Women of DC Tech: Part VIII
Our next (and almost final) set of Trending 40 entrepreneurs have found ways to use tech to change some of life's most basic tasks. We'll celebrate them and the rest of the tech entrepreneurs we've been profiling Oct. 15 in Crystal City. Join us.
Katherine Novikov
Founder/CEO, Diamond Mind
Company: Provides electronic payment services and solutions to K-12 private schools.
Job focus: Set and maintain strategic direction; define who we are; and decide what we say yes and no to.
Customers: Nearly 900 clients. In DC area—Sidwell Friends, Madeira, Landon, Capital Hill Day School, and National Cathedral.
Latest news: Brought in a record number of new clients this year – close to 900 mark.
Inspiration to launch: Saw problem when enrolled sons in independent schools. Institutions were traditional and risk adverse, so the market wasn’t serving them in a way that addressed their unique needs or culture.
Why a tech career: Worked for Andersen Consulting and started coding in COBOL. If you want to help clients do things better, faster, there’s no way to get around tech.
Biggest challenge: Keeping up with pace of change.
Career milestones: Working in Andersen’s Moscow office, including some work directly with then worldwide managing partner George Shaheen; and starting Diamond Mind in our spare bedrooms and taking that leap of faith by pulling money out of house to fund it.
Hometown: Wappingers Falls, NY.
Current home: Potomac.
Why DC: Came in mid '80s while with Air Force and worked at NSA. Came back in ’93 with Andersen.
School: University of Pennsylvania.
First job: Donut maker at Dunkin' Donuts.
Greatest fear: Needles.
Daily habit: Something physical like yoga or walking the dog.
Favorite vacation: Cape May, N.J. and Deer Valley, Utah.
Favorite restaurant: Raku (Bethesda).
Bucket list: Dance at grandchild’s wedding.
Family facts: Married to Vladimir (partner and cofounder) for 21 years; two sons, ages 13 and 15; two cats; and one dog.
Hobbies: Golf, ski, yoga, reading, and training our dog.
Advice to 18-year-old self: Avoid the partiers and find friends who take more pride in accomplishments.
Lucie Leblois
Co-founder/CEO, Crumbdrop
Company: B-to-B real estate app that allows users to enhance their listings. Agents can build virtual neighborhood tours to show potential buyers and renters context and data around properties.
Job focus: Preparing for launch at end of September.
Customers: Real estate agents.
Inspiration to launch: After having worked in tech for 12 years, had idea for Crumbdrop and felt ready to test myself and make the leap. Mom and grandmother were real estate agents in France so real estate is a passion and runs in the family.
Why a tech career: By accident after college. While networking, had breakfast with Chris Schroeder, former CEO of Washingtonpost.com, and was hired to do marketing in 2000. We were trying to get consumers online to get their news, so consumer marketing and branding. I ended up teaching myself search engine marketing relatively early in the game.
Biggest challenge: Figuring out time and balance and not knowing how to code.
Career milestones: Launching my own business; becoming first female exec at HealthCentral; and while working at Washingtonpost.com on 9/11, seeing entire team come together to inform readers what was happening.
Grew up: Paris, France.
Current home: Glover Park.
Why DC: For jobs and diversity.
School: Trinity College, University of Capetown, and Georgetown University
First job: Receptionist at small hair salon.
Greatest fear: Floating in space. (Could not watch Gravity.)
Daily habit: Iced coffee with milk (no sugar); line up pillows on couch; and watch cartoons every morning with my kids.
Favorite vacation: Le Puy (small village in French Alps).
Favorite restaurant: Le Suffren (Paris).
Bucket list: To fund and mentor young entrepreneurs and attend Kate Middleton’s second baby shower.
Family facts: Married to college sweetheart; son (age 4); and daughter (age 1).
Hobbies: Build intricate train tracks with son, sailing with dad, and hiking
Advice to 18-year-old self: Don’t rush too much and take time to learn from others. And if there’s a company called Google that offers you a job, take it and any stock options.
