I am Holly Weiss. I am married, have identical twin sons (a doctor and a lawyer!), and live in New York City. I worked as a lawyer in private practice for nearly 30 years before pivoting to a neutral role in 2020. Now I am a mediator, arbitrator and law professor. I am the Founder and President of Stand Up! Girls®, a non-profit whose mission is to equip girls with the communication skills necessary to navigate and lead male-dominated workplaces by learning to write and perform stand up comedy. I am also a longstanding board member of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.
In 2019, when I was 53, I was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy – a big heart. I was in congestive heart failure, with an ejection fraction of only 21 percent. I partnered with an amazing team of medical professionals, made 180-degree lifestyle changes, and slowly adjusted to a slew of medications. Miraculously, my heart function has improved. My younger sister suffered from a congenital heart condition. Sadly, she died of congestive heart failure when she was only 15 in 1985, at a time when heart medications and medical treatments were limited. I am a survivor because of extraordinary developments in scientific knowledge and treatments, including medications.
The American Heart Association supports life-saving research, and provides helpful guidance for improving heart health. I was thrilled to accept my nomination to join the American Heart Association’s Woman of Impact Campaign. I hope to create meaningful impact in the communities in which I participate. Together, we can work to improve womens’ and girls’ heart health, and to live longer, healthier, more productive lives.