Sandra Kurtzig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sandra Kurtzig
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Kurtzig in 2021
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| Born | October 21, 1947 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Occupation | Businessperson |
| Known for | Founder of ASK Group |
Sandra L. Kurtzig is an American businesswoman who started her own technology companies. She was one of the first women to become a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, a famous area in California known for tech companies. In 1972, she founded a company called ASK Group that made software for businesses. She was also the first woman to make a Silicon Valley tech company available for people to buy shares in (this is called 'going public').
Contents
Sandra Kurtzig's Career Journey
Early Life and Education
Sandra Kurtzig was born in Chicago on October 21, 1947. She loved learning and went to college. In 1968, she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She then continued her studies, earning a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Stanford University.
Starting Her Own Business
In 1972, Sandra decided to leave her job selling computer services for General Electric. She wanted to spend more time with her family. To keep busy and earn some extra money, she started her own small business called ASK Group. She used a $2,000 payment from her old job to rent a computer terminal.
She began ASK Group as a part-time job from her home, working out of her second bedroom. She didn't plan for it to become a big company at first. Her very first client, a company called Halcyon, asked her to create a special computer program. This program would help them keep track of their inventory and manage their manufacturing information better.
Sandra realized that many other factories and businesses might need similar programs. So, she hired smart people who had degrees in engineering and computers. Together, they created standard computer programs that could help different manufacturers solve common problems.
Developing Business Software
Manman Software
Sandra Kurtzig was very smart about growing her company. She put all the money her company earned back into the business. Her company needed access to powerful computers called minicomputers. She convinced employees at a nearby Hewlett-Packard factory to let her company use one of their HP 3000 minicomputers when the factory was closed.
By 1978, ASK Group released a set of programs called Manman. This was one of the very first software packages for enterprise resource planning (ERP). ERP software helps businesses manage all their different parts, like manufacturing, sales, and finances.
Sandra made a deal for Hewlett Packard to sell Manman to other companies. This was a big deal because Manman could run on less expensive minicomputers. At that time, most ERP software only worked on much more expensive mainframe computers.
In 1981, ASK Group became a public company, meaning people could buy shares in it on the NASDAQ stock market. By 1983, Sandra Kurtzig's share in the company was worth a lot of money. She stepped down as the CEO of ASK Group in 1985. However, she returned in 1989 to help the company grow and focus its efforts again. ASK Group later bought another company called Ingres Corporation in 1990. At its most successful, ASK Group's yearly sales were almost $1 billion.
Kenandy Software
In 2010, Sandra Kurtzig started another company called Kenandy. This company also creates software for businesses, especially for manufacturing companies. Kenandy specializes in "cloud ERP" solutions, which means the software is accessed over the internet.
Sandra was the CEO of Kenandy until 2015 and is now the Chairman. The company is named after her sons, Ken and Andy Kurtzig, who are also leaders in other technology businesses. In 2013, Kenandy received $33 million in funding from investors, which valued the company at $350 million.
Sandra Kurtzig also wrote a book about her experiences called CEO: Building a $400 Million Company from the Ground Up. It was published by Harvard Business Press.
Sandra Kurtzig's Personal Life
When Sandra Kurtzig received an award and was featured in major newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, she said that while it was fun to share the articles with her mother, the success of ASK was truly a team effort.
Sandra's former husband was named Arie. Their sons, Ken and Andy Kurtzig, were born around 1973 and 1976. Their parents divorced when the boys were young.
Her father's name was Barney Brody. Her mother, Marian (Boruck) Brody, came from a wealthy family in Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois and even worked as a police reporter for a time in Chicago.
See also
- Pearl.com (a company founded by her son, Andy Kurtzig)
