December 8, 2025 – Youngest Female IPO Marcy Syms and Networking SuperStar Judy Robinett

School for Startups Radio

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8d ago 53:59

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Marcy Syms – President of TPD Group

Entrepreneurship is understanding what the trade offs are, and
understanding that the investment of today is for the hopes and
the work that will you’ll be the fruits of tomorrow.

Marcy Syms is a veteran leader, social entrepreneur, and champion of corporate governance and women’s empowerment. As the founding trustee and President of the Sy Syms Foundation, she has helped steer more than US$60 million in grants toward education, scientific research, social justice, the arts, and cultural organizations. Marcy spent decades at the helm of her family’s retail business, Syms Corp, where she rose from marketing and real estate director to become its first President when the company went public, making her one of the youngest women ever to lead a New York Stock Exchange-listed company. She later served as its CEO, guiding the company’s expansion into a national retailer operating in 16 states. Armed with an MS in Communications and Public Relations from Boston University College of Communication, Marcy has also taught retail entrepreneurship at Parsons School of Design and served on the Board of Overseers at Boston University. Beyond business, she is deeply committed to social causes. She currently sits on or has served on numerous public- and nonprofit-sector boards, including those advocating for gender equality (such as the ERA Coalition / ERA Project at Columbia Law School), public media (the National Public Radio Foundation), education (including the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University), and arts. Marcy is also the author of Leading with Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer, a memoir and leadership guide that recounts her journey from the “backroom to the boardroom” and underscores respect as a foundational principle for business success and human dignity. With a rare combination of retail-industry experience, board governance expertise, philanthropic leadership, and commitment to social change, Marcy Syms continues to influence discourse on business ethics, gender equity, succession planning, and servant leadership.
Judy Robinett – Founder & President of JRobinett Enterprises

There’s no lack of money. It’s important to be persistent, go to pitch events, go to incubators, and ask my two golden questions: What other ideas do you have for me, and who else do you know I should talk to?

Judy Robinett is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and internationally recognized expert in startup funding and strategic networking. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, she has served as CEO of both public and private companies and held management positions at Fortune 500 firms. Judy is widely known as a “super-connector,” leveraging what some call her “titanium digital Rolodex” to help entrepreneurs connect with the right investors and partners. She has authored multiple influential books including How to Be a Power Connector: The 5+50+150 Rule, recognized as the #1 business book of 2014 and Crack the Funding Code, which offers founders a practical roadmap to understanding how investors think and what they expect to hear when evaluating a startup. As a global keynote speaker, consultant, and advisor, Judy has guided countless startups and businesses in positioning themselves for funding, scaling, and building meaningful networks. On her website she emphasizes that success in business often comes down to being in the “right room” and more importantly, knowing what to say when you’re there. With a rare blend of operational experience, funding expertise, and networking mastery, Judy Robinett continues to empower entrepreneurs around the world to access capital, build relationships, and turn their visions into reality.

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