Alisa Volkman

Founder & CEO, The Swell @ The Swell

About

I’m a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about the rapid evolution of digital media and the value that can be created when product, tech, analytics, user experience, social execution and revenue strategy work in concert with great content and design. I have built and sold several digital companies related to my own life phases: Nerve.com (sex & relationships), acquired by IAC; Nerve Personals/Spring Street Networks (online dating platform), acquired by FriendFinder; and Babble (parenting), acquired by The Walt Disney Company. My new venture, The Swell, is a fast-growing community and learning platform that helps people navigate the second half of their lives. I believe that building the right teams in a collaborative, transparent and fast-paced environment, systematically honing best practices and optimizing based on data, all under the stewardship of thoughtful and ego-less leadership is the right way to achieve success.

Country

United States

City

New York

Industry

Online Media

Skill

Brand Development, Digital Strategy, Digital Media, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Online Advertising, Mobile Marketing, Integrated Marketing, Content Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Internet Entrepreneur, Business Strategy, Generating Revenue, Social Media, Business Development, Leadership, Angel Investing, Social Media Marketing, New Media, Social Media Blogging

Experience

Founder & CEO, The Swell

The Swell

2022 - Present · 4 yrs

New York, New York, United States

The Swell is a new community and learning platform that helps people navigate the second half of their lives. We offer a combination of expert-led workshops and symposiums, life-changing experiences, digital wellness tools and an active community. We believe that by making the latest science accessible, we can empower members to live longer, happier and healthier lives. Our members are not retiring, they're reinvesting -- in learning, personal growth, health and happiness -- and thinking about the next chapter of their lives. Questions like, "How can I be healthier and happier?", "How can I have more meaning in my life?", "If not no, when?" are top of mind for us.

Co-Founder

Babble (acquired by the Walt Disney Company)

2006-12 - Present · 19 yrs 10 mos

Greater New York City Area

Co-Founder of Babble, a leading website for parents and a platform for top women bloggers. Babble was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2011, where we continued to grow the property for two years, expanding internationally and across Women’s Lifestyle.

Co-Founder | Chief Revenue Officer

Babble Media | Babble.com

2006-12 - 2011 · 4 yrs

Prior to the Disney acquisition, spent five years building Babble into a profitable, award-winning website visited by more than 10 million readers per month.

Investor

Elite Daily

2014 - Present · 12 yrs

Greater New York City Area

Elite Daily is the premier online news platform for and by Millennials, the leading source for breaking news and entertainment for the future leaders of our generation, with an audience of over 74 million monthly unique visitors.

Investor

CrowdTangle

2014 - Present · 12 yrs

CrowdTangle is a content discovery tool for the social web that offers real-time data on what's trending across major social media platforms.

Investor

Bloglovin'

2014 - Present · 12 yrs

Greater New York City Area

Bloglovin' is a better way to read, organize and discover your favorite blogs on mobile and desktop. Bloglovin' currently reaches over 20 million monthly unique visitors.

Investor

BDG

2014 - Present · 12 yrs

Greater New York City Area

Bustle.com is a new force in media: a news, entertainment, lifestyle, and fashion site for young women driven by a diverse and energetic collection of contributors.

Board of Advisors

WIE

2011 - Present · 15 yrs

Greater New York City Area

WIE (Women, Inspiration and Enterprise), is a conference and online community that provides a platform for this generation’s women leaders to inspire and empower the next generation. Over the years, the WIE Symposium has attracted a powerful lineup of thought leaders including Nancy Pelosi, Jill Biden, Arianna Huffington, Melinda Gates, Donna Karan, Diane von Furstenberg, Ted Turner, Katie Couric and Nora Ephron.

Board of Advisors

MarcoPolo Learning

2013 - Present · 13 yrs

Greater New York City Area

MarcoPolo Learning makes educational digital toys that inspire kids to explore the world around them. With our apps, children have the freedom to investigate the world through self-initiated and self-motivated discovery.