Cox Communications president Pat Esser and cable-network executives Rich Cronin, Tony Fox and Geraldine Laybourne will be guest speakers this fall at the Cable Center’s Maverick Lecture Series.
The program introduces college students to leading cable companies by presenting top executives who share their business perspectives, insights and experience.
Through case studies, discussion and career advice, Mavericks exposes the next generation to the opportunities, challenges, innovation and entrepreneurial approaches characteristic of the cable and telecommunications industries.
The program kicks off Sept. 19 with Esser sharing insights with students at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The fall series continues with leaders from some of the most innovative companies in cable, including Laybourne, founder and CEO of Oxygen; Fox, executive vice president of corporate communications at Comedy Central, Spike and TV Land; and Cronin, president of GSN.
The program reaches students at a number of leading colleges and universities including UCLA, New York University and Northwestern University.
Following is a complete lineup of Mavericks fall semester lectures.
• Sept. 19: Esser;
• Oct. 2: Fox, University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business;
• Oct. 18: Laybourne at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management;
• Oct. 23: Carol Mechanic, senior VP, programming, Showtime; and Dawn Callahan, VP of marketing, Time Warner Cable, at Smith College with students from Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, Hampshire College and University of Massachusetts-Amherst;
• Oct. 25: Chris Moseley, former executive VP at Hallmark Channel, at NYU’s Stern School of Business;
• Nov. 2: Evan Shapiro, executive VP and general manager at The Independent Film Channel, at University of Texas, Austin, College of Communications;
• Nov. 9: Cronin and John Roberts, senior VP, interactive and online entertainment, GSN, at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Additional speakers confirmed for 2007 lectures include Doug Holloway, president of cable investments at NBC Universal; Dom Stasi, chief technology officer, TVN Entertainment; Bob Zitter, executive VP and CTO, HBO; and Laureen Ong, president, National Geographic Channel.
