{{Short description|American businesswoman}} {{Infobox person | name = Elizabeth Elting | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|2|15}} | birth_place = Westchester County, New York, U.S. | education = Trinity College<br/>New York University Stern School of Business | occupation = Entrepreneur | organization = Founder of TransPerfect | spouse = Michael Burlant }}
'''Elizabeth Elting''' (born February 15, 1966) is an American businesswoman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She co-founded and served as co-chief executive officer of TransPerfect, the world's largest translation services provider, for 25 years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2016/05/25/liz-elting-transperfect-engaged-cofounders-phil-shawe-corporate-divorce/#eaee64a59c67|title=Inside The Nasty Corporate Divorce Between Ex-Lovers Who Built A Company Worth Nearly $1 Billion|last=Savchuk|first=Katia|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref> She has been named to ''Forbes'' magazine's list of the Richest Self-Made Women since 2016, with a net worth of $420 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/liz-elting/?list=self-made-women|title=Liz Elting|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref>
Since leaving TransPerfect in 2018 following a lengthy legal battle with co-founder Phil Shawe that resulted in a buyout, Elting has been serving as founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, focusing on advocacy for women in the workplace. Her advocacy work has received recognition from the National Organization of Women.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nownyc.org/women-of-power-and-influence-awards/|title=2016 Women of Power & Influence Awards - NOW-NYC {{!}}|work=NOW-NYC {{!}}|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914094339/http://nownyc.org/women-of-power-and-influence-awards/|archive-date=2018-09-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Elting was born in Westchester County, New York, to Everett Elting, an advertising executive, and Judy Elting, an educator.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://underdog.nyc/liz-elting|title=Liz Elting – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, TransPerfect|date=2017-05-25|work=Underdog|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US}}</ref> Her family traveled frequently, including long-term residences in Portugal and Canada, where Elting first developed interest in studying languages.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ideamensch.com/liz-elting/|title=Liz Elting - Co-Founder and CEO of TransPerfect|date=2012-10-16|work=IdeaMensch|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US}}</ref> In Toronto, a young Elting worked at many jobs over the years including as an usherette for the Toronto Blue Jays. She speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://entrepreneur.wiki/Elizabeth_Elting|title=EntrepreneurWiki: Elizabeth Elting|website=entrepreneur.wiki|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> and earned a BA in Modern Languages and Literatures from Trinity College in 1987,<ref name=":4"/> and her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sternbusiness-magazine/how-do-you-say-success|title=How Do You Say Success? - NYU Stern|website=www.stern.nyu.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
==Professional career==
After graduating from Trinity College, Elting interned in Caracas in the finance department of a cement company and then worked at a language services company in New York City, and interned at Moody’s Investors Service during graduate school. Very briefly after graduation, Elting worked in the proprietary trading division of a French bank;<ref name=":0" /> however, she quickly grew dissatisfied with the “boys’ club” atmosphere and the expectation that she would perform administrative and secretarial work alongside her official responsibilities, and left to found her own company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/deniserestauri/2017/02/13/how-this-woman-went-from-fetching-coffee-to-ceo-of-a-1-billion-company/#31d653505c8e|title=How This Woman Went From Fetching Coffee To CEO Of A $1 Billion Company|last=Restauri|first=Denise|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref>
Having spent several years working in the translation industry, Elting felt there was a need for a service-minded enterprise that could deliver complex projects quickly and accurately.<ref name="TransPerfect History">{{Cite news|url=https://www.transperfect.com/about/history.html|title=TransPerfect History|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> To that end, Elting co-founded TransPerfect in 1992 out of an NYU dorm room. Elting served as co-CEO of TransPerfect for almost 26 years, during which it became the world's largest provider of language and business solutions. Headquartered in New York City, the company has over $600 million in revenues and more than 4,000 employees in over 90 cities around the globe.<ref name="TransPerfect History"/>
During Elting's time as co-CEO, TransPerfect was recognized eight times with the Inc. 5000 Award, six times as one of the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and earned multiple Stevie Awards, including “Company of the Year” and “Fastest Growing Tech Company of the Year” in 2016. Her tenure also saw Crain's New York Business name TransPerfect one of the largest privately held companies for 12 consecutive years, and one of the largest women-owned companies 11 times. The company was a winner of the 2015 SmartCEO Corporate Culture Awards and was also recognizes by SmartCEO as a “Future 50” company five years running. During her tenure, TransPerfect was also awarded “Best Translation Solution” by the Internet Marketing Association for three consecutive years. It was also named one of the fastest-growing women-owned/led businesses in North America by Entrepreneur and the Women Presidents' Organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transperfect.com/about/awards.html|title=Awards, Accolades, and Rankings|website=www.transperfect.com|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
Elting left TransPerfect in 2018. She currently serves as founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-heart-association-and-elizabeth-elting-foundation-partner-to-empower-young-women-and-girls-with-stem-goes-red-event-300624536.html|title=American Heart Association and Elizabeth Elting Foundation Partner to Empower Young Women and Girls with STEM Goes Red Event|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
==Corporate divorce==
In May 2018, the Delaware Supreme Court upheld a decision causing the sale of Elting's 50% ownership of TransPerfect to cofounder Phil Shawe for $385 million, which closed the same month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.law.com/delbizcourt/2018/05/03/del-supreme-court-upholds-770m-transperfect-sale-to-co-founder/|title=Del. Supreme Court Upholds $770M TransPerfect Sale to Co-Founder {{!}} Delaware Business Court Insider|work=Delaware Business Court Insider|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://slator.com/transperfect-sale-clears-final-hurdle/ | title=TransPerfect Sale Clears Final Hurdle | date=4 May 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Savchuk |first=Katia |title=Inside The Nasty Corporate Divorce Between Ex-Lovers Who Built A Company Worth Nearly $1 Billion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2016/05/25/liz-elting-transperfect-engaged-cofounders-phil-shawe-corporate-divorce/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
==Political views and opinions==
Elting, through her regular column at ''Forbes'', has articulated a vision of aggressive advancement of women's rights through professional and entrepreneurial development and advancement and women's health. Vocal about women's equality, she strongly advocates for women to act forcefully in the workplace and to own and operate their own businesses, arguing that economic power is social power.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizelting/2018/05/30/why-single-women-entrepreneurs-can-and-must-put-work-first/|title=Why Single Women Entrepreneurs Can (And Must) Put Work First|last=Elting|first=Liz|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizelting/2017/12/20/how-women-entrepreneurs-can-make-a-better-2018/#4b60f48c3c13|title=How Women Entrepreneurs Can Make A Better 2018|last=Elting|first=Liz|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizelting/2017/07/24/there-are-dangerously-few-women-in-the-boardroom-thats-a-problem/|title=There Are Dangerously Few Women In The Boardroom. That's A Problem|last=Elting|first=Liz|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref>
==Philanthropic and advocacy work==
In addition to her work in business, Elting is the founder and CEO of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, through which she has partnered with the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Campaign,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nyc.heart.org/go-red-for-women-led-by-two-new-york-city-executives/|title=Go Red For Women Led By Two New York City Executives - American Heart Association|website=nyc.heart.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> where she also serves as co-chair of the New York branch of the movement. The partnership is dedicated to spreading awareness and education regarding the factors that can affect women’s cardiac health as well as promoting future research and encouraging more women to go into STEM fields like medicine and engineering, with the aim of not only improving women’s representation in those fields, but also producing future breakthroughs and discoveries for women’s health.
Elting is also involved with the National Organization of Women,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nownyc.org/women-of-power-and-influence-awards/|title=2016 Women of Power & Influence Awards - NOW-NYC {{!}}|work=NOW-NYC {{!}}|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914094339/http://nownyc.org/women-of-power-and-influence-awards/|archive-date=2018-09-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> Women in the World,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lizelting.com/news/2017/10/17/women-in-the-world-shesuite-in-discussion-with-liz-elting|title=Women in the World: SheSuite in Discussion with Liz Elting|work=Liz Elting|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US}}</ref> CFW Careers for Women,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cfwcareers.com/careers-blog/2016/9/6/changing-the-conversation-panelist-introduction-liz-elting|title=Changing the Conversation, Panelist Introduction: Liz Elting|work=CFW Careers|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914132201/http://www.cfwcareers.com/careers-blog/2016/9/6/changing-the-conversation-panelist-introduction-liz-elting|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Women’s Leadership Council’s Founders Council at Trinity College,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.trincoll.edu/AboutTrinity/college/Trustees/Pages/Elting.aspx|title=Elizabeth Elting '87|last=Webmaster|website=www.trincoll.edu|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-date=2018-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715142519/http://www.trincoll.edu/AboutTrinity/college/Trustees/Pages/Elting.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> and NYU Stern Women in Business.<ref name=":1">{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transperfect-ceo-and-nyu-stern-alumna-liz-elting-to-speak-at-women-on-boards-panel-at-nyus-2017-alumni-weekend-300536792.html|title=TransPerfect CEO and NYU Stern Alumna Liz Elting to Speak at "Women on Boards" Panel at NYU's 2017 Alumni Weekend|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> Elting has awarded scholarships to women at Trinity College,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trincoll.academicworks.com/opportunities/13185|title=Elizabeth Elting '87 Bantam Bold 1823 Scholarship Fund - Trinity College Scholarship Profile|website=trincoll.academicworks.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> helped the NYU Stern School of Business attract, enroll and support more women,<ref name=":1" /> mentored women at Columbia Business School, and continues to foster entrepreneurship opportunities for women through the Elizabeth Elting Foundation. Additionally, Elting’s Elting Family Foundation provides financial support for research into a rare kind of lymphoma called Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Orfuss|first=Mitch|date=October 2017|title=The Elting Family Foundation|url=https://www.iwmf.com/sites/default/files/docs/Torch_October2017.pdf|journal=Torch: Newsletter of the IWMF|volume=18|issue=4|pages=15–16}}</ref> Elting is a regular contributor at ''Forbes'' Magazine, where she writes about issues facing women in the workplace and how women can navigate their careers to success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizelting/|title=Liz Elting's Forbes Site|last=Elting|first=Liz|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> In addition, she regularly lectures at Columbia Business School regarding entrepreneurship and growing a company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/alumni/alumni-news-profiles/alumni-profiles/CON_046048|title=Alumni {{!}} Alumni Profiles - NYU Stern|website=www.stern.nyu.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
In 2020 The Elizabeth L. Elting Foundation made a $500,000 gift to establish the Michael N. Burlant and Elizabeth L. Elting Scholarship Fund at the University of Michigan's Law School, and the Michael N. Burlant and Elizabeth L. Elting Family Scholarship Fund at University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recent Gifts: Fall 2020 {{!}} Law Quadrangle |url=https://quadrangle.michigan.law.umich.edu/issues/fall-2020/recent-gifts-fall-2020 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=quadrangle.michigan.law.umich.edu}}</ref>
==Honors and recognitions==
* NYU Stern lecture hall named the Elizabeth Elting Lecture Hall (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrating the Elizabeth Elting Lecture Hall - NYU Stern |url=https://www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/alumni/alumni-news-profiles/news/a-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-and-fireside-chat-celebrates-a-gift-from-elizabeth-elting-mba-92 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.stern.nyu.edu}}</ref> * SmartCEO Future 50 (Annually 2013-2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://smartceo.com/2017-new-york-future-50-transperfect/|title=TransPerfect - 2017 New York SmartCEO Future 50 Award Winner|website=smartceo.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-02}}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * Trinity College Gary McQuaid Award (2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trincoll.edu/Alumni/GetInvolved/naa/awards/Pages/McQuaid.aspx|title=The Gary McQuaid Award|last=Webmaster|website=www.trincoll.edu|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> * “America’s Richest Self-Made Women” by Forbes (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/liz-elting|title=Liz Elting|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en}}</ref> * Enterprising Women's “Enterprising Woman of the Year” (2017)<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transperfect-ceo-liz-elting-receives-prestigious-2017-enterprising-women-of-the-year-award-300428566.html|title=TransPerfect CEO Liz Elting Receives Prestigious 2017 Enterprising Women of the Year Award|last=Magazine|first=Enterprising Women|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> * National Organization of Women's “Women of Power & Influence” (2016)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nownyc.org/women-of-power-and-influence-awards/|title=2016 Women of Power & Influence Awards - NOW-NYC {{!}}|work=NOW-NYC {{!}}|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914094339/http://nownyc.org/women-of-power-and-influence-awards/|archive-date=2018-09-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Diversity Journal's 10th Annual “Women Worth Watching” List (2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.translations.com/about/news/in-the-news/women-worth-watching-award-winner-elizabeth-l-elting|title="Women Worth Watching" Award Winner: Elizabeth L. Elting|date=2011-11-10|website=www.translations.com|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> * “Distinguished Alumna Award” from New York University's Stern School of Business (2011) * "Alumni Medal for Excellence" from Trinity College (2007)<ref name=":4" /> * "Woman of the Year" by American Express and Entrepreneur Magazine (2004)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adsvm19.cc.trincoll.edu/comms/reporter/20123/language2.htm|title=The Language of Business|website=adsvm19.cc.trincoll.edu|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> * Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2001)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.translations.com/about/award/awards-ey-entrepeneur-of-the-year.html|title=About Us: Awards: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year {{!}} translations.com|website=www.translations.com|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> * Working Woman's “Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for Customer Service” (1999)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hbr.org/2013/06/when-your-start-up-should-walk|title=When Your Start-Up Should Walk Away from a Deal|date=2013-06-28|work=Harvard Business Review|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref>
== Bibliography == In September 2023, Elting released her first book, ''Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business''.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and… |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125766443-dream-big-and-win |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Goodreads |isbn=978-1-119-90436-6 |language=en |last1=Elting |first1=Liz |date=26 September 2023 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons }}</ref> Wiley Publishing, {{ISBN|978-1119904366}}.
== Personal life == Elting and her husband, Michael Burlant married in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-02-14 |title=WEDDINGS; Elizabeth Elting, Michael Burlant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/14/style/weddings-elizabeth-elting-michael-burlant.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> They have two sons and reside in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elizabeth Elting '87 |url=https://www.trincoll.edu/abouttrinity/leadership-governance/trustees/elting/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Trinity College |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elting, Elizabeth}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:American women business executives Category:Philanthropists from New York (state) Category:People from Westchester County, New York Category:Trinity College (Connecticut) alumni Category:New York University Stern School of Business alumni Category:American women company founders Category:American company founders Category:21st-century American women