In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Anita Kaplan, founder and owner of Siquis. Now retired, Anita talks about starting her advertising firm, Siquis, that she ran for 30 years. Listen to how she changed her idea of success from her initial aspiration to become a stay-at-home mom to finding a career that makes her happy.

QUOTES

• “I decided that the only way that I would really be able to do what I wanted was to try to do it myself.” -Anita Kaplan [32:27]
• “I felt like if we didn’t get dressed up everyday, we wouldn’t feel we were at work.” -Anita Kaplan  [52:10]
• “My definition isn’t like making the most amount of money. My definition is are you happy? Do you like what you’re doing everyday? And when I can say I did that, then I feel successful.” -Anita Kaplan  [01:04:34]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:04] Intro
• [03:54] Meet Anita
• [04:39] Anita’s childhood
• [07:54] Getting married in college
• [10:38] Moving to Michigan
• [14:25] Inventing cookies and cream ice cream
• [15:46] Moving to Washington DC
• [18:25] Her pottery business
• [23:37] A new path in advertising
• [29:03] A law she challenged during her seperation
• [31:52] Starting Siquis
• [33:34] Supplement her income with a side job
• [37:18] Her first clients
• [40:45] Some of her former clients
• [48:04] Balancing being a mom and her business
• [50:01] Money-related issues starting Siquis
• [51:47] Her rules
• [55:01] Working with STX and Spirit Airlines
• [57:53] Her thoughts on Mad Men
• [01:00:06] Her favorite part of Siquis
• [01:02:22] What would she change
• [01:08:18] Anita’s advice for young women
• [01:17:07] Outro

RESOURCES

• Candide by Voltaire
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
• Romancing the Brand: The Power of Advertising and how to Use it by David N. Martin
• Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl