NYU Stern Women In Business

Morning Keynote Speaker

Lauren Zalaznick, President of NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks

Lauren Zalaznick, President of NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks, oversees Bravo Media, Oxygen Media, iVillage - the original online destination for women - and "Green is Universal," NBC Universal's ongoing environmental initiative. She was named President, NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks in May 2008, when she added iVillage to her portfolio and announced the launch of Women@NBCU, a sales and marketing initiative designed to create custom solutions for advertisers seeking to connect with a highly targeted female demographic.

Zalaznick was named president of Bravo in May 2004 and expanded her oversight in May 2007 when the network announced the formation of Bravo Media, a multimedia global content company targeting every consumer touch point. Under her watch, Bravo has become the No.1 ranked entertainment cable network for upscale, educated and engaged television viewers. Additionally, Bravo has achieved numerous records and unprecedented "firsts," including three consecutive best years ever in 2006, 2007 and 2008; and the most critical recognition in the history of the channel, including the most Emmy-Award nominations ever in 2008, as well as receiving the prestigious Peabody Award. Since NBC Universal acquired Oxygen in 2007, under Zalaznick 's oversight the network has shattered every previous ratings record and recorded its best year ever in 2008 across all demographic, on-air, on-line, and financial metrics.

Previously, Zalaznick held the role of President of the critically acclaimed Universal-owned TRIO arts and pop culture network from May 2002 to December 2005. She began her career in television at VH1 where she served as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development. Her early career was focused on film, producing a number of independent feature films including the award-winning Larry Clark film, "Kids" (Cannes 1995); Todd Haynes' "Safe" (Cannes 1995) starring Julianne Moore; and the award-winning Jim McKay film "Girls Town" (1996 Sundance Film Festival Filmmakers Trophy and Special Jury Prize).

Zalaznick chairs the Women@NBCU advisory board, comprised of senior executive women across numerous industries, including the advertising, finance, fashion, digital, sports, media and entertainment businesses. Additionally, she sits on the Brown University Women's Leadership Council, as well as the Brown University Creative Arts Council.

Zalaznick received her B.A. degree from Brown University, and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Afternoon Keynote Speaker

Janet Hanson, Founder of 85 Broads

Widely respected as a leading entrepreneur with a distinguished Wall Street background, Janet Hanson is recognized as a unique voice and champion for women. As the founder of 85 Broads, Janet has built a global network community of 18,000 trailblazing women who want to leverage each other's relationships and intellectual capital to increase the return on their investment in their education and their careers.

85 Broads
Founded in 1997, 85 Broads was originally launched as an independent network for current and former Goldman Sachs women professionals (the name being a humorous play on 85 Broad Street, Goldman's headquarter address in NYC). In 2000, 85 Broads opened the network to female students and alumnae of the leading graduate business schools, regardless of chosen career path. In 2004, women students and alumnae of the world's leading colleges and universities were also invited to join. Together, these women make up the most powerful, intellectually savvy network of women in the world. As a multi-cultural, multi-generational network, 85 Broads members live, work and study in 81 countries and work for over 1000 for-profit and not-for-profit companies worldwide.

After graduating from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and Columbia Business School, Janet joined Goldman Sachs in 1977. In 1986, Janet became the first woman in the firm's history to be promoted to sales management. Janet owes her success at the firm to her mentor, John C. Whitehead. Following her 14-year career at Goldman Sachs, Janet founded Milestone Capital Management, a $2 billion institutional money management company. From May, 2004, to February, 2007, Janet was a Managing Director and Senior Adviser to the President of Lehman Brothers.

Janet is on the Board of Trustees of Wheaton College and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. She is an Associate Fellow of Pierson College at Yale University and serves on the Advisory Board of The Center for Work-Life Policy's Hidden Brain Drain Task Force. Janet is a member of the Women's Forum and serves on the Steering Committee for the Center for Executive Women at the Kellogg School of Management. She has received a number of awards and honors, including an honorary degree from Middlebury College in 2007 and the Work Life Legacy Award from the Work and Family Institute in 2008. Janet was also honored by TechnoServe at their 2008 40th Anniversary Gala and was one of four nominees for Top Female Executive at the 2008 New York Ten Awards.

Janet's greatest passions are her two spectacular children. Meredith is a sophomore at Wheaton College and Christopher is a senior at St. Luke's School in CT.