their lives.
As you look back, what is the one thing you wish you knew when you started?
I wish I knew how to get the adequate funding that was truly necessary for my business prior to starting. However, the naivete that one has when they begin a business is essential to actually starting that business. If one knew all of the REALITIES; the hard work, the amounts of capital required and the frustrations involved, one would probably not venture out to start the business.
Any regrets?
Absolutely not! I have loved the challenges, the ins and outs of business, working with people, doing something that is socially responsible and influences lives in positive ways and using creativity to move forward during especially difficult times. It has been an awesome experience to create something from nothing and provide jobs, direction and guidance to employees, generate revenues, give back to the community and learn something new every day.
Do you believe luck had something to do with your rise to where you are now? Do you feel you paid a price to be as successful as you are now?
I believe that to do anything that is “out of the ordinary” there is a price to pay. The price is usually in time, money and devotion. In owning and running a business, there is never a time that you are truly away from it. There is a great deal of responsibility and it takes a lot of self discipline not to allow it to run your life completely. It is essential to maintain a private life and rejuvenate yourself regularly so that you can be the best for your employees, clients and your bottom line. To me, luck really means being prepared, putting your efforts out in the universe and taking action to pursue your dreams.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other women on their way to their Optimal Level?
Learn from your mistakes, continually strive to improve yourself, listen to feedback and make a decision to move forward.
Do you have any other tips for career or business women?
Don’t beat yourself up about what didn’t go right, move on and learn from your experience.
What do you think is the biggest mistake career/business women make?
I think that not taking action quickly enough is the biggest mistake women can make. Many women are perfectionists and don’t want to take a step unless they are sure it is right. Taking a carefully thought out step is better than waiting for the feeling that it is the PERFECT step.
Do you have any other tips for career or business women?
Become CLEAR about what you want in life, business, career, or relationship. By clearly defining your VISION and the action steps needed to make it happen, you will be setting the stage for your success. Pursue your vision with positive energy, passion, determination, tenacity and perseverance. Don’t let mistakes throw you into despair; learn from them and move on with wisdom and insight.
