Liz Dolan and Her Satellite Sisters: Creating Global Connections
By Leigh Henderson
Listeners who tune their radios to hear the Satellite Sisters never know if they will hear a discussion on, "From Terror to Transformation" or "13 things PMS stands for …." They do know, however, that Julie, Liz, Sheila, Monica, and Lian will offer five points of view and a shared approach to life.
Liz Dolan had the idea for the radio program and instead of the Dolan Sisters, her sister Lian's husband thought up the unique name "Satellite Sisters" to represent the friends and family that are such an important part of each other's orbit through life. Satellite Sisters has become a well-known brand of radio commentary, entertainment, and advice that reaches out to women around the world.
They are now leading a campaign to raise $100,000 to help rebuild Radio Al-Mahaba, the only radio station in Iraq that focuses on women's voices and concerns.
Radio Al-Mahaba lost its transmitter when a roadside bomb blew it up, and staff members operate under death threats.
Satellite Sister Liz spoke with PINK about her family, her career, and the group's philanthropic efforts.
PINK: What was it about the Radio Al-Mahaba project that inspired the Sisters to launch this fundraising campaign?
LD: The Satellite Sisters featured the founder and some of her 30 courageous staff members on our radio program several times. We believe so much in the work they are doing advocating for basic women's rights against the creeping religious fundamentalism that seeks to dominate the new government. It seemed a natural expression of our work to aid the only Iraqi women's radio station.
PINK: Why is it so important for Iraqi women to have their own radio station?
LD: On Radio Al-Mahaba, the popular call-in shows provide the only safe haven in Iraq for women to talk to one another and share information along with their fears, their experiences and their opinions. The station is fighting three battles – one is the physical challenge of operating in a war zone; one is the political battle for women's rights and one is the battle for the resources to "keep talking."
PINK: How did you find out about
Radio Al-Mahaba?
LD: In July 2005, Corny Koehl, the executive producer of the Satellite Sisters radio show, read an article in the Wall Street Journal on Radio Al-Mahaba. Women hosting a call-show in Iraq was a mirror image of our work, so we reached out to them. After their transmitter was destroyed, in fall 2005, we wanted to know how we could help them get back on the air. Radio Al-Mahaba rented a transmitter but it didn't have the power to reach the audience that it had previously.
PINK: What was the inspiration behind the Satellite Sisters?
LD: We decided on a radio show seven years ago because there weren't enough real women on radio; there weren't enough real women like us who could speak for the actual women of the U.S. in the 21st century.
PINK: What is an example of a real concern from a real woman?
LD: When summer arrives, working moms face the challenges of balancing their lives with their kids out of school. Our call-in show acts as a sounding board for these women in July and August – plus we talk about major world events.
PINK: How do you balance being a business partner with your four sisters?
LD: We work together by ourselves, we all say. We live independent lives – Julie is in Moscow; Monica is in Portland, Oregon; and Sheila, Lian, and me Los Angeles – and when we come together we have fun.
PINK: You quit your job as Vice President of Global Marketing at NIKE when you turned 40. What drove you to make this move?
LD: I needed to get a life. I would be on a different continent each week. Back in 1997 before e-mail and cell phones, one of my brothers called and left messages; I couldn't return them. He worked in a law firm and went on a Lexis/Nexis search to find out where I was and why I didn't return his call. I was too work-focused. Also I left because I wanted more variety in the type of work I did.
PINK: Do you think there will be a female president of the U.S. in your lifetime?
LD: Yes! I'd be really surprised if it didn't happen especially since I plan on living another 50 years. Look at who has been in the role of Secretary of State: Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice. That never would have happened 25 years ago.
PINK: What advice can you give to PINK readers that you've found helpful in your career?
LD: Don't be afraid of your own ideas; your own ideas that you're most passionate about – you need to develop those. If you toil in the wrong work environment you will never give expression to your real self. When I went to Brown, my father told me, "It doesn't matter what class you take, just get the best professor." I advise women in the workplace to get the best boss who can help you.
###
ADVERTISEMENTS
 |
Your Company Name
Nine lines of text about your event, promotion or company would go here. Picture and text all link to your site. Nine lines of text about your event, promotion or company would go here. Picture and text all link to your site Text about your event, promotion or company would go here. |
TEXT AD 1: Text ad would go here. A few lines about your company that link to your site. Text ad would go here. A few lines about your company that link to your site.
TEXT AD 2: Text ad would go here. A few lines about your company that link to your site. Text ad would go here. A few lines about your company that link to your site.
TEXT AD 3: Text ad would go here. A few lines about your company that link to your site. Text ad would go here. A few lines about your company that link to your site.
