VICTORIA BIELER
Head of Broadcast and Retrans Content Strategy and Partnerships Verizon Consumer Group

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Victoria Bieler is the principal negotiator for all partnerships with national broadcast/ cable portfolios and broadcast affiliates. She works with external and internal partners to establish new business opportunities across Verizon’s Consumer, Business and Media Groups. Earlier, she was on Viacom’s content distribution team and was an equity research analyst at Credit Suisse. She lives in New York with husband Sam.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “The variety. The Consumer Content and Partnerships team is charged with connecting customers with the choice of content and experiences they love on the best network. That means thinking about how our customers consume content and working cross-functionally to deliver those best-in-class outcomes.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “Admittedly, working through the winter holidays and on New Year’s Eve. It’s part of the job, but I’m selfishly hopeful that one day, the holidays for my team and me will be for spending lots of time with family and friends, not negotiating. At least, not negotiating for work.”

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BIGGEST MENTORS: “I am very lucky to be in a group … with world-class leaders in my direct reporting chain. There is so much to learn from [Verizon Consumer Group EVP and CEO] Ronan Dunne and [Verizon Wireless SVP, consumer marketing and products] Frank Boulben. Most importantly, I have an opportunity to be mentored by my boss, [head of content strategy, acquisition and promotion] Erin McPherson, on a daily basis. She is a visionary in the content space and a dynamic leader.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Someone once told me ‘it’s all about the people’ in assessing a new job, hiring a new employee, or in your personal life. The people you spend your time with have the biggest impact on your satisfaction, be it job-related or personal.”

JOHNITA DUE
Senior VP and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer WarnerMedia News and Sports

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Based in CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, Johnita Due reports to Jeff Zucker, chairman, WarnerMedia News and Sports and president, CNN Worldwide. Previously, she served as VP and assistant general counsel of CNN, joining in 2003. From 2005-2013, Due served as CNN’s chief diversity adviser and chaired its award-winning Diversity Council. Prior to joining CNN, Due was associate general counsel for The McGraw-Hill Cos. Due earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Sussex in England and her law degree from Cornell Law School.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “I most enjoy that I have the opportunity to collaborate with teams and departments across the organization, from HR and recruiting to marketing and PR to research and sales to editorial and programming.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “I know that many of our efforts, which focus on diversity behind the scenes and creating a culture of internal mobility and advancement, will take time to be impactful and will not be immediately demonstrable or apparent to all employees. The challenge is to retain the confidence of staff that we all are doing what we can to make a difference in this area even if the results are not as immediately noticeable as our on air diversity efforts.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “My late mother, Patricia Stephens Due, was a huge influence on me. She led the first jail-in of the nation during the Civil Rights Movement as a 20-year old college student at FAMU in Tallahassee.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Something that I often tell employees that I was told once was that when you leave a job, make sure you are running toward something and not running away from something.”

LIBBY GEIST
VP & Executive Producer ESPN Films and Original Content

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Libby Geist oversees development, production, distribution, branding and strategy for all projects under the ESPN Films umbrella, as well as original series and studio shows on ESPN+, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. Projects under Geist include the acclaimed 30 for 30 series, Detail and the 30 for 30 Podcasts. Geist, a three-time Peabody Award winner, has spent her entire career in documentary film, from production to development and now as an executive producer. She continues to push ESPN’s storytelling to new heights as one of the company’s leaders in long-form. Geist lives in New York with her husband and two little boys.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “I know how lucky I am to love my job. I work with some of the best storytellers in the world, produce projects that get attention and accolades and I oversee a brand that I’m incredibly proud of.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “Working at a big company can mean lots of meetings. It is easy to get stuck on that treadmill, so I make every effort to prioritize the work that my team is doing and to keep us focused on the creative side of things.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “I have worked under [ESPN executive VP, content] Connor Schell for more than 10 years and have learned so much from him every step of the way. I feel as though I’ve grown up at ESPN and he has played a major role in charting my path.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Leaders are thermostats, not thermometers! Creating a positive, creative environment fosters a happy team and better work. No matter what might go wrong, picking up and reminding the team that we can do anything together is the kind of leader I want to be.”

DIANA HOROWITZ
VP, U.S. Sales East Telestream

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Diana Horowitz leads the sales team and oversees all of Telestream’s business and customer relationships in the strategically important U.S. East region. She comes to the digital video system provider with an extensive media background. Previously, she was regional director for media and entertainment at Tavant; executive director of sales for IBM Watson Media; global client director and director of VOD sales at Comcast Technology Solutions; and led digital advertising sales in the Northeast at Scripps Networks Interactive (now Discovery) for Food Network and Cooking Channel. She started her career at The New York Times Co., holding ad-sales leadership roles in both New York and Paris. She originally hails from Manhattan, where she resides with her husband, Alain.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “I love the media business, and this role allows me to stay connected with the people and companies driving the industry forward — and partnering together with them to find solutions for their challenges and innovate for the future.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “I am fortunate in loving all aspects of my role — leading a team, partnering with customers, working with cross-functional teams to develop strategy. If anything I would just add a few more hours to every day to get everything done!”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “I like to say that I ‘grew up’ at The New York Times, and I learned so much from the amazing leaders who I had the privilege to work with there. To this I would add the amazing ad sales leadership at Scripps Networks Interactive (now at Discovery), who taught me everything I know about television!”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “From my Dad: To treat everyone you interact with, regardless of their job title, with respect, courtesy and integrity, in business as in life.”

AUDREY LEE
Executive VP and General Counsel Starz

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Based in Santa Monica, California, Audrey Lee is responsible for developing the strategic direction of business and legal affairs for Starz, including distribution, content acquisition, production, litigation, employment matters and legal and regulatory compliance worldwide. She has more than 20 years of legal and business experience, with a background in M&A and corporate transactions, deep entertainment knowledge and a thorough understanding of international business issues. Lee most recently was executive VP and deputy general counsel for Lionsgate, where she supported senior management on M&A and film financing activities and overseeing legal affairs for Lionsgate’s subscription VOD channels, digital studios division, location-based entertainment, merchandising and gaming businesses. She was also senior VP, legal affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment. She began her career at Latham & Watkins LLP, where she focused on mergers and acquisitions, securities and intellectual property licensing.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “The people at Starz and the variety of the work.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “When I can’t find a creative way to get to yes.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “My parents. They immigrated here from China before I was born, with no money, no job and without speaking the language. With a lot of hard work and determination, they made a life for their family, sent three kids to college and my dad became one of the most senior scientists at Boeing, leading the design of the electrical system for the space station before he retired.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Always keep learning new things and taking on new responsibilities and be nice to people while you’re doing it.”

DANIELLE MULLIN
Senior VP, Marketing Crown Media Family Networks

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Danielle Mullin leads all marketing campaigns and strategic brand development for Crown Media’s portfolio of businesses, including Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Drama; subscription VOD service Hallmark Movies Now; Hallmark Publishing and the podcast Hallmark Channels Bubbly Sesh. Since joining the company in 2017, Mullin has delivered compelling, high-impact campaigns and was quickly elevated from VP, consumer marketing to senior VP, marketing. Mullin joined Crown Media from WGN America and was VP of marketing for Freeform. She earned a master's degree in creative writing from Emerson College and a bachelor of arts in English and psychology from Boston College.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “I am a true fan of the Hallmark brand. It’s a pleasure to work on marketing content that makes people feel good, especially during times like these when there is a lot of divisiveness and negativity in the world.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “I’m constantly challenged to keep up with the evolving media landscape and advanced targeting capabilities, but I love the fact that there is something new to learn nearly every day.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “I’ve had a variety of mentors throughout my career both in the entertainment industry and in areas completely removed from television. I have always appreciated the advice and guidance I have received and try to pay it forward by mentoring those just entering the field.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “The best advice I’ve ever received came from my Dad — find something you love to do and find a way to make a difference in the world. If you can find a career that checks both boxes, you’ll be good!”

LAUREN PETTERSON
President Fox Business

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Lauren Petterson joined Fox News Channel in 2008 and since September 2019 has been president of Fox Business, in addition to overseeing talent development for both Fox News and Fox Business. Prior to her promotion, she was senior VP of morning programming and talent development for Fox News, where she oversaw the entire Fox & Friends weekday and weekend franchise. Fox & Friends has been the No. 1 morning program in cable news for more than 17 years. Petterson also has been an executive producer of news programming at WCBS New York and WPIX New York. She began her television career at WNYT Albany, New York, and later became an associate producer at News 12 Long Island and a production assistant/associate producer for WNBC’s signature afternoon program Live at Five. She is a magna cum laude graduate of SUNY Albany with a bachelor of arts degree in communications.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “The viewers. I consider it a privilege to communicate what we know. And I love that the viewers want to share that learning. It’s consequential and humbling at the same time.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “Long meetings that can be replaced by a short phone call.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “My mother. She’s a single mom who raised four kids while working three jobs. She taught me to do the hard work. To say yes to the scary stuff. And to know your worth.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “When you’ve done well and moved on, do not shut the door behind you. Make sure you reach back to give others a chance to succeed.”

MARCELLA MILLIET SCIORRA
Partner, Strategic Marketing Sciorra Media Group

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: For more than 20 years, Marcella Milliet Sciorra has held leadership roles at media and advertising companies. Most recently, she was VP of ad sales and product marketing at Spectrum Reach, a division of Charter Communications. Previously, she was senior marketing director in the distribution group at NBCUniversal and group account director at Colangelo-SM. As principal of Sciorra Media Group, she is a strategic adviser to video entertainment and advanced advertising companies. Originally from Brazil, Sciorra holds a bachelor's from the University of Santa Ursula and from Hunter College in New York. She lives in Palisades, New York, with her husband Nick, son Oliver and daughter (and newly licensed driver) Julia.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “I love how our industry is always changing — always evolving. I’ve had a chance to bring several complex and simple ideas to life, revolutionizing the way we do business, throughout my career. Specifically as a leader, what I like most about my job is building high-performance teams, nurturing and growing talent and building an inclusive culture.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “The least favorite part of my job in corporate America has been the fact that pace of change is not fast enough; it’s very difficult to be nimble.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “Margo Vallone was my boss in two different jobs at the beginning of my career: Alcone Marketing Group & GEM Group. She saw potential in me before I was even aware of it.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Invest in your team — talent is your most valuable resource. Build an inclusive culture, encourage diversity of thoughts, gender, ethnicity and beliefs. Foster learning opportunities for your team. Encourage them to take risks, celebrating failures and wins. Be generous with your time and knowledge. Provide timely, honest and actionable feedback.”

NANCY SMITH
President & CEO Analytic Partners

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: For nearly 20 years, Nancy Smith used customized analytics and data to build a stronger business case and drive increased return on investment (ROI). In 2000, she founded Analytic Partners to further the use of data to drive planning and business intelligence. Prior to starting AP, she worked at ASI (now Ipsos ASI) and Clairol (now Procter & Gamble), where she managed marketing insights projects, teams and vendors. She has an MBA from the University at Buffalo School of Management.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “I love working with highly motivated and dedicated people. The marketplace is so dynamic, fast-moving and diverse, and that makes business challenging and exciting. I find that the best qualities of people really shine through when dynamic business ecosystems create opportunities for individuals and teams to stretch and strengthen their capabilities.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “Anything overly bureaucratic: Slowdowns for paperwork, office lease negotiations, flying to China to get my photo taken with a bank manager in order to open a business bank account. (Yes, that really happened!).”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “My most memorable mentor was my first boss in the field of analytics, George Williams. George was respectfully called ‘The Wizard’ by his colleagues for his mastery of numbers, his memory and his statistical prowess. In addition to sharing with me his accumulated wisdom from decades of business analytics experience, George taught me much about managing people.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Don’t focus on money, titles and promotions. Focus on doing satisfying work, and doing it better than everyone else. Money, titles and promotions will naturally flow from doing satisfying work really well.”

JULIE STERLING
Director of Media & Entertainment Partnerships, Google

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Julie Sterling is responsible for Google’s largest video and programmatic partnerships. She and her team work with top media companies to provide innovative solutions that deliver revenue growth using the Ad Manager suite. She also facilitates cross-functional partner alignment with other product areas including Google Play, Cloud, Android, YouTube and more. Previously, she managed Google’s Automotive and CPG team as well as strategic partnerships for Google Ad Manager across multiple verticals. Before that, Sterling worked for Kantar Media. She earned a bachelor’s degree in international business from Rochester Institute of Technology and lives in South Orange, New Jersey, with her wife and two sons.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “There’s a number of reasons I love my job, but it all comes down to the people I work with, the companies I partner with and the technology we create at Google. As a leader within Google, I feel honored to be given the opportunity to build teams, coach and mentor.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “Partners and their businesses are all changing very fast and I think most would agree it’s the most significant transformation that the media and entertainment industry has gone through in recent history. Many partners are using this change as an opportunity to grow and adapt their business with the future in mind, but seeing the human impact when there is so much uncertainty has been hard.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “Mentors in my life started with my family and I’m grateful for my parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and now my wife Beth who have all taught me the importance of hard work, treating people with respect, and having a strong sense of faith.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “ ‘Don’t just point out issues, make positive change from within.’ — my aunt, Sister Eileen Daly, SSJ.”

RANDI STIPES
Chief Marketing Officer IBM Watson Media and Weather

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Randi Stipes oversees marketing activities across IBM Watson Media, Watson Advertising, and IBM’s solo consumer portfolio, The Weather Co. With two decades of experience, she translates IBM’s artificial intelligence expertise into a trusted voice that guides brands towards insights-driven, crossplatform strategies.

WHAT SHE’S DOING: Stipes empowers players across the media landscape to adopt emerging technology for more impactful, engaging and agile storytelling. Leveraging her marketing expertise, she has helped transition major media and entertainment companies into data-driven storytellers. From helping sports broadcasters increase fan engagement to maximizing advertising ROI, she sets an example for the next generation of media stakeholders to be tech-savvy marketers. For instance, IBM Watson Media has powered AI initiatives for tentpole sports events such as the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2019 Masters golf tournament and the 2018 FIFA World Cup — streamlining production workflows, capturing fans’ attention with AI-generated highlights and solidifying the marriage of emerging tech and engaging sports broadcast experiences.

FUTURE GOALS: Her vision for The Weather Co. (specifically its flagship solution, Max Engage) opens the door to a new era of broadcasting that reimagines our expectations of how broadcasters and media companies can leverage weather and traffic data to enhance consumer experiences.

BACKGROUND: Prior to IBM, Stipes was managing editor for UPS.com, helping relaunch and scale its digital presence. She has held numerous other positions, all focused on helping traditional media and publishing companies lean into the digital era. She serves on IBM Watson Media and Weather’s Executive Leadership Team and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis.

HOLLY TANG
Chief Financial Officer and Head of Production Operations, Lifestyle Networks, NBCUniversal

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: As chief financial officer and head of production operations, lifestyle networks, Holly Tang is responsible for financial oversight of Bravo, E!, Oxygen and Universal Kids. She identifies growth drivers and new revenue streams for the networks and plays a vital role in defining and building strategic initiatives. Tang also oversees all aspects of production operations and management for the four brands. Based in New York, she reports to Frances Berwick, president, lifestyle networks, NBCUniversal. Prior to joining NBCU, Tang was director of finance at Comedy Central. Previously, she held various positions at MTV Networks. Tang began her career at Morgan Stanley. She graduated magna cum laude from Smith College with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and mathematics and has an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

LIKES MOST ABOUT JOB: “The people. I’m lucky that I work in an area of our business where women in leadership roles is the norm. I also work for a company that cares about diversity and equal opportunity. Representation does matter!”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT JOB: “Too many meetings! I actually consider myself an introvert but when I’m at work most of my days are spent talking to people. By the time I get home, I need to recharge, decompress … and not talk.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “My boss, Frances Berwick. She is more than a mentor and boss, she’s been my advocate and supporter. There is so much about her that I admire, but I know she’d be embarrassed if I said any more. But for those who know her, you know what I’m talking about.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Don’t pay attention to the noise, just stay focused on your work and on doing a good job.”

SCILLA ANDREEN
CEO and Co-Founder, IndieFlix

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Scilla Andreen is an award-winning producer and director as well as the CEO and co-founder of IndieFlix, a global subscription, streaming and screening service that focuses on content for a purpose. She launched IndieFlix in 2005 as a DVD on-demand platform to serve independent filmmakers, amassing more than 10,000 titles from 85 countries and securing worldwide rights on a revenue-share basis. In 2007, she transitioned the library to streaming delivery, and in 2016 she successfully pivoted the streaming service to be edutainment-focused. IndieFlix now offers over 5,000 curated shorts, features, documentaries and TV series. She also created IndieFlix Originals, producing and streaming IndieFlix original content.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “As a CEO of a global streaming service and film director of social impact films, I love that I get to create content for a purpose and distribute it into the world. I also love the travel and the people I get to meet. Love my job!”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “I spend the entire day working with the teams and I end up doing my work late at night, on weekends and holidays, so finding balance can at times be challenging. I also don’t love fundraising but when we need it, I go do it.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “I always say my Chinese grandmother, because she truly is the queen bee and taught me so much. But I also want to say my mother because she stepped out of the way and let me find myself. Many times it was really hard but she never intervened and I am incredibly strong and independent because of her.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “When things don’t work out it’s a sure sign there’s a better path.”

STACIE ANTHONY
Editor-in-Chief, STIRR, Sinclair Broadcast Group

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Stacie Anthony was hired in March 2018 to lead the editorial team at STIRR. In less than a year, she hired a full staff, developed the brand, ingested over 40 linear channels and thousands of on-demand hours from programming partners and successfully launched STIRR on Jan. 16. Under her editorial leadership, STIRR is already regarded as a top direct-to-consumer OTT service.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I’ve been involved with several new product launches throughout my career and absolutely love that element of my job because of the strategy and collaboration it requires. It’s incredible to build something from scratch, build a team, and see a good idea materialize into an excellent product that solves problems for consumers. That’s the joy of working in the streaming space — we’re inventing and perfecting solutions that reflect how audiences want to consume content.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “It is challenging to keep pace with consumer viewing trends and communicate the influence traditional linear and broadcast still has in the industry. We have to be flexible and constantly pivot, which sometimes adds more work for the team, but overall it’s exciting to work in a rapidly evolving industry.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “Laura Corn, the author and one of the largest independent book publishers. She took me in at age 26 and taught me everything about publishing, distribution, and sales, all while helping me hone my craft as a writer and editor.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Toughen up, buttercup. Back in my writing days, I worked with an amazing managing editor, Lisa Ingrassia. She once told me to ‘toughen up, buttercup,’ and that mantra has trickled into how I manage my team today.”

ANDREA CLARKE-HALL
Vice President, Business Development, Tubi

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Andrea Clarke-Hall is responsible for negotiating Tubi’s content-acquisition deals, building a content library of more than 12,000 titles and most recently launching Tubi’s partnership with NBCUniversal. She also leads Tubi’s app-distribution deals, including its deal with Comcast Xfinity, where Tubi was the third streaming app available on the cable service after Netflix and YouTube. Prior to joining Tubi, Clarke-Hall managed global business development for Sony Pictures’ Crackle. She also served as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y., for six years, where she litigated and tried major racketeering and economic fraud cases.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love that it’s very entrepreneurial and I am able to have a huge impact on growing the business. I am lucky to work for a CEO [Farhad Massoudi] who encourages risk taking and trusts me to do what is right for Tubi. It’s incredibly fun to be part of a team that is building the future of streaming!

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “Since Tubi is a startup, I have the luxury of moving very quickly with little red tape. However, much of my job involves dealing with large, multinational corporations, and it can be frustrating dealing with the slow timelines and bureaucracy.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “I was personally mentored by Tubi’s co-founder, Tom Hicks, a business-development genius. Tom taught me the importance of moving fast, prioritizing the deal points that matter most, and focusing on aggressive growth. After less than two years under his tutelage, Tom handed me the keys to his BD team.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Never take a job for the money, but for what you can learn.”

VANESSA DENNIS
Director, Product, PBS NewsHour

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Vanessa Dennis is PBS NewsHour’s wonder woman in live streaming, playing a pivotal role in helping the organization become one of the biggest producers of live news streams across the internet. Whether she’s troubleshooting new captioning technologies, developing ultra-fast workflows for streaming breaking news or traveling to stream news and events from remote locations with shaky connectivity, she has always has a solution. She was an early proponent of live streaming at the program and advocated building an infrastructure to support video that now enables it to reach hundreds of millions of live streaming views per year. Beyond her contributions to daily success on streaming platforms, she keeps PBS NewsHour staff on top of the latest technologies, orchestrating tests, creating new workflows and constantly improving its suite of streaming products. She is also an ambassador for live streaming to other colleagues in public media, regularly helping to train other organizations about best practices, technologies and experiences, to strengthen local producers on streaming platforms around the nation.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I enjoy getting to play a role in helping to shape public media for the future and help PBS News- Hour continue to reach new audiences.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “I’m passionate about my job and it can be hard to mentally escape that at times.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “I’ve worked at the intersection of editorial, design and technology, and I’ve had a few bosses who weren’t afraid to cross back and forth between those fields. They showed me it was possible for designers and technologists to have heavyweight editorial chops, too.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Do the job you want, not the job you have.”

TINA EXARHOS
Chief Content Officer, NowThis

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Tina Exarhos is chief content officer for NowThis, the leading socially distributed news brand, responsible for program development and production and content partnerships. Since joining NowThis in 2016, she has been at the helm of the brand’s evolution to becoming the top news source for millennials, overseeing the expansion into original series, deeper investigative reports, new verticals and brand partnerships. Prior to joining NowThis, she was chief marketing officer of MTV, overseeing all marketing and creative development for the network. She spent nearly 30 years at MTV.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I am so lucky to be part of a group of passionate, young and innovative journalists and creators who are shining a light on the most important issues of the day.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “It’s a complete myth that young people don’t care about news. We have huge audiences who are avid consumers and deeply engaged in the world around them. Yet too many people still discount them or don’t understand their value. It’s my hope that NowThis can continue to play a strong role in demonstrating the importance young people have in shaping our political discourse and holding power to account.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “My former bosses Judy McGrath and Carole Robinson have always been committed to lifting as they climb.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “My dad taught me how to read The New York Times on an NYC subway. He showed me how to fold the paper in a way that didn’t interfere with other people’s space. I didn’t realize at the time that he was teaching me to read the N.Y. Times every day. He couldn’t have imagined that one day I could get all the news on my phone in my pocket. Always be reading. Always be learning.”

VANESSA HULLEY
Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Endeavor Streaming

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Vanessa Hulley oversees a global marketing, customer acquisition and media buying team focusing on direct-to-consumer marketing strategy and enterprise level marketing technology integrations. Endeavor Streaming powers leading properties’ digital services, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, English Football League and Eleven Sports, alongside owned and operated services like UFC Fight Pass and Professional Bull Riding’s Ride Pass. She previously worked on the Endeavor Properties business, which is comprised of more than 200 live events.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I enjoy the opportunity to deliver compelling content directly to consumers. I also love the feedback loop between consumer, product and content. My job allows me to be customer obsessed and work with some of the biggest content creators in the world.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “I am lucky to work on a streaming business within a content organization. There are so many creative concepts and new business ideas within the organization. I wish I could test and bring to market all of the ideas that come across my desk in real time, but sometimes have to manage the pipeline against the calendar.”

BIGGEST MENTORS: “In my professional life, I am inspired by DeJuan Wilson, who joined Endeavor from Soundcloud and brought with him a ton of audio streaming experience. My ultimate mentor is my godmother, Caroline Thompson, who is a film writer and director. In 2008 she hired me to lead marketing at my first streaming job, a company called ‘Small and Creep Films!’ ”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “I have heard a ton! Some of the key ones: ‘lean into your strengths,’ ‘anyone can be a leader,’ ‘practice empathy,’ ‘keep enough I-quit money on hand so you can leave a job you hate’ and always ‘hire people smarter than you and spend your time cultivating talent in your organizations.’ ”

AMY KUESSNER
Senior Vice President, Content Partnerships, Pluto TV

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Amy Kuessner is responsible for acquiring content, curating unique programming and developing channel strategy for the Viacom-owned free streaming television service. During her tenure, she has closed more than 100 deals with major Hollywood studios, TV networks, production companies and more. Prior to Pluto TV, she held marketing and business development roles at companies including NBC, Liberty Media, Sony, TBS and DirecTV.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love being able to apply my expertise as an integral player in a company that is redefining the entertainment landscape. I relish the challenge of being on the front line and representing the business with new and existing content partners, in an area that is ever-evolving. It has allowed me the opportunity to expand my scope to develop strategic and creative promotional, content and revenue opportunities.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “There is not much I don’t like about my job. If I had to, I would simply say that the challenge of keeping up with the pace of our accelerated growth can be trying at times. However, I am someone who thrives off of pressure and so it circles back to my first point, that I love my job.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “I am fortunate to have two mentors that I get to work with and learn from each and every day. Tom Ryan would be embarrassed to know, but I truly admire this humble and fearless CEO. With my chief business officer, Jeff Shultz, whereas I am the yin, Jeff is the yang. Jeff doesn’t know he is my secret mentor … but that gentleman has abilities that I continue to strive for in my own professional career.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Anyone who comes in contact with your business or employees deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.”

CROI McNAMARA
Senior Vice President, Programming, Condé Nast Entertainment

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Croi McNamara knows digital entertainment and how to effectively program content across each platform. As the senior vice president of video programming at Condé Nast Entertainment, she oversees all digital video content for 20 brands averaging over 1 billion video views a month across a network of 60 partners, 2,300 websites and more than 32 million YouTube subscribers alone. Her unique role involves creating viral videos for a diversity of Condé Nast’s iconic family of brands, which include Vogue, GQ, Glamour, Vanity Fair and Wired. She also oversees programming across all platforms, including Wired and Bon Appétit’s recently launched over-the-top channels.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I’m lucky to work at a company that understands the value of video across multiple mediums. We’ve been given the resources and opportunity to innovate with a best-in-class team of video creators for a market that demands our quality content. With this innovation, we’ve been able to grow fast and excel as a premium creative provider. Our success stems from our content getting longer and more premium, which is so exciting to me considering my television background.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “This fast-paced industry keeps us on our toes so we’re always pivoting quickly and efficiently, which can be tiring at times. But it’s an exciting challenge to every day look forward and think, ‘What’s next?’ ”

MAJOR MENTORS: “One person that I have been thinking about a lot is an early boss and mentor, Christine Weber. At the time, Christine was an executive at Discovery Studios and she always challenged me to be the best collaborator and creative I could be, while always remaining kind and compassionate.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Whatever you do, have grit and determination.”

LIZ MOOTHART
Senior Director of Marketing, Crunchyroll and VRV

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Liz Moothart manages the marketing strategy for anime brand Crunchyroll and VRV, the fandom-focused streaming platform featuring premium SVOD channels. Her user acquisition and retention strategies have helped Crunchyroll grow to more than 2 million subscribers. She created and developed all launch marketing for the VRV platform in 2016, and she developed the “Childhooding with VRV” launch campaign for NickSplat, which celebrates Nickelodeon cartoons from the ’90s and beyond. She joined from Hulu and eHarmony, where she was focused on growth marketing for both subscription services.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “My team and the fans we serve! I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with many brilliant and ambitious people who have made my time at Crunchyroll and VRV fun. Additionally, we aim to serve passionate communities and this really comes through in how our fans connect in such a deep and meaningful way to our brands and the content we provide.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “I’ve seen my company go through many phases, from a small (70 person) start-up when I joined to now a part of one of the biggest media companies in the U.S. (WarnerMedia Entertainment). The pace of change, rapid growth and constant new challenges to tackle have been draining at times … but ultimately, this has been a reflection of our continued success and the career opportunities I’ve been presented with.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “My mother, who is a model of grace and resilience, taught me to live without fear. My former boss Arlen Marmel (Ellation, Hulu) bet on me time and time again and taught me to yearn for greatness while enjoying the journey.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “ ‘Done is better than perfect’ — Sheryl Sandberg. This motto has helped me pursue things that I might not otherwise for fear that I won’t achieve perfection.”

THAI RANDOLPH
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Laugh Out Loud

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Thai Randolph has spent her career at the intersection of content, consumers and commerce. She has a track record of developing brands, audience and revenue for such big names as WPP, Publicis, Sony, Facebook and Kevin Hart. In 2018, Randolph was named to Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 and Cynopsis’s It List. As executive VP and GM for Laugh Out Loud, she manages day-to-day business strategy, operations and P&L management for Kevin Hart’s comedy brand and multiplatform network. Previously, as senior VP, marketing and monetization, she oversaw audience development, brand strategy and ad sales, working with advertisers such as Lyft and P&G on content series including Kevin Hart: Lyft Legend and Cold as Balls, which collectively tallied more than 225 million views and multiple Streamy and Cynopsis Model D nominations; Lyft Legend won a Streamy for best branded content series.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “At Laugh Out Loud, we’re building a next-gen comedic content company at a time when the landscape is rapidly shifting. It’s an incredibly exciting time in the industry and I love being at the center of this innovation — piloting new business models, experimenting with new formats and helping to shape the future of content consumption and distribution.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “I’ve always considered myself pretty quick-witted … but when surrounded by comedians, landing the best punchline is nearly impossible.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “Kevin Hart, LOL’s CEO, is definitely among my biggest mentors. His work ethic, positive outlook and business savvy are not only inspiring, but contagious.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Early on in my career, one of my managers advised me to focus on impact over activity. I’m constantly calibrating to make sure I’m not just busy, but impactful.”

ROMINA ROSADO
Senior Vice President, Digital Media, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Romina Rosado leads the development and execution of all digital programs across Noticias Telemundo and Digital News. She is experienced in content creation, audience building and driving monetization across linear and digital platforms. Most recently, she was senior VP of global content at NBCUniversal-owned E! in Los Angeles, where she oversaw all content, newsgathering, audience development, and product for the news division. Prior to that, she was executive producer at Us Weekly.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “At Telemundo, we are not only riding the wave of the digital transformation, but also of the demographic revolution. There are 60 million Hispanics in the U.S. with a median age of 27 — and next year, for the first time, the majority of under 18-year-olds will be non-white. Programming to this audience and creating a content ecosystem that ensures they interact with Telemundo on any platform is a challenge I love.”

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “The 24/7 nature of the work — especially when it comes to our current news cycle — and the unending flood of emails and meeting invites!”

MAJOR MENTORS: “Throughout my career, I have been blessed with both formal and informal mentors — from my first boss, a serial entrepreneur who taught me how to build a business from the ground up and that it’s perfectly OK to be different (and to have an accent), to Jen Neal, the CMO at E!, who taught me to be more strategic and thoughtful.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “Don’t play small ball — be it in your career or personal life. Not everything that is urgent is important, and not everything that is important is urgent. Figure out the difference and regularly question where you are spending your energy. And never stop reading for pleasure.”

YAZMIN WICKHAM
Senior Director, Digital Platform Management, Katz Networks

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Yazmin Wickham is responsible for identifying digital opportunities and implementing strategies to improve user interfaces and customer retention for Atlanta-based Katz Networks properties. She also onboards new platforms for all Katz Networks websites and apps, which include Bounce, Brown Sugar, Laff, Grit, Escape, The List and Court TV. She helped build the Brown Sugar app and website. Prior to her current role, she spent 19 years as the owner of YazminMedia, creating innovative online solutions for B2C clients. A military veteran, Wickham received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as a Specialist First Class.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “In the four years I’ve worked here, I’ve had the opportunity to roll up my sleeves to deliver on unique roles, all while building my skill set, learning new areas of business and leading/collaborating with diverse multicultural teams across all departments to achieve amazing results. That aspect of doing so many different things and being able to pull them together to deliver a solution is the thing I love most about this job.

LIKES LEAST ABOUT HER JOB: “The drive time!”

MAJOR MENTORS: Cheryle Harrison, general manager of Bounce and executive VP, ad sales operations, Katz Broadcasting. “As I spent years running my own business, my value system is very different than the one found in the corporate world. She has guided me and helped me find my footing in this space … and most importantly, without compromising who I am and what I bring to the table.”

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED: “One of the phrases I heard often in the Army was: ‘There is no I in TEAM.’ It’s something that has always been a big part of how I approach most things, if able.”

Multichannel News has announced 12 media executives as 2019 Women to Watch. They will be honored as part of the 2019 Wonder Women celebratory luncheon on March 20 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of Wonder Women and Women to Watch. Honorees, who hold leadership positions at top companies in traditional and emerging media firms, will be profiled in the Jan. 28 edition of Multichannel News. The 2019 Wonder Women were announced earlier. For more about Wonder Women and Women to Watch and the luncheon event, which is co-sponsored by the New York chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications, visit mcnwonderwomen.com.

Women to Watch for 2019 are:

Sarah Aubrey, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, TNT.

Meade Cooper, Senior Vice President, Primetime Programming, Fox News.

Nina Diaz, President, Programming and Development for MTV, VH1 and Logo Group, Viacom.

Alexandra Jewett, Executive Vice President, Programming, Debmar-Mercury.

Erin McIlvain, Executive Vice President, Content Strategy & Business Development, Crown Media Family Networks.

Pooja Midha, President, true[X].

Nicolle Pangis, President and CEO, NCC Media.

Hania Poole, Senior Vice President of NCAA Digital, General Manager of B/R Live, Turner Sports.

Erin Scanlon, Media & Entertainment Leader, Deloitte.

Lisa Torres, President, Multicultural, Publicis Media.

Lauren Wallace, Head of Business & Legal Affairs, Home + Entertainment, T-Mobile Home + Entertainment.

Jana Winograde, President of Business Operations, West Coast, Showtime Networks.

This story was updated and corrected on Dec. 7. 

The 20th anniversary Wonder Women luncheon takes place today in New York City, where 12 leading female executives in multichannel TV and related businesses will be celebrated, along with 12 Women to Watch and one Woman of Influence.

More than 800 are expected to attend: to track mentions from the event on Twitter, please monitor the #MCNWW2018 hashtag and follow @MultiNews and @MCNWonderWomen.

The 12 members of the 2018 class of Wonder Women are (alphabetically):

• Darcy Antonellis, CEO, Vubiquity
• Kerry Brockhage, Executive Vice President & Chief Counsel, Content Distribution, NBCUniversal
• Christa D'Alimonte, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Viacom
• Stephanie Druley, ESPN Senior Vice President, Event & Studio Production 
• Marianne Gambelli, President, Ad Sales, Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network
• Sarah Gitchell, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Chief Counsel - Content Acquisition, Comcast Cable
• Beth Main, Senior Vice President, Domestic Network Distribution, HBO
• Jennifer Mirgorod, Executive Vice President of Content Distribution & Strategic Partnerships, Turner
• Debra O'Connell, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Disney|ABC Television Group
• Elaine Paul, Chief Financial Officer, Strategy & Business Development, Hulu
• Loretta Polk, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, NCTA - The Internet & Television Association
• Josie Thomas, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, CBS Corp.

Read More: MCN Names 2018 Women to Watch Class

Also set to be honored is ESPN SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm, the 2018 Woman of Influence.

Showtime Networks executive Sara Clarke is set to receive the inaugural Career Catalyst Award from WICT New York, a co-sponsor of the event. 

Watch: 12 Takeaways From MCN's Wonder Women Class of 2018

For more information on the 2018 Wonder Women class and event, including registration information, visit http://mcnwonderwomen.com. 

For comprehensive editorial coverage of Wonder Women coverage over the years, click here.

New York City TV Week is coming up, starting with the 27th annual Broadcasting & CableHall of Fame on Monday, Oct. 16. For more about NYCTVWK, click here.

The editors of Multichannel News are proud to introduce the 2018 class of Wonder Women, the 20th anniversary class of accomplished and influential women from multichannel media industries to be honored by the magazine. 

The vision, commitment and leadership shown by these executives have fostered the success of their companies while driving overall industry growth and innovation.

Multichannel News is also recognizing 12 Women to Watch, whose ongoing contributions are emblematic of the vital roles they’re likely to play in the industry’s future.

This year’s Wonder Women class will be lauded March 22 at a gala luncheon at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in midtown Manhattan, co-hosted by the New York chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications. For much more on the event and on this year’s honorees, visit mcnwonderwomen.com.

MCN Wonder Women Class of 2018
Darcy Antonellis, Vubiquity

Kerry Brockhage, NBCUniversal

Christa D’Alimonte, Viacom

Stephanie Druley, ESPN

Marianne Gambelli, Fox News

Sarah Gitchell, Comcast Cable

Beth Main, HBO

Jennifer Mirgorod, Turner

Debra O’Connell, Disney-ABC Television

Elaine Paul, Hulu

Loretta Polk, NCTA

Josie Thomas, CBS Corp.

The Honor Roll: Wonder Women 1999-2017

Related: Celebrating Media's Influential Women

FRIDAY ABERNETHY
Senior Vice President of Content Distribution, Univision Communications Inc.

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: At Hispanic-consumer-focused Univision, Friday Abernethy directs content distribution sales and licensing efforts for television and digital platforms across multiple genres. She has executed deals under a variety of business models with all major linear and online distributors. Univision’s portfolio includes Univision, UniMás, Galavisión, Univision Deportes Network, Fusion TV and El Rey Network, plus direct-to-consumer service Univision NOW. Earlier, she was executive VP of distribution sales and marketing for Pop, where she was instrumental in the network’s repositioning. Before that, she was a Viacom content distribution executive for more than a decade, securing carriage for MTV Networks and BET Networks channels. Previously, she held posts at GE Capital and JP Morgan Chase and is involved with Camp Becket and Camp Chimney Corners, helping to send children from all economic backgrounds to summer camp.

MAJOR MENTORS: “My parents served as great role models for me. In addition to dedicating their free time to my brother and me, they have a tremendous work ethic. Further, my parents always supported me in my desire to have a career and instilled in me that I could do anything I wanted. Having grown up in a family with very traditional roles I reflect on this unwavering support with so much gratitude.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “The diversity of the work that I do ensures that no day is like any other with the added bonus of being able to advocate for our community.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Force yourself to make time for strategic reflection. Going months or years without regular introspection can lead you down a path you may not have intended.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Traveling and experiencing new cultures with family.”


JANET BALIS
Partner/Principal, Global Advisory Leader for Media & Entertainment, EY

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: A partner at EY and head of its media and entertainment advisory practice, Janet Balis has deep experience in cross-platform media. Before EY, she was a partner and led the Innovation Lab at Betaworks, a studio of digital startups and investments. Prior to that, she was publisher of the Huffington Post and led sales strategy and partnerships at AOL, including its participation in the first-ever Digital Content Newfronts. Before AOL, she was executive VP, media sales and marketing for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I like that I get to work across the full industry ecosystem to solve the most pressing issues facing media companies — from broadcast and cable networks, to cable and satellite operators, to film and television studios, to agencies and beyond.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “In my days at AOL, just after the Time Warner merger — where I was at the time — I was fortunate to work for the then-president of AOL Media Networks, Mike Kelly, who went on to be the CEO of The Weather Channel. Mike empowered each of us to transform the business with his unequivocal support. Mike gave us all powerful lessons to shape our success, including the mantra of ‘assume best intent’ and ‘results lag effort.’ To this day, those words shape my thinking.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Great work and delivering what you promise is an ante to be in business — focusing on personal brand, networking and endorsement can be incredible differentiators.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “My downtime is precious and I spend it with my beautiful children and friends. Beyond enjoying everything New York has to offer, I love to exercise, so you’re likely to find me at the gym doing a CrossFit workout, running in Central Park, taking a Flywheel class, raising money for Cycle for Survival — an indoor cycling event raising money for cancer research — or trying to improve my tennis game.”


JOHANNA FUENTES
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, Showtime Networks

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Johanna Fuentes is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of all global public and media relations initiatives for Showtime Networks and Smithsonian Channel, including programming publicity, media and talent relations, events, photography, awards, film festivals, philanthropy, sports and corporate branding. She supervises all press outreach, and is the communications liaison with parent CBS. Before joining Showtime in 2010, she was at Bravo and CBS.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “No day is the same. You walk in on any given day with a plan in place and breaking news and deadlines (and more recently social media) have a way of disrupting that order.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “After years working in PR, I got my first break in entertainment 18 years ago when I was hired by Gil Schwartz at CBS and back then reported to Chris Ender. It speaks to the stability of the company that they remain at the helm today. Though I have moved around over the years I have learned the most from them on how to remain cool during a crisis and how to be a great manager. In addition, I worked under Frances Berwick at Bravo who is one of the smartest (and classiest) executives in this industry.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Read every story and watch everything, especially the work of your competitors. It’s important to stay very current so I have prided myself on always staying on top of new technologies. Also, stay hungry. And most importantly, I have learned so much from my industry peers. They may be billed as the competition, but some of my best friends work for rival networks and studios. Make those connections.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “As a Caribbean girl nothing makes me happier than reading a good book while quietly sitting on a beach. My other favorite thing: live music.”


ROZ HO
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer and Metadata, TiVo

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Roz Ho, with more than 25 years of industry experience, holds numerous software and hardware patents and has extensive experience managing engineering teams and key product launches. Before joining TiVo in the spring of 2017, she was VP and head of product management at Ericsson. Earlier she worked at Microsoft, including roles in Microsoft Office, as GM of the Macintosh Business Unit and as corporate VP of premium mobile experiences.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I get to work in TV! Seriously, this is a very exciting time in the entertainment industry. There are so many changes happening — the explosion of content, cord-cutting, instant on-demand, streaming services, to name a few. Plus new technology such as AI and machine learning that will transform the media and entertainment workflow … Just as important, though, is that I enjoy collaborating with people to brainstorm and build the best TV experiences — team members, customers and partners.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “Lisa Brummel, former executive VP at Microsoft, gave me an opportunity to become a general manager, and then taught me to go after jobs I didn’t think I was 100% qualified for. Another is J Allard, former chief experience officer and chief technology officer for the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft and one of the Xbox creators, who was truly inspirational and visionary.”

CAREER ADVICE: “This sounds so cliché: work on something you are passionate about, and work with people you can connect with. Don’t be afraid of change if you find yourself in a situation where those two conditions are not being met. Never stop learning.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I like to explore remote corners of the globe (I’ve visited over 100 countries), ski the steep and deep, hike up mountains and dabble in archaeology.”


GEORGIA JUVELIS
Senior Vice President and Co-Head, Corporate Communications, AMC Networks

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Georgia Juvelis oversees all financial and business communications strategy and media relations for AMC’s corporate strategic initiatives and business segments that include AMC Networks International; new digital businesses, including streaming services Sundance Now and Shudder; and IFC Films. She also oversees corporate marketing efforts and internal communications. She joined AMC Networks in 2007 with more than 15 years of experience. She was VP of communications for Gemstar-TV Guide and, before that, owned a PR consulting firm in New York and San Francisco, with clients including Hearst and PBS. She began her career managing publicity for Discovery Communications.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “Fortunately, many things. Since every day is different and the dynamics of the business are changing so fast, my job is never quotidian. There’s always something new coming at me but that’s the fun part and is what keeps me engaged. I also get to work with a group of very creative, thoughtful and smart people who don’t take themselves too seriously and are just fun to be around.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “I’ve been lucky to have worked alongside many mentors through the years who have inspired me, challenged me, even frustrated me. I had a few early on who were very supportive and encouraging, which was especially meaningful as I was just starting out. They not only taught me the foundational elements of great PR, also had a deep understanding of the business and always had each other’s back.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Be impatient with your unhappiness. It’s hard to be great at something you’re not enjoying, and it’s simply not worth staying in a role in which you’re no longer learning or that is stifling you.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “There never seems to be much of it! But I devote most of my free time to my kids, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”


JENNIFER KOESTER
Director of Telco and Video Distribution Partnerships, Google

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Jennifer Koester began her career as an attorney and joined Cablevision Systems in 2005 as vice president of privacy, product management and subpoena compliance. She became senior VP of advanced advertising products and data analytics at Cablevision Media Sales in 2014 before heading to her non-legal role at Google in 2016. Her knowledge and perspective of the television ecosystem helps her increase engagement with Google video distributor partners and drive strategy for future growth opportunities.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love the multifaceted dimension of my role at Google. Being in the cross-section of technology, media, data and consumer experience creates both new opportunities and new challenges every day.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “My parents provided me with a solid foundation to balance a strong professional work ethic while being committed to family. Amazing female leaders at Cablevision like Kristin Dolan, Kim Norris and Karen Au Claro inspired me to bring my voice to an industry where women leaders were the minority. Industry icons like Tad Smith and Bonita Stewart saw strength and potential in me.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Understanding that there’s not always one defined path to achieve your aspirations gives you the power to take informed risks, try new roles or explore new industries that will ultimately lead you to realize your full professional potential.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “My downtime is focused on our very active children with snippets of tranquility in the yoga studio or fishing with my husband. Understanding that children grow up quickly, most of my free time is spent on the sidelines of the baseball, soccer and volleyball fields supporting our son and daughter. And we always cook Sunday meals together as a family.”


COLLEEN MORAGHAN
Senior Vice President, Data Solutions, 605

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Colleen Moraghan brings more than 30 years of advertising experience to her new firm, 605. She is responsible for the design, development and delivery of unique and effective technology- driven solutions that increase sales by using set-top box data for audience discovery, media planning and measurement. Earlier, she was VP of audience measurement at Cablevision Systems.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love the people. Getting up and coming to work to lead a team of committed and talented people is what inspires me. We are like a family; we all share a passion for the data business and we all support each other as we learn and grow. We have achieved so much already after only one year at 605. The future is very bright and I love working in an environment where the team is passionate and can celebrate our achievements.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “It’s hard to choose. Jim and Kristin Dolan certainly are the easiest choices as Jim hired me way back in 1983 [at Cablevision]. I hadn’t yet graduated from college and I was given the amazing opportunity in ad sales under Jim. We worked very hard and established the foundations of local cable ad sales.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Life will bring you many twists and turns that you can never plan for, so surround yourself with good people who have your best interests in mind. Look for those good mentors: they will change your life.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “What downtime? My waking hours are spent on 605, two almost-adult children, an aging father, my life partner Stephen Densen, as well as many beloved friends. I enjoy going to the gym and regenerating with nature by biking or hiking. Stephen is a foot surgeon and we enjoy being involved in the Doctors Without Borders events in the town of Southampton, L.I., where we have a home.”


ROBYN POLASHUK
Partner, Covington & Burling LLP

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Robyn Polashuk focuses her practice at Covington & Burling on the licensing and distribution of programming content across a variety of platforms (including cable and satellite, IPTV, mobile and internet) and business models (from linear to subscription and transactional VOD, electronic sell-through and interactive applications). Her work also includes negotiating retransmission-consent agreements. Clients have included The Walt Disney Co. and ABC, El Rey Network, Fox Cable Networks, Hulu, Ovation, NFL Network, PBS, Pluto TV, Tennis Channel, TV One, Univision and Viacom. She’s negotiated on behalf of content providers with all the traditional TV distributors, including AT&T-DirecTV, Charter, Comcast, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS, as well as the emerging streaming distributors, such as PlayStation Vue, Sling TV and Verizon Go90. Earlier in her career, she served as VP, distribution legal affairs, at Lifetime, and as senior counsel, new technology law group, at Disney.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love the diversity of the clients and projects, and the interesting new issues I am asked to address nearly every day in our evolving industry.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “My greatest mentors have been colleagues who I’ve met later in my career and have pushed me to think about my role in new ways. Every person we know has things to teach us if we are open to the lesson.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Law school teaches us that hard work is how we provide value. But it is our relationships, earned trust and integrity that are our greatest assets. Grow your relationships and support those around you with quality — that is how we can offer the most value to the industry and ourselves.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Turns out that I have a bit of a green thumb, so when I have a free hour or two, I enjoy roaming plant nurseries for a specimen not yet in my garden.”


SAMANTHA ROSE
VP Director, Video Investment, Horizon Media

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Samantha Rose is a leader at Horizon Media, overseeing national video buying for clients such as Capital One, Sleep Number, A+E Networks, Publishers Clearing House and Stanley Steemer. An 11-year veteran, she previously worked on accounts spanning multiple verticals, including Geico, HGTV and David’s Bridal. Currently, she is responsible for overseeing both upfront and scatter negotiations for her client roster. Rose also spearheads the Horizon Advanced group, which seeks to address and highlight best practices for enabling and infusing data into video activations. She works to identify best practices for the future of data-infused TV activation and vets the value of nontraditional prospective partners with programmatic or addressable TV solutions.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “The community and diversity of personalities make it so that I am excited to come into work every day. I’m consistently overwhelmed by how clever and engaged my colleagues are.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “Dave Campanelli, who I have worked for my entire career, is unbelievably smart but has also demonstrated the unique skill of how to tell a clear and concise story surrounding the most complicated of areas. And Marianne Gambelli, who epitomizes what it means to be a strong leader.”

CAREER ADVICE: “It’s all a balancing act — of course, personal and professional life balance, but also being able to balance what you know and don’t know, and actually listening to others and retaining that information.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I have two young children so most of my ‘downtime’ is spent enjoying them and marveling at everything they do! But I also love to cook, travel and read fiction.”


MICHELLE STRONG
Senior Vice President, Distribution, A+E Networks

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Michelle Strong co-leads the distribution sales team at A+E Networks. Her career includes four years in distribution with Disney and ESPN Media Networks, six years with BET in affiliate sales and marketing and four years with Comcast in local ad sales.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I am truly living my dream by working in television. Content Distribution is such a crucial part of the ecosystem and I’m excited to see how the work we do reaches so many people. Those who know me know that I am a passionate champion of diversity and I get tremendous satisfaction from co-leading, with Marcela Tabares, the Multicultural Insights team at A+E Networks. The work we do to impact our business is extremely rewarding.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “My parents provided a great foundation. Professionally, I’ve been lucky to seek advice from some of the best in the business, starting with my current boss, David Zagin, along with my former bosses, Lori Conkling, Justin Connolly and Jane Rice. I’m extremely fortunate to be a part of the A+E Networks Executive Women’s Forum led by Abbe Raven. To be personally mentored by Abbe has been a gift.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Nancy Dubuc has created an inclusive culture at A+E Networks where there is value in being yourself. Throughout my career, I’d see successful people in certain roles and at times felt that unless I led like them I wouldn’t be a fit for that role or obtain their level of success. Somewhere down the road I realized that I was enough. There is such freedom in being yourself. So I’d say, find ways to ‘be you!’ ”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I enjoy being a mom to very active twin daughters, traveling with my husband and threatening to learn to play the guitar.”


MICHELE THORNTON GHEE
Senior Vice President Media Sales, BET Networks/BET Her, A Viacom Company

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Michele Thornton Ghee, who joined what was then Centric TV in 2012, was instrumental in branding it as “The First Network Designed for Black Women” and then into BET Her. Her team is charged with growing the network’s revenue base. Thornton Ghee has worked for CNN, A&E, History and The Weather Channel. She began her career at SBC Communications (Pacific Bell) in Oakland, Calif. She has written two books: Stratechic: Life and Career Winning Strategies for Women and Stratechic 2.0: Her Plan, Her Power, Her Purpose.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “What I love is that it’s not a job but a movement. I get to fight for black women every day of the week; 24 hours a day.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “I’ve had two mentors in my life and 100 advocates. The mentors have been a huge influence but so have my advocates. We live in a time where everyone is busy and it’s difficult for people to commit to the time necessary to build a mentee-mentor relationship. Advocacy has opened doors for me, helped me get promoted, paved the way to write and self-publish a book — you get the picture. I’ve learned not to wait on mentors but built an incredible circle of advocates.”

CAREER ADVICE: “If women build a plan and take the time to execute it then we have an opportunity to walk in our destiny. So what’s my career advice? I don’t have any. I have life advice. Get time back from people and things that aren’t worthy; activate your self-awareness; don’t attend events without a plan or purpose; know that follow-up and preparation are the most important aspects of building relationships; ask for what you’ve earned and know your brand better than the brand you work for! Do these things and you will have the career that leaves a legacy.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Other than spending time with my husband and kids — I’m still figuring that one out!”


JULIE UNRUH
Group Vice President, Programming Financial Operations & Analytics, Charter Communications

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Julie Unruh, who joined Charter in 2004, oversees the Programming Financial Operations, Data Analytics and Contract Management & Compliance groups. She is responsible for providing financial and analytical insights inform content acquisition decisions, including original content. She previously served as VP of Revenue Assurance, a business unit she was hired to build. Prior to joining Charter, she was a manager in the PwC advisory practice, delivering revenue assurance solutions to cable industry clients.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love that every day is a new challenge and provides me an opportunity to learn and grow alongside some really talented people. I enjoy providing financial and analytical insights for video strategy decisions and working to better understand the value of programming.”

MAJOR MENTORS: “I have been influenced by many great mentors throughout life. In my early years, it was my parents and sisters who taught me values, work ethic and to dream big. Growing up, I played sports and experienced lessons in teamwork, success, adversity and leadership from great coaches and teammates. In my professional career, I have been fortunate to work with and learn from some dynamic leaders that have challenged me to grow. In life, I am lucky to have amazing supporters that have encouraged and pushed me.”

CAREER ADVICE: “Surround yourself with talented people who are passionate about what they do and inspire others to follow — it’s contagious!”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband and I have two sons that keep us on the go. On weekends, it is a pretty safe bet that you can find us at a soccer field. When we have a chance to escape, we enjoy trips to the mountains and beach.”

The editors of Multichannel News have named the 2018 class of Women to Watch, part of the annual Wonder Women celebration. These outstanding women, executives in media companies at the forefront of multichannel TV and related industries, will be honored at the 20th Anniversary Wonder Women Luncheon on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.

Multichannel News announced the 20th Anniversary class of Wonder Women in October. More information about the 2018 luncheon is available here.

RELATED: MCN Names 2018 Wonder Women Class

The Women to Watch Award is an honor bestowed upon industry professionals whose ongoing contributions are emblematic of the vital role they currently play, as well as their impact on the industry’s future. The 12 members of the 2018 Women to Watch class are:

• Friday Abernethy, Senior Vice President of Content Distribution, Univision Communications Inc.
• Janet Balis, Global Advisory Leader for Media & Entertainment, EY
• Johanna Fuentes, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, Showtime Networks Inc.
• Roz Ho, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer and Metadata, TiVo
• Georgia Juvelis, Senior Vice President, and Co-Head, Corporate Communications, AMC Networks
• Jennifer Koester, Director of Telco and Video Distribution Partnerships, Google
• Colleen Moraghan, Senior Vice President, Data Solutions, 605
• Robyn Polashuk, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
• Samantha Rose, Vice President, Director, Video Investment, Horizon Media
• Michelle Strong, Senior Vice President, Distribution, A+E Networks
• Michele Thornton Ghee, Senior Vice President Media Sales, BET Networks/BET Her, A Viacom Company
• Julie Unruh, Group Vice President, Programming Financial Operations & Analytics, Charter Communications

“This year’s group of Women to Watch is pushing the boundaries in both personal and professional achievements,” said Mark Robichaux, editorial director, Multichannel News. “It’s a distinct pleasure to honor these accomplished women along with our 2018 class of Wonder Women.”

RELATED: At Wonder Women event, Lesley Stahl Says Attacks on Media Could Backfire on Trump

Tickets for the luncheon, co-sponsored by the New York chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), are on sale now at http://mcnwonderwomen.com. Wonder Women and Women to Watch profiles will appear in the Jan. 29 edition of Multichannel News. For sponsorship or advertising Information, please contact: Charlie Weiss at (212) 378-0478 or cweiss@nbmedia.com.

READ MORE: #MCNWW News and Profiles

Established in 1999, the annual Wonder Women awards celebration -- co-hosted by the New York chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and featuring prominent TV personalities as presenters -- has honored more than 200 women over the years, celebrating their accomplishments in the workplace and beyond. For more information, visit http://mcnwonderwomen.com or search for #MCNWW2018 on Twitter and Facebook. Wonder Women is produced by Multichannel News.

Related > Celebrating Media's Influential Women: The 'MCN' Wonder Women Class of 2017

Kelly Abcarian

TITLE: Senior Vice President, Product Leadership, Nielsen

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Rising in the media research ranks at Nielsen since 2005, Kelly Abcarian oversees the strategic vision and roadmap for the firm’s National TV Ratings and Total Audience products, focused on the convergence of devices and crossplatform audience measurement. She was responsible for developing and delivering the first on-demand platform for the company’s Buy business and was instrumental in the delivery of Nielsen’s Online Campaign Ratings and Mobile Measurement Platforms.

MAJOR MENTORS: “The first one is Megan Clarken, president of product leadership at Nielsen. I truly would not be the person I am today without her influence. She has helped me to shape and build my personal brand by teaching me to consistently show up. She has also inspired me to raise my awareness of the value of how I may be perceived by others. The second one is Jack Wakshlag, the former chief research officer at Turner and current advisory board member at Simulmedia. Jack has inspired and encouraged me to challenge the status quo. He gave me the confidence that my ideas had value and merit and that there was a place for new and innovative ideas in media research and measurement.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I like that I am always learning something new while getting the opportunity to solve really hard problems with really smart people. The outcomes of those results for Nielsen and the industry at large are always gratifying.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “You don’t have to have all the answers to take on a new opportunity or a new role in your career. The expression ‘fake it until you make it’ can work, and if you have the passion, work ethic and the commitment to do something, those three ingredients are enough.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Spending time with friends and family is key to my relaxation. They are the lifeline of my existence, and I attribute all of my successes to the love and support that they give me. I also ensure that I get my own downtime, as I find it allows for my own personal reflection and rest enabling me to recharge my batteries to take on the next set of challenges.”

Pam Bertino

TITLE: Senior Vice President, Content Distribution, Pop TV

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: At Pop, a CBS-Lionsgate network seen in about 80 million homes, Pam Bertino leads content distribution and marketing as well as digital and international distribution, while overseeing content distribution and marketing teams based in Los Angeles. Since she joined Pop in 2014, she has helped the network secure new carriage agreements (along with key renewals) that added millions of homes in 2016. She reports to general counsel and COO David Mandell. Prior to Pop, she was senior VP of content distribution at Ovation in Los Angeles, after spending 15 years in distribution and affiliate roles at The Weather Channel. Earlier in her career, she served as VP, residential sales at Digital Music Express Inc. and worked on the Nissan Worldwide account at Chiat/Day/Mojo.

MAJOR MENTORS: “Decker Anstrom and Debora Wilson from The Weather Channel. Together we built the company to be the most-distributed cable network with more than 100 million subscribers — more than any other cable network at the time. These are two of the smartest and most people-oriented leaders I have ever known, who had the deep belief that great companies are made when the people running the company and doing the work are heavily invested in, listened to, supported, developed and well-compensated. This makes all the difference in the world.

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “The smart, super-creative people I work with on a day-to-day basis! We spend so much time in our working lives, and it is very important to enjoy working with great teams to bring new ideas to fruition. Great teamwork is the foundation to making amazing things happen.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “Treat the people you work with the same way you’d like to be treated yourself, with respect, kindness and dignity. Seek out their ideas, listen to them, and give them space to grow, and they will go the extra mile for you and the company.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “My favorite thing to do is spend time with my 9-year-old son, Kasher — riding bikes, watching Cartoon Network, traveling with him and watching him grow!”

Read More > The 'MCN' Wonder Women Online Archive

Jocelyn Diaz

TITLE: Executive Vice President, Original Programming, EPIX

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: With bona fides established at ABC, HBO and elsewhere, Jocelyn Diaz joined EPIX in 2015, charged with building and creating the network’s first-ever foray and pipeline into original series. Less than a year and thousands of scripts later, EPIX launched not one but two scripted shows in 2016 with another (Get Shorty) slated for 2017. Filmed at different ends of the world (one, Graves, shot in New Mexico and the other, Berlin Station, on location in Berlin, Germany), Diaz regularly traveled to both sites, overseeing the direction and creation to make sure every detail was in place to be worthy of EPIX’s premiere shows. She came to EPIX from being vice president, Walt Disney Motion Picture Production, overseeing live-action feature development and production for the studio. Before taking on that role in 2011, she was vice president, HBO Entertainment, drama series, responsible for overseeing the development and production of dramatic series for the network, including such series as Boardwalk Empire and Big Love. She joined HBO from ABC Television where, over the course of several years, she worked on such award-winning series as Lost, Ugly Betty, Pushing Daisies, NYPD Blue, The Practice and The Drew Carey Show.

MAJOR MENTORS: “I have been blessed to have many mentors every step of my career from the beginning at ABC through today.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I like the breadth of things I get to work on — documentaries, comedies, scripted series, etc. And I love working closely with the creators of these projects to take ideas, develop them and turn them into stories and characters that connect with an audience.”

BEST CAREE RADVICE: “I would offer that working at something you love with a supportive work environment is the brass ring. I would focus on both of those aims and not lose sight of one or the other. If the work is great but the environment isn’t positive, the work and eventually one’s self will suffer.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I love to hike, travel, read, cook and spend as much time with family and friends as possible.”

Carol Hinnant

TITLE: Senior Vice President, National Television, comScore

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Carol Hinnant has been a driving force in Rentrak-comScore’s television measurement from day one, including playing an integral role in signing CNBC, the company’s first major broadcast network for the TVEssentials service, while also working with other “early day” clients such as Bloomberg Television and MTV. She continues to negotiate some of the company’s largest network deals, recently having taken on the additional role of selling digital and cross-platform services to the industry since the merger of Rentrak and comScore in early 2016. Prior to comScore, she worked for 16 years at Rentrak, lastly as senior vice president, National Television Sales. She entered the media business via HBO’s legal department.

MAJOR MENTORS: “It was my parents that instilled a love of learning and created an appreciation of work ethic that have propelled me in my career, so I would have to say they were my earliest mentors. John Redpath, Matthew Kasman and Cathy Hetzel have been the strongest influence in my media career. I feel very privileged to have received such great training during my tenure at HBO. Both the legal and sales operations experience positioned me well for every job I have had since my departure in 1998. Bill Livek and Chris Wilson have challenged me and pushed me to greater success and I deeply respect their talents, but I would have to say that Cathy Hetzel has been my greatest role model, mentor and friend over the last 10 years and I wouldn’t be here without her sage advice and leadership.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “The variety of people, networks and challenges that are presented daily are what I enjoy most about my job, I am never bored. I love learning about my client’s business and challenges and using my experience and comScore’s measurement resources to find solutions.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “At any point in your career, if you approach each task or challenge with a mindset of learning something new, you will always find your work rewarding.’

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I enjoy spending time with my children, extended family and good friends — whether that be on the golf course, beach, taking a walk or enjoying a great meal.”

Marva Johnson

TITLE: Vice President, State Government Affairs-South, Charter Communications

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Marva Johnson, the former corporate vice president of government and industry affairs at Bright House Networks, now with Charter Communications, oversees state government affairs in nine Southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. She had joined Bright House (acquired by Charter last year) in 2006 and helped bring the company’s competitive local-exchange carrier (CLEC) forward from concept to operational reality, as Bright House became the second-largest wireline provider of voice services in Florida. Earlier, she had been general counsel at Supra Telecommunications and VP and senior counsel for KMC Telecommunications.

MAJOR MENTORS: “I have been fortunate to have had many mentors and coaches in my career, but there are two that stand out most prominently to me right now: Nomi Bergman and Roscoe Young. Both of these phenomenal individuals were excellent role models and demonstrated the power of leading with authenticity and a focus on excellence.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “I love working in an industry that is rapidly improving the world we live in. With every upgrade on bandwidth and reliability we bring to the market, we open the door to more possibilities for new, more innovative, applications and services.”

BEST CAREE RADVICE: “While we should endeavor to always have a plan and a strategy, never be afraid to adjust your course to meet the changing landscape. Sometimes despite the vast wealth of educational, career and technical training we bring to the table, resiliency and flexibility are the skills that we need to conquer the new challenges in front of us.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Spending time with my family tops the list every day. Raising a family and managing in a two career household has its challenges. We try to make sure that we never take the time that we spend together for granted.

Vicki Jones

TITLE: Senior Vice President, Customer Experience and Operations, AT&T Entertainment Group

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Vicki Jones’s team is responsible for end-to-end Customer Experience strategy, investment and execution, and overall operations support for AT&T’s mobility and consumer businesses, including channels such as retail sales and distribution, sales and service centers, commercial and connected communities. Her team also supports the Apple relationship and the wireless reseller business — business units that generate more than $120 billion in annualized revenue. Her team also owns the delivery of FCC merger conditions associated with the DirecTV transaction and Entertainment Group compliance and audit support. Earlier, she held numerous leadership positions within AT&T and DirecTV.

MAJOR MENTORS: ”I have had many men and women who have served as mentors throughout my career. And I have learned from all of them. What is perhaps unique is that most of my mentors have been women. It is great that AT&T has had so many women in leadership positions who have supported the advancement of other women.“

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “From the first day of my career I have loved serving customers. The products and services we provide are at the center of people’s lives, so finding ways to make their experiences effortless and inspiring are huge motivators for me. I have the privilege of leading the Customer Experience and Operations team for AT&T’s consumer businesses. We have the unique opportunity to deliver a set of integrated solutions for mobilized entertainment that customers can only get from AT&T. Our Chairman and CEO places Customer Experience as one of his top priorities which gives us support to make necessary investments to help achieve our objectives.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “Dream big and avoid limited thinking. Build a strong network of trusted partners. Be resilient and positive.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “My husband and I enjoy spending time with our family and friends and playing golf together.”

Jacki Kelley

TITLE: Chief Operating Officer, Bloomberg Media

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Rising from intern to senior vice president of advertising at USA Today before working at other wellknown brands such as Yahoo!, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, UM WW and IPG Mediabrands, Jacki Kelley has made an indelible mark on each organization. At Bloomberg Media since 2014, she has formalized programs focused on the recruitment, development and retention of diverse employees, making her one of Bloomberg’s champions of inclusion. She spearheaded this year a six-part TV and video series “Big Problems, Big Thinkers,” targeting solutions to big threats facing humanity.

MAJOR MENTORS: “I have been fortunate to be mentored by many as I pick people first, then roles and companies! It’s one of the reaons I came to Bloomberg Media as our CEO, Justin Smith, is a proven visionary and a compassionate leader. One mentor that I often single out is Tom Curley, who was the president and publisher of USA Today before becoming the head of the Associated Press. While many people have believed in me and advocated for my growth, Tom pushed me at a time when I was certain I was not ready for the role. I was less experienced than my peers and lacked the confidence to believe I could do the job. He saw things in me that I did not yet see in myself and he pushed me to stretch. I am grateful that rather than seeing my hesitation as weakness, he pushed me to gain a new level of confidence.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “In a world of growing populism and fake news, I could not be more excited about the important role that Bloomberg plays and the value we bring to our audience, advertisers and distribution partners. Also, most people don’t realize that a majority of Bloomberg profits go to Bloomberg Philanthropies, which is making the world a better and safer place on many levels. Knowing our efforts are creating lasting change is a real point of pride for all of us at Bloomberg.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “My career advice is to pick people. We all spend a lot of time at work and it has to be something that fills our souls and enhances our lives. At the essence of this is culture and leadership. Pick people that inspire you. Pick people that you can learn from. Pick people that have a track record of advocating for others. I would also offer to pick learning over climbing.”

Margaret Lazo

TITLE: Chief Human Relations Officer, Univision

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: At Univision Communications, the leading media company serving Hispanic America, Margaret Lazo leads human capital strategy, including leadership development, succession planning, advancing diversity and inclusion, organizational design, employee relations and compensation and benefits. In line with the organization, her goal is to attract the finest talent in the industry to UCI while retaining and empowering the team currently in place. Lazo joined UCI from GE Capital, where she lately served as human resources leader for the North American Commercial Lending and Leasing businesses. Earlier, she served in a number of human-resources leadership roles at NBCUniversal, including for the cable and broadcast entertainment and digital properties, for Telemundo Communications Group and for NBC’s owned television stations division. She began her career in human-resources management at retailer Macy’s.

MAJOR MENTORS: “I have been fortunate to work with a terrific cadre of professionals throughout my career, both in human resources and outside, whom I have learned from, who have pushed me to take on many challenges and helped me evolve my own leadership style and remain in my circle of trusted go-to advisers today.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “Partnering with my colleagues to achieve strategic objectives through their teams keeps me energized. Identifying talent and coaching for success is very rewarding; I truly enjoy seeing people grow and flourish in their careers.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “Seek out opportunities to grow experientially. Raise your hand for the challenging assignment, whether it’s a business turnaround or a new venture, something that takes you out of your comfort zone, and make your mark. With high risk comes high reward. You will benefit tremendously from the experience and likely leap forward for doing so. I always say, the tough stuff makes you stronger!”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “These days, it’s enjoying quality time with my family. My three-year-old twin daughters keep me busy!”

Lauren LoFrisco

TITLE: Executive Vice President, Distribution and Business Management, iN DEMAND

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Lauren LoFrisco heads up the team that focuses on the transactional content distribution company’s distribution sales, research and public relations initiatives. Her team works closely with multi-video provider clients and programming partners to find product and marketing efficiencies and promotions to improve buys and revenue of video-on-demand, pay-perview and multi-platform services. Earlier, she was group VP of marketing for Time Warner Cable and before that helped launch the Road Runner High Speed Online broadband service as VP of marketing. She also was a distribution account director at HBO and started out in cable ad sales at Harron Communications.

MAJOR MENTORS: “Only after years of working in the industry and my participation in the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute did I truly understand the influence my family’s strong women had on me. My grandmothers were both very independent women whose unique core beliefs inspired multiple generations. And my mother’s tenacity and flexibility in managing major shifts is part of my DNA.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “The thrill of identifying an opportunity and launching a plan to leverage iN DEMAND’s strengths to the benefit of our clients and programming partners. I love the dynamic change underway in the VOD universe, and the exponential growth in consumer video entertainment options.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “With Change Comes Opportunity. Learn from your mistakes. Create your own personal board of directors who can provide guidance and honest feedback. Spend thoughtful time to continuously learn. Present both challenges and positive encouragement to others.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “I appreciate the time I can spend with my husband, my family and my friends. With two teens, I am in a daily role of mentoring, only they don’t respond as positively as mentees that I have had the pleasure of working with!” I love to watch movies, hike, go boating and travel to new places.”

Kathy McMahon

TITLE: Vice President of Affiliate Sales, NBC Sports Regional Networks

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Kathy McMahon, in a position she has held since 2007, oversees all aspects of affiliate sales, marketing and operations for NBC Sports Group’s eight regional sports networks, including CSN Philadelphia, CSN Bay Area, CSN Chicago, CSN Mid-Atlantic and SportsNet New York. She is responsible for the distribution of networks that televise more than 2,200 live sports events per year, along with award-winning news and analysis programming, to more than more than 43 million homes in the nation’s top markets. McMahon joined NBC Sports Regional Networks (then Comcast Sports Group) from CSN Mid-Atlantic and its predecessor, Home Team Sports (HTS). During her 12 years with the Washington, D.C./Baltimore-area network, she held a number of positions, including vice president of marketing and affiliate relations from 2002 to 2007. McMahon and her husband, Trent, reside in Brookeville, Md., with their three children. She is a Washington area native.

MAJOR MENTORS: “I have been fortunate to have several great mentors. One in particular is Dana Zimmer, who introduced me to the industry. She is very talented and always took the time and effort to share her knowledge and experience, while always maintaining a good sense of humor in the most challenging times. Dana remains a good friend and colleague.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “Luckily, quite a lot. Working in sports and having the opportunity to learn from the industry’s best and brightest is inspiring, especially as we grow and adapt in this rapidly changing media landscape. I also enjoy that every day brings new and unique challenges and that my role allows me to work with many great colleagues across the company, our networks and our league and team partners.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “Ask a lot of questions and be curious. If you continue to learn and accept new challenges, great opportunities will follow.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Spending time with my husband and three children and enjoying the Chesapeake Bay, especially its beautiful sunsets.”

Shereta Williams

TITLE: President, Videa

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Shereta Williams brings two decades of professional and industry experience to Videa, the programmatic TV vendor owned by Cox Media Group. Videa partners with TV stations to deliver a live, supply-side marketplace for full schedule, forward reserve ad inventory that can be ordered weeks or quarters in advance. As president, she leads the organization’s overall strategic and product direction.

She has more than a decade of experience with Cox in various investment, strategy and development roles focused on digital media and broadcast television. Prior to Videa, she served as managing director at a financial start-up focused on algorithmic trading, and she began her career in mergers and acquisitions at Lazard.

Williams is passionate about developing products and services that solve large-scale problems. She has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she served as president of the National Society of Black Engineers. When she is not leading the team at Videa, she is most likely on a hiking trail or boating in north Florida.

MAJOR MENTORS: “Like most folks, my biggest mentors are people you’ve never heard of — my parents, my early teachers, and later in life some of my biggest mentors have been my classmates from MIT, many of whom are leading various organizations around the world.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “The opportunity to solve a large-scale problem by building a team of really smart and fun people. I have been lucky to work for a great company for a very long time, so being able to create growth and contribute to the Cox story is also very rewarding.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “My career advice, and advice for life in general, can be boiled down to two things — be true to yourself and do what you love. These two things should lead you to a good path.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Anything outdoors — hiking, kayaking, walking our dog, traveling somewhere beautiful or different, and of course spending time with family and friends — preferably over good food and drinks.”

Amy Winter

TITLE: Executive Vice President and General Manager, UP TV

WHY WE’RE WATCHING: Amy Winter oversees and offers creative guidance for UP TV’s brand and programming, including the development and production of movies, scripted series and unscripted series, as well as scheduling and acquisitions, marketing, public relations, digital and social media. Since joining the network, she has significantly re-energized its brand. Under the tagline “We Get Family,” UP increased its second-quarter ratings and saw its average audience age fall by almost 10 years. UP scored with a Gilmore Girls binge-a-thon that led up to the Netflix’s launch of new episodes of the series. Other originals and acquisitions include Growing Up McGhee; Small Town, Big Mayor; Bringing Up Bates and Parenthood. Winter joined UP in 2015 from Discovery Communications, where she was executive VP and general manager of TLC.

MAJOR MENTORS: “My mother, who taught me empathy and insight by constantly asking me ‘How would that make you feel?’ Eileen O’Neill, my former boss at Discovery, for her combination of competitive nature and compassion. Charley Humbard, CEO of UP, [who taught me] the fearlessness of being purpose-driven.”

LIKES MOST ABOUT HER JOB: “My favorite part of my job happens in two parts: the first is being in a room full of talented people as they get excited about an idea that we are bringing to life and watching as they take it on, own it and talk through how to make it even better. The second is when they return with the results of all their work — and it’s surprising and delightful and even better than you expected. The thing is, though, I expect to be delighted like that every time.”

BEST CAREER ADVICE: “I believe that the greatest creativity occurs in teams with trust. If you haven’t nurtured that environment even the most talented people can lose focus or play too safe or against each other and the work suffers because collaboration breaks down. It is a must to be competitive, but I’ll never understand why some environments turn that competition inwardly resulting in bad blood. We all want to win. Let’s win together.”

ENJOYS DURING DOWNTIME: “Now there’s a thought. What WOULD I do?”

The editors of Multichannel News are proud to introduce the 2017 class of Wonder Women, the 19th such class of accomplished and influential women from multichannel media industries to be honored by the magazine. The vision, commitment and leadership shown by these executives have fostered the success of their companies while driving overall industry growth and innovation.

Multichannel News is also recognizing 12 Women to Watch, whose ongoing contributions are emblematic of the vital roles they’re likely to play in the industry’s future. Additionally, MCN this year will honor CBS News veteran and 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl as the inaugural winner of the Woman of Influence award, honoring her career in electronic journalism.

This year’s Wonder Women class will be lauded March 23 at a gala luncheon at the New York Hilton, cohosted by the New York chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications. For much more on the event and on this year’s honorees, visit mcnwonderwomen.com. To read profiles and other editorial coverage of previous Wonder Women classes, click here.

PROFILES
Jana Bennett, History
Sandra Dewey, Turner
Laura Gentile, ESPN
Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, Univision
Colleen Langner, Cox
Susanne McAvoy, Crown Media Family Networks
Jamie Power, Modi Media
Linda Schupack, AMC and SundanceTV
Myrna Soto, Comcast
Christina Spade, Showtime
Sandra Stern, Lionsgate
Lisa Williams-Fauntroy, Discovery

WOMAN OF INFLUENCE
Leslie Stahl, CBS News

WOMEN TO WATCH

NEW YORK — “Stick with the people, always go with the people,” AMC Networks president of national advertising sales Arlene Manos said when it was her turn to share life lessons, career advice and a funny story or two as a Multichannel News Wonder Woman.

Manos, one of 13 executives in the current class of Wonder Women (as chosen by the editors of this magazine), followed her own advice 25 years ago in accepting a job officer as an account executive at A&E Network. She turned down a higher-paying position at a magazine she discreetly didn’t identify during her remarks at the celebratory luncheon last Thursday (March 10).

Manos got a promotion to management a year later. And she didn’t need to threaten violence, as fellow Wonder Woman Karen Grinthal, the Scripps Networks Interactive senior vice president of national ad sales, said she did in the late 1980s.

Grinthal told 700-plus attendees at the Hilton New York that she had been passed over for promotion to management three times when she started out at “male bastion” Turner Broadcasting System. When a fourth opportunity arose, she put aside the presentation she had prepared and got a baseball bat from the sports department. She held it over her boss’s head and told him, “This e_ ng job is mine — give it to me.”

“And that’s how I became a manager in the cable industry,” Grinthal said, in one of the day’s better punchlines.

Megan Clarken, president of global product leadership at Nielsen, and Cindi Hook, senior vice president, general auditor and global risk officer at Comcast, became business leaders after injuries short-circuited planned careers as, respectively, a track-and-field athlete and a dancer.

Clarken — who had left school at 16 and became “a broken-down athlete” in her late 20s — found in herself “a determination to be the very best there was at something, a resilience to never give up, a curiosity to listen, ask and learn — and an acknowledgement that you cannot do it on your own.”

Hook said that when it came time to choose a new path “shockingly, ‘general auditor’ and ‘global risk officer’ wasn’t on the menu of career choices.”

But it turns out the jobs require similar skills, she said. A mantra for ballerinas is, “If it doesn’t hurt, you’re not doing it right,” she said, adding, “When we are doing our work as auditors and risk evaluators, if getting to the right answer doesn’t sometimes hurt a bit, you’re not doing it right.”

Fox Group executive vice president of litigation Jill Ratner was a skilled soccer player whose love of sports led to a career in the law. While on the University of California at Los Angeles soccer team, she helped found a group that threatened to sue the school over failure to provide equal opportunities for men and women athletes. She learned about “teamwork, standing up for what I believe in, perseverance and the power of the law.”

Stephanie McMahon, chief brand officer of WWE and daughter of the wrestling entertainment firm’s chairman, Vince McMahon, and former, CEO Linda McMahon, told a story about learning that women shouldn’t feel they have to “do it all” all the time, and “it’s OK to let go a little bit and rely on our support systems to help care for our children.”

Her daughter, Murphy, was sad that McMahon was unable to be at school to see Murphy’s second-grade project about endangered sea turtles because of the Wonder Women luncheon. McMahon’s husband, wrestler Paul “Triple H” Levesque, filled in admirably, and father and daughter had a great bonding experience. “And now I get to go home and show them proof that Mommy really is a Wonder Woman.”

“All working women, mothers or not, are going to have to make personal sacrifices,” McMahon said. “It will never be an even balance. You do the best you can to prioritize and make it work.”

Pam Kaufman, the chief marketing officer and president of consumer products at Nickelodeon Group, recalled starting at Nick 18 years ago when she was “a young, naïve executive” who was eight months’ pregnant with her daughter, Amanda. She questioned whether or not she could handle a new job, a new company, leading a new team and still have “something left” for her family. It all worked out — and along the way she learned it’s important to always be nice to everyone, to stay curious and “don’t be afraid of what you don’t know.”

ESPN senior vice president of multimedia sales Patricia Betron said her mom, who returned to being a nurse to support her family after divorce, relied on babysitters, friends and relatives to help look after her four young kids. That was stressful on everyone, especially Betron and her siblings.

Then, in 2005, Betron served on an ESPN task force studying work-life balance issues — which, with support from key executives, led the company to build an on-site childcare center.

“I share this story with you today because, as we celebrate these Wonder Women, we celebrate how having women in high-ranking positions changes the conversation in our companies,” she said.

More of these stories — and those of fellow Wonder Women Nicole Buie, vice president of marketing at Cox Media; Holly Jacobs, EVP of U.S. reality and syndicated programming at Sony Pictures Television; Michelle Rice, EVP of content distribution and marketing at TV One; Savalle Sims, EVP and deputy general counsel at Discovery Communications; and Ellen Stone, EVP of marketing at Bravo and Oxygen Media — will be available as videos soon on mcnwonderwomen.com. Click here for photos from the luncheon. For more Wonder Women coverage, visit multichannel.com/mcnww.

The Multichannel News Wonder Women Class of 2016 will gather with the 2016 Women to Watch, their colleagues, friends and family, and the magazine's editors and publishers at the New York Hilton today to celebrate their selection as influential voices in cable.

The annual event, co-sponsored by WICT New York, begins at 11 a.m., with Shark Tank's Lori Greiner, HGTV's Egypt Sherrod (Property Virgins) and ESPN reporter Shelley Smith co-hosting the proceedings.

The editors of Multichannel News last December selected 2016's 13 Wonder Women and 13 Women to Watch. The Wonder Women being honored today are (in alphabetical order): Patricia Betron, ESPN; Nicole Buie, Cox Media; Megan Clarken, Nielsen; Karen Grinthal, Scripps Networks Interactive; Cindi Hook, Comcast; Holly Jacobs, Sony Pictures Television; Pam Kaufman, Nickelodeon; Arlene Manos, AMC Networks; Stephanie McMahon, WWE; Jill Ratner, Fox Group; Michelle Rice, TV One; Savalle Sims, Discovery Communications; Ellen Stone, Oxygen and Bravo Media.

The 2016 Women to Watch are (in alphabetical order): Margarita Black, Azteca America; Mary Campbell, QVC; Nina Facini, Time Warner Cable; Julie Fitzgerald, NCC Media; Jana Henthorn, The Cable Center; Alison Hoffman, Starz; Charisse Lillie, Comcast/Comcast Foundation; Kate O’Brian, Al Jazeera America; Stephanie Plasse, A+E Networks; Kristen Roberts, Crown Media Family Networks; Kristi Salmon, Mediacom Communications; Mona Scott-Young, Monami Entertainment; Christina Spade, Showtime Networks

Browse profiles of this year's Wonder Women and Women to Watch at the #mcnWW page, which features current and archival Wonder Women coverage, including the 2015 honoree profiles, reports from past luncheons and other stories. (Bookmark the page to check for updates as newly found archival material continues to be added.)

For details about the luncheon and to register, visit the Wonder Women event site, where you can also get bios of this year's honorees and hosts, watch videos of last year's event and view the honor roll of all Wonder Women dating back to 1999. Follow the event on Twitter via the hashtag #mcnWW2016 and by following @MultiNews, @MCNWonderWomen and @WICTNY.

Staffers at Denver-based The Cable Center are very much ready for Super Bowl 50 this Sunday, pitting their beloved (but underdog) Denver Broncos against the powerful Carolina Panthers in a matchup of younger (Carolina's Cam Newton) and older (Denver's Peyton Manning) top-gun quarterbacks.

Cable Center CEO (and head coach) Jana L. Henthorn, a member of the 2016 class of MCNWomen to Watch, led the celebration of "Bronco Friday" at the center, which is the nonprofit educational hub celebrating the cable industry.

Here's who's in the photo.

Back Row, L to R: Matt Hollingsworth, Brian Kenny, Nic van Dessel, Bethany Friday, Diane Christman, Jessica Weimer, Emily Gibson (hat tip to Emily for sending the photo).

Front Row, L to R: Luke Woodruff, Steve Luiting, Sarah Clausen, Jana L. Henthorn, Joyce Alden-Schuyler, Monsi Vazquez (Intern and 2015 TLC Say Yes to the Prom participant).

Following the recent announcement of the 2016 class of Wonder Women, the editors of Multichannel News have announced 13 Women to Watch.

Collectively, the Wonder Women and Women to Watch will be profiled in the Jan. 25, 2016, edition of Multichannel News, and they will be saluted at a luncheon event at the Hilton New York on Thursday, March 10, 2016, that is co-sponsored by the New York chapter of Women In Cable Telecommunications.

More information -- including photos and bios of the Wonder Women, event details and a roster (and videos) of past speeches from Wonder Women luncheons – is online now at mcnwonderwomen.com. Celebrity hosts will be named soon.

Here is the 2016 roster of Women to Watch (alphabetically):

Margarita Black, Vice President, Programming, Azteca America
Mary Campbell, Executive Vice President, Commerce Platform, QVC
Nina Facini, Group Vice President, Finance, TWC News, Sports and Local Programming, Time Warner Cable
Julie Fitzgerald, Senior Director, Satellite Engineering, NCC Media
Jana Henthorn, Incoming President and CEO, The Cable Center
Alison Hoffman, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Starz
Charisse Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment, Comcast, and President, Comcast Foundation
Kate O’Brian, President, Al Jazeera America
Stephanie Plasse, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel, A+E Networks
Kristen Roberts, Executive Vice President, Pricing, Planning and Revenue Management, Crown Media Family Networks
Kristi Salmon, Senior Director of Marketing, Business Services, Mediacom Communications
Mona Scott-Young, Founder and CEO, Monami Entertainment
Christina Spade, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Showtime Networks

They join the 2016 Class of Wonder Women: 

Patricia Betron, Senior Vice President, Multimedia Sales, ESPN
Nicole Buie, Vice President, Marketing, Cox Media
Megan Clarken, Executive Vice President, Global Product Leadership, Nielsen
Karen Grinthal, Senior Vice President, National Ad Sales, Scripps Networks Interactive
Cynthia Hook, Senior Vice President, General Auditor and Global Risk Officer, Comcast
Holly Jacobs, Executive Vice President, U.S. Reality And Syndicated Programming, Sony Pictures Television
Pam Kaufman, Chief Marketing Officer and President, Consumer Products, Nickelodeon Group
Arlene Manos, President, National Advertising Sales, AMC Networks.
Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE
Jill Ratner, Senior Vice President, Litigation, Fox Group
Michelle Rice, Executive Vice President, Content Distribution and Marketing, TV One
Savalle Sims, Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Discovery Communications
Ellen Stone, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Bravo and Oxygen Media

Fox Sports reporter Pam Oliver, who contributes sideline reports and  feature stories for the NFL on Fox, Fox NFL Sunday and network Fox Sports 1, has joined the team hosting Multichannel News's annual Wonder Women Luncheon. Oliver will take the dais along with NBC Dateline reporter Andrea Canning and CNN New Day morning program co-host Alisyn Camerota to honor the 2015 class at the New York Hilton on March 19.

The 2015 Wonder Women luncheon will fete Multichannel News's 17th annual class of 13 outstanding women in cable, telecommunications and related businesses; their photos and biographies are now on the relaunched mcnwonderwomen.com site, and their profiles will appear in the Jan. 26 edition of the magazine. Both the magazine and the event, co-sponsored by the New York chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), will also salute another 12 "Women to Watch."

Visit mcnwonderwomen.com for news and updates on the event, and keep up with the news on Twitter using the hashtag #WW2015.

Here is more information on Oliver:

Since joining NFL on FOX in 1995, Pam Oliver has established herself as one of the premier sports reporters on network television. Oliver, in her 19th year with FOX Sports, contributes feature stories and sideline reports for the NFL on Fox, Fox NFL Sunday and FOX Sports 1. Oliver also contributes to Turner Sports’ coverage of the NBA playoffs.

Fox Sports’ broadcast of Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 marked Oliver’s seventh championship assignment with Fox. Armed with the respect and esteem of NFL players and coaches, Oliver’s straightforward and open interviewing style consistently produces topical and substantive reports. In 2008, she was honored by WISE (Women In Sports and Events) and included in their “Women of the Year” class alongside Rita Benson LeBlanc, Owner and Executive Vice President, New Orleans Saints and Molly Solomon, Coordinating Producer, NBC Olympics.

Prior to joining Fox Sports, Oliver served as co-anchor of FSN South’s Southern Sports Report from 2000 to 2003. Prior to joining Fox Sports, Oliver served as a reporter at ESPN, where she gained football experience covering the NFL Playoffs and the NFC Championship game. In addition to her duties as feature reporter on NFL Prime Monday, she covered each Monday Night Football match-up. After the football season concluded, Oliver’s ESPN assignments included the NBA Finals and coverage of Dream Team II at the 1995 World Championships of Basketball.

Oliver began her broadcasting career as a community affairs reporter for public television. Prior to joining ESPN, Oliver worked at KHOU in Houston as a sports reporter and anchor for one year. Before moving to KHOU, she worked in a similar capacity at WTVT in Tampa. Oliver's additional television credits came at WIVB in Buffalo, WAAY in Huntsville, Ala., WALB in Albany, Ga., and WFSU in Tallahassee.

A graduate of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Oliver received her degree in broadcast journalism. As an undergraduate, she was an NCAA and AIAW track and field All-American in both the 400 meters and the mile relay. As a member of the mile relay team, Oliver had the distinction of participating on the first women's team from Florida A&M to win a national championship. She was inducted into the Florida A&M Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Born in Dallas, Oliver currently resides in Atlanta with her husband, Alvin.

The editors of Multichannel News have announced the 2015 class of Women To Watch who, like the Wonder Women named earlier, will be recognized at a luncheon event on March 19, 2015, at the Hilton New York.

The 12 Women To Watch appear in a celebratory ad in the upcoming edition of the magazine and you can read more about both 2015 classes in the relaunched microsite, mcnwonderwomen.com. The 2015 Wonder Women class includes four previous Women To Watch.

Here are the 2015 Women To Watch.

Theano Apostolou, EVP, Communications, Starz.

Lori Bernstein, SVP, Business and Legal Affairs, 20th Television.

Anne Cowan, SVP, Communications and Marketing, CTAM.

Rita Ferro, EVP, Disney Media Sales and Marketing.

Pam Kaufman, Consumer Products, CMO, Nickelodeon Group.

Carolina Lightcap, Head of Content, General Manager, Southern Cone, Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic.

Susanne McAvoy, EVP of Marketing, Creative, and Communications, Crown Media Family Networks.

Julie Nolan, Chief People Officer, Simulmedia.

D’Angela Proctor, SVP of Programming and Production, TV One.

Beatrice Springborn, Head of Originals, Hulu.

Ellen Stone, EVP of Marketing, Bravo and Oxygen Media.

Kristen Morrissey Thiede, Head of Business Development, Google Fiber.

Profiles of the 2015 Wonder Women and Women To Watch will appear in the Jan. 26 edition of Multichannel News.