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Debra Mostow Zakarin
Vice President & Publisher, Silver Dolphin and Studio Fun
Debra Mostow Zakarin: A Trailblazer in Children's Publishing
Debra Mostow Zakarin is a distinguished publishing executive renowned for her impressive career in the children's media landscape. With a wealth of experience in management, content development, and licensing, she has a proven track record of success across various prominent companies in the industry. Her expertise spans editorial and art development, contract negotiations, new business development, and project management, making her an exceptional leader and innovator in the publishing sector.
Professional Background
Throughout her career, Debra Mostow Zakarin has held numerous influential positions at notable organizations. She began her professional journey at Scholastic as an editor, where she quickly garnered respect for her keen editorial eye and ability to connect with audiences. From there, she branched out to various roles that allowed her to grow her skills and knowledge within the industry.
Debra served as the Vice President & Publisher at Printers Row Publishing Group, where she focused on expanding their catalog and enhancing the company's visibility within the competitive publishing market. Her time at Printers Row was marked by a commitment to high-quality content development and thoughtful marketing strategies that resonated with parents and children alike. As Publisher and Senior Director, she spearheaded numerous initiatives that drove sales and engaged new audiences.
Before her impactful tenure at Printers Row, Debra honed her skills as a Publishing Consultant at MGA Entertainment and held the position of Global Editorial Director at Mattel, Inc. Here, she was instrumental in creating and managing various product lines that aligned with beloved brands, further showcasing her ability to marry creativity with consumer interests.
One of her notable achievements was as an Executive Editor of DreamWorks Press at DreamWorks Animation, where she led the editorial team to develop engaging content that accompanied popular film releases, blending storytelling and marketing in a way that was both innovative and strategically successful. At Universal Studios Hollywood, Debra served as the Director of Global Licensing Publishing, enabling her to strengthen licensing relationships and expand the reach of media properties.
Throughout her extensive career, Debra has also contributed her knowledge as a columnist and book reviewer for Los Angeles Family Magazine, sharing her insights on family literature and parenting, thus solidifying her role as a thought leader in children's media.
Education and Achievements
Debra Mostow Zakarin's educational background laid a solid foundation for her publishing career. She studied at Syracuse University, where her passion for storytelling and written communication took root. Additionally, she earned her BA in Writing from The New School, furthering her understanding of narrative forms and editorial practices. This academic training has empowered her throughout her professional endeavors, reinforcing the importance of impactful content in the publishing industry.
Debra's achievements speak volumes about her commitment to excellence in all her endeavors. As a skilled team builder and leader, she has focused on nurturing talent within her organizations, mentoring young professionals in the publishing field and creating diverse, innovative teams that reflect the dynamic world of children's media. Her strong presentation and public speaking skills have allowed her to advocate for the importance of quality literature for children, supporting literacy initiatives and engaging stakeholders in meaningful conversations about the importance of storytelling in childhood development.
Key Skills and Areas of Expertise
Debra boasts a wide range of skills that contribute to her success as a publishing executive, including:
- Extensive knowledge of the children’s media landscape
- Editorial and art development
- Licensing relationships and management
- Comprehensive understanding of budgets and P&Ls
- Expert contract negotiation abilities
- New business development
- Efficient project management
- Strong team leadership and building capabilities
- Intellectual property (IP) and product development
- Robust brand management
- Market research and analysis
Debra Mostow Zakarin is not only a seasoned professional in her field; she also embodies the qualities of a dedicated mentor and leader. Her passion for children's literature and media, coupled with her extensive industry experience, has made her a highly regarded figure in publishing.
Achievements
Her journey has been marked by various achievements that reflect both her skills and her dedication to the publishing industry. Some highlights include:
- Successfully expanding the catalog of child-oriented literature at Printers Row Publishing Group, leading to increased sales and broader audience engagement.
- Developing and managing successful licensing programs at industry leaders such as Mattel and Universal Studios, which have enhanced brand visibility and created valuable consumer products for children.
- Establishing and nurturing professional relationships with authors and illustrators, championing creative talent within the publishing world.
- Advocating for literacy and educational initiatives within the community, inspired by her belief in the transformative power of books for young readers.
- Mentorship of emerging professionals in the publishing field, promoting diversity and inclusion in children's media.
In summary, Debra Mostow Zakarin is a dynamic and accomplished publishing executive whose expertise in children's media, content development, and licensing has made a lasting impact on the industry. Her extensive background and commitment to quality literature for children have positioned her as a trailblazer and thought leader in the field. As she continues to confront the evolving landscape of publishing, her insights and leadership will undoubtedly influence future generations of readers and writers alike.
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
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Mesh is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Mesh offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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