Amy Nelson
Amy Nelson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980 (age 44–45)[1] |
| Education |
|
| Occupation | CEO of The Riveter |
| Spouse | Carleton Nelson |
| Children | 4 |
Amy Nelson (born 1980) is an American lawyer, political activist, and entrepreneur. She grew up in Ohio where she became interested in politics at an early age. She earned degrees in International Studies from Emory University and Law from New York University. Nelson worked as a corporate attorney and served on Barack Obama's Finance Committee prior to becoming an entrepreneur. In January 2017, she founded The Riveter, an organization that provides work space and other services to support working women.
Early life and education
Amy Nelson was born in 1980[1] and grew up in Ohio.[2] Nelson developed an interest in politics in her youth, going door-to-door for political campaigns.[2] Her first jobs were as a nanny, then as a waitress.[1] Nelson earned a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Emory University.[1] While attending college, Nelson interned at the Carter Center, where she accepted a full-time job upon graduation.[1] She then earned a J.D. in law from the NYU School of Law.[1]
Career
After graduating from NYU Law, Nelson worked in law and politics for about a decade.[3][4] Initially, she did corporate litigation for Cahill Gordon & Reindel.[1] While in New York, she also worked for then President Barack Obama's Finance Committee and co-founded Gen44, the under-40 fundraising arm of the Obama campaign.[1][5] She also supported fund-raising campaigns for pro-choice politicians.[5] Nelson moved to Seattle in 2012 after her boyfriend (current husband) got a job at Amazon.com.[2] Subsequently, Nelson worked as an in-house corporate attorney for a tech company in Seattle.[1]
In January 2017, Nelson left her job as an attorney to start fund-raising for The Riveter, where she was one of the founders.[1] Nelson raised about $700,000 and opened The Riveter's first office that May in Seattle.[1] The Riveter is named after Rosie the Riveter, who was a symbol for female factory workers during World War II.[4][5] It provides work space, conducts political advocacy, hosts events, and provides other resources for working women.[3][6] The Riveter has raised $21.6 million in venture capital and expanded to nine locations.[4][6][7]
Innovation
With over 20 innovation centers, Amy Nelson's work focuses on changing workplaces to embrace gender inclusiveness. She challenges established corporate standards as CEO of the Riveter by promoting equality and flexible work arrangement's. Nelson's program's are designed to remove institutionalized discrimination against woman and promote a diverse, inclusive, and empowered work culture.
Challenges
In 2019, Amy Nelson's husband and former colleagues of his faced legal implications in a multi-million dollar Amazon scheme unrelated to her. Despite not being involved, this case affected Nelson's business image and finances, compelling them to evacuate their residence due to frozen assets. February of 2022, three years later both sides agreed to a settlement the government returned $525,000, forfeiting $109,000.[8] Earlier, while working remotely on flextime, she experienced biases, unequal treatment, and underpayment compared to male counterparts. These struggles highlighted workplace gender disparities, impacting her professional journey. Her experiences highlighted the disparities that exist in the workplace, where men are given preference. Despite these obstacles, Nelson remained dedicated to advocating for fair treatment and opportunities for women. Her resilience in the face of adversity strengthened her commitment to challenging biases and fostering inclusive workplaces, solidifying her as an advocate for gender equality.
Impact On Society
The Riveter's CEO and founder, Amy Nelson, has had a big influence on women and her community. Through her innovative approach to creating co-working spaces tailored for women professionals and entrepreneurs, Nelson has fostered an environment that prioritizes inclusivity and empowerment. The Riveter provides workspace in addition to a helpful network and tools that promote female cooperation, skill sharing, and career advancement. Nelson has established herself as a thought leader and influenced conversations on workplace diversity and inclusivity through her support of gender equality in the workforce. Her dedication to offering a forum for women to interact, grow, and learn has struck a chord in her neighborhood and beyond, encouraging women too confidently and supportively pursue their professional aspirations and entrepreneurial ventures. Amy Nelson's initiatives with The Riveter continue to drive positive change, creating opportunities and a sense of community for women in the professional landscape.
Family life
Nelson has four daughters with her husband, Carleton Nelson – Sloane, Reese, Merritt, and Holland.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "This Mom of 3 Started a Women's Co-Working Space to Help Fix Corporate America". The Everymom. July 24, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c Fessler, Leah (September 6, 2018). "Coworking spaces were designed by white men. The Riveter CEO Amy Nelson is flipping the script". Quartz at Work. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ a b Shoenthal, Amy (September 20, 2019). "How The Riveter's Amy Nelson Built A More Inclusive Women's Coworking Space While Changing The Motherhood Narrative". Forbes. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c Hecht, Anna (September 3, 2019). "Why this former lawyer wants to transform workplaces 'built by and for men'". CNBC. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c Gross, Elana Lyn (September 26, 2017). "Where The Modern Day 'Rosie The Riveter' Finds Her Squad". Forbes. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ a b "Amy Nelson on The Riveter". YouTube. NBC-affiliate KING-TV. September 10, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ a b Weisul, Kimberly (May 7, 2019). "The Riveter Founder Amy Nelson Is Pregnant, Has 3 Kids, and Runs a Startup--With No Mom-Guilt". Inc.com. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ "After 3 years, The Riveter's Amy Nelson still fighting Amazon and DOJ". The Seattle Times. April 7, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.