Robin Koval
Robin Koval has been a driving force in the advertising world for over 20 years. A marketing strategist and new products expert, her experience spans almost every category from beauty and beverages to distilled spirits and pharmaceuticals. Her successes include the daring "Yes, Yes, Yes" of Herbal Essences and the AFLAC duck quack heard round the world. Simply put, Robin helps marketers get noticed.
Robin is the President of The Kaplan Thaler Group and is responsible for the general management of the agency, including client services, strategic and new business development, and KTG's Buzz unit. A founding member of the agency with Linda Kaplan Thaler, she has helped KTG grow from a fledgling start-up to one billion dollars in billings.
The Kaplan Thaler Group is consistently ranked by industry publications as one of the fastest-growing New York agencies and celebrated for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. Its blue-chip clients include Procter & Gamble's Dawn and Swiffer, AFLAC, Champion, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Kraft, Lunesta, Pfizer, Trojan and U.S. Bank.
Robin is also a bestselling author. Her latest joint effort with Linda Kaplan Thaler is titled THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, (Doubleday, 2009) and shows that in a big picture world, every detail counts. Her previous bestselling book, THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness (Doubleday 2006), was also co-authored with Linda Kaplan Thaler and demystified the notion that nice "guys" finish last. Following its debut, The Power of Nice was widely featured in the media on television programs like ABC's Nightline, NBC's "The Today Show" and in print publications including Time, Business Week, Newsweek, O: The Oprah Magazine, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. Linda and Robin's first book BANG! Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World, a savvy marketing book, was also a national bestseller.
Robin earned a BFA from Syracuse University and an MBA from Baruch College.
In November 2008, Robin received the Compass Award from the Women's Leadership Exchange for her work in shifting the paradigm of how women are perceived as business leaders. Robin was honored in January 2007 with the prestigious Advertising Women of New York's Working Mother of the Year Trailblazer Award. And in 2002, she was inducted into the YWCA's Academy of Women Achievers. Robin has also served on the board of the Westchester Arts Council and is an adjunct professor at New York University.
When she's not figuring out how to solve her clients' problems, she takes to the ice as an accomplished figure skater. Robin lives in New York City and is married to Kenneth Koval, a senior administrator for the New York City Health and Hospitals Commission. Their daughter, Melissa, is an actress in New York City.
MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:
The Power of Small
Why Little Things Make All The Difference
Our smallest actions and gestures often have outsize impact on our biggest goals, from getting the dream job to finishing the marathon with a personal best. Did you double-check that presentation one last time, or hold the elevator for a stranger? Going that extra inch - whether with a client, customer, family member or friend - speaks volumes to others about our talent, personality and motivations. After all, if we can't take care of the small details, how can we be counted on to deliver when it really matters?
Bigger isn't always better, especially when dealing with today's challenges. In fact, it's often the baby steps that put us on the path to delivering a true competitive advantage. The real secret to getting ahead in life and in our careers is to refocus our attention on the small details that, if disregarded, can sabotage a multimillion-dollar ad campaign or undermine your most important relationships.
The Power of Nice
How to Conqure the Business World with Kindess
Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval moved to the top of the advertising industry by following a simple but powerful philosophy: It pays to be nice.
In an era when the corporate world glorifies a dog-eat-dog mentality, these two dynamic women built The Kaplan Thaler Group, one of the nation's fastest-growing advertising agencies, not with spears and intimidation, but with flowers and chocolates.
But don't confuse being "nice" with being a push-over. Kaplan Thaler and Koval explain in a series of entertaining anecdotes that being nice in the business world conveys strength and assertiveness. Nice people address problems, motivate teams, and win high profile accounts. They just do so with a positive and memorable style.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"Robin Koval's presentation was just what our teachers needed to get energized in our ongoing effort to teach character along with academics. Robin has a terrific sensibility for speaking to an audience due to her professional and fun style. Her presentation has left a lasting impact on our team and family." - Mike Feinberg, Co-founder KIPP
"Robin Koval's Power of Nice presentation was refreshing and enlightening. The material was well-organized, easy to understand and replete with marketing and business tips and expertise. Ms. Koval illustrated her points through entertaining vignettes that resonated with the audience. In short, it was a huge hit with our employees! " - Mendel Hagler, Executive Director Gouverneur Healthcare Services
Robin Koval has been a driving force in the advertising world for over 20 years. A marketing strategist and new products expert, her experience spans almost every category from beauty and beverages to distilled spirits and pharmaceuticals. Her successes include the daring "Yes, Yes, Yes" of Herbal Essences and the AFLAC duck quack heard round the world. Simply put, Robin helps marketers get noticed.
Robin is the President of The Kaplan Thaler Group and is responsible for the general management of the agency, including client services, strategic and new business development, and KTG's Buzz unit. A founding member of the agency with Linda Kaplan Thaler, she has helped KTG grow from a fledgling start-up to one billion dollars in billings.
The Kaplan Thaler Group is consistently ranked by industry publications as one of the fastest-growing New York agencies and celebrated for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. Its blue-chip clients include Procter & Gamble's Dawn and Swiffer, AFLAC, Champion, Continental Airlines, Kodak, Kraft, Lunesta, Pfizer, Trojan and U.S. Bank.
Robin is also a bestselling author. Her latest joint effort with Linda Kaplan Thaler is titled THE POWER OF SMALL: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, (Doubleday, 2009) and shows that in a big picture world, every detail counts. Her previous bestselling book, THE POWER OF NICE: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness (Doubleday 2006), was also co-authored with Linda Kaplan Thaler and demystified the notion that nice "guys" finish last. Following its debut, The Power of Nice was widely featured in the media on television programs like ABC's Nightline, NBC's "The Today Show" and in print publications including Time, Business Week, Newsweek, O: The Oprah Magazine, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. Linda and Robin's first book BANG! Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World, a savvy marketing book, was also a national bestseller.
Robin earned a BFA from Syracuse University and an MBA from Baruch College.
In November 2008, Robin received the Compass Award from the Women's Leadership Exchange for her work in shifting the paradigm of how women are perceived as business leaders. Robin was honored in January 2007 with the prestigious Advertising Women of New York's Working Mother of the Year Trailblazer Award. And in 2002, she was inducted into the YWCA's Academy of Women Achievers. Robin has also served on the board of the Westchester Arts Council and is an adjunct professor at New York University.
When she's not figuring out how to solve her clients' problems, she takes to the ice as an accomplished figure skater. Robin lives in New York City and is married to Kenneth Koval, a senior administrator for the New York City Health and Hospitals Commission. Their daughter, Melissa, is an actress in New York City.
MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:
The Power of Small
Why Little Things Make All The Difference
Our smallest actions and gestures often have outsize impact on our biggest goals, from getting the dream job to finishing the marathon with a personal best. Did you double-check that presentation one last time, or hold the elevator for a stranger? Going that extra inch - whether with a client, customer, family member or friend - speaks volumes to others about our talent, personality and motivations. After all, if we can't take care of the small details, how can we be counted on to deliver when it really matters?
Bigger isn't always better, especially when dealing with today's challenges. In fact, it's often the baby steps that put us on the path to delivering a true competitive advantage. The real secret to getting ahead in life and in our careers is to refocus our attention on the small details that, if disregarded, can sabotage a multimillion-dollar ad campaign or undermine your most important relationships.
The Power of Nice
How to Conqure the Business World with Kindess
Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval moved to the top of the advertising industry by following a simple but powerful philosophy: It pays to be nice.
In an era when the corporate world glorifies a dog-eat-dog mentality, these two dynamic women built The Kaplan Thaler Group, one of the nation's fastest-growing advertising agencies, not with spears and intimidation, but with flowers and chocolates.
But don't confuse being "nice" with being a push-over. Kaplan Thaler and Koval explain in a series of entertaining anecdotes that being nice in the business world conveys strength and assertiveness. Nice people address problems, motivate teams, and win high profile accounts. They just do so with a positive and memorable style.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"Robin Koval's presentation was just what our teachers needed to get energized in our ongoing effort to teach character along with academics. Robin has a terrific sensibility for speaking to an audience due to her professional and fun style. Her presentation has left a lasting impact on our team and family." - Mike Feinberg, Co-founder KIPP
"Robin Koval's Power of Nice presentation was refreshing and enlightening. The material was well-organized, easy to understand and replete with marketing and business tips and expertise. Ms. Koval illustrated her points through entertaining vignettes that resonated with the audience. In short, it was a huge hit with our employees! " - Mendel Hagler, Executive Director Gouverneur Healthcare Services
