Sandra Kurtzig Journey to Success and Innovation

Sandra Kurtzig's journey to success is a testament to her innovative spirit and determination. She was born in 1946 in California.

Growing up, Kurtzig was fascinated by mathematics and science, skills that would serve her well in her future endeavors. Her father, a German immigrant, encouraged her to pursue her interests.

Kurtzig attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a degree in mathematics. This solid foundation in math would later influence her approach to business and technology.

Kurtzig's entrepreneurial journey began in the 1970s, as she started her first company, ASK Computer Systems, which provided software to the manufacturing industry.

Sandra Kurtzig was born in Chicago on October 21, 1947. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1968.

Sandra's academic achievements are impressive, as she graduated from UCLA at the age of twenty. She then went on to earn her master's degree in aeronautical engineering at Stanford University.

Sandra's family relocated to Los Angeles, California, when she was eleven years old. This move would later influence her educational and career choices.

Sandra took advanced courses in high school and graduated with an A average. She also sold towels at the Bullocks department store during this time.

Sandra Kurtzig started her career in contract programming in 1972, after leaving her job selling computer time-sharing for General Electric.

She founded ASK Group as a part-time job, using a $2,000 commission check from GE to rent a time-sharing terminal.

Kurtzig launched ASK as a small, part-time contract software-programming business out of her second bedroom to keep her mind occupied and increase her income.

She was asked by her first client, Halcyon, to create an inventory-tracking program that could efficiently provide manufacturing information, which she saw as an opportunity to help other manufacturers.

She left her job selling computer time-sharing for General Electric in 1972 to start a family and launched ASK Group as a part-time contract software-programming business.

The $2,000 commission check from GE was used to rent a time-sharing terminal, which was a crucial investment for the business.

Kurtzig started ASK Group in her second bedroom, where she worked on a small, part-time contract software-programming business, never intending it to operate outside her house.

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She was asked by her first client, Halcyon, to create an inventory-tracking program that could efficiently provide manufacturing information.

Under her direction, several graduates with degrees in engineering and computers were recruited to write standardized applications that addressed problems faced by local manufacturers.

Realizing the potential of the program, Kurtzig expanded her business to meet the needs of other manufacturers who might find such a program useful.

ERP can be a crucial tool for businesses, especially those looking to scale quickly. Kurtzig's company, which was built from the ground up, reached a value of $400 million.

Kurtzig's experience in building a successful company is a great example of what can be achieved with the right strategy and execution.

Sandra Kurtzig's personal life is a testament to her dedication to her family. She shared the success of ASK with her mother, who got to see her featured in major newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Sandra had two sons, Ken and Andy, with her former husband Arie. They were born around 1973 and 1976. Their parents divorced when the boys were young.

By 1983, Kurtzig had already achieved a significant milestone - a net worth of $65 million. This was just a year after her divorce from Arie in 1982.

Kurtzig prioritized her family after her divorce, resigning from her position at ASK in 1985 to focus on her sons and other pursuits. She wanted to spend quality time with them and travel.

Sandra Kurtzig's family was very important to her, and she made time for them even after returning to ASK in 1989.

Sandra Kurtzig is often overlooked as a pioneering figure in the software industry, but she was the first multimillion-dollar software entrepreneur.

She founded ASK in 1972, a company that provided inventory-tracking software to manufacturing companies.

At its peak, ASK had annual sales of $450 million, a staggering figure for its time.

Kurtzig was a key player in establishing the business-to-business software industry.

She pioneered the creation of easy-to-use business management software for manufacturing companies.

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