Rachel Sklar

Activist, Business adviser, Idea generator, Social entrepreneur, Startup, Writer/Editor

Rachel Sklar is a writer and social entrepreneur based in New York. She is the founder of TheLi.st, a membership network and media platform for awesome women inspired by the mission of Change The Ratio (increasing visibility, access and opportunity for woman in tech & new media). A former lawyer who writes about media, politics, culture & technology, she was a founding editor at Mediaite and the Huffington Post. She has written for orgs like New York Times, The Daily Beast, Politico & Mashable and speaks widely at conferences, events and on TV. She is also the co-host of “The Salon†on The Jewish Channel. Check local listings! Rachel is an advisor to several startups, including Vox Media, The Daily Muse & Lover.ly and an advisor to non-profits DonorsChoose, She's The First & TeachAIDS.org. Rachel was named to the Silicon Alley 100 in 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2013, FastCompany’s “League of Extraordinary Women†& Forbes’ “Women Changing The World.†She likes causing trouble. Try her.

De-invisiblizing women. And showtunes. And french fries. They are so delicious.

Diversity will make everything better - Panels, conferences, Oscar voting blocs, buddy comedies, the World Economic Forum, self-important political shows on Sunday mornings, presidential insider advisory circles, Comedy Central surveys of millennials, VC portfolio companies, that VIP dinner you're hosting, boardrooms, TED lineups. :) Look around you - it's about visibility, access, and opportunity. Who's getting that easy, and who is waving their arms on the sideline, just outside your peripheral vision? Looking around and seeing that is the first step to changing the ratio.

Early-stage startups, media strategy, Showtunes, Social entrepeneurship, Social Media Strategy, Women and awesomness, women and business

Came to TED through the amazing June Cohen as a conduit for bringing awesome, inspiring women into the TED ecosystem. This is my third TED experience.

Writing lyrics. Next on deck is a musical theater startup.