2008 WICT Leadership Conference Highlights

Leadership Excellence in Changing Times

Over 700 people attended this year's remarkable even which was held in New York City on March 5 and 6.

This year 's conference theme, " Leadership Excellence in Changing Times", focused on the belief that amid the transition of new technologies, alternative revenue streams and even streamlined businesses, the success of the industry lies with leadership excellence.

The numerous conference seminars provided attendees with the access to strengthen their own leadership excellence; reinforce skills; discover trends; cultivate management style; learn from smart leaders; and, connect with other cable professionals.

WICT would like to thank all the speakers, participants, Town Hall luncheon hosts, our corporate sponsors and especially the conference planning committee, for making the 2008 WICT Leadership Conference such a huge success.

To relive the sessions or experience them for the first time check out the photos in this WICT Wire issue.

 The WICT Leadership Conference was presented by:

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Opening Keynote: Being the Best You Can Be!
Presented by Rainbow Media

From right to left: Josh Sapan, President and CEO, Rainbow Media; Dr. Maya Angelou, opening keynote speaker; Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President & CEO, WICT; Jennifer Dangar, Chair, WICT Board of Directors and SVP, Domestic Distribution, Discovery Communications [return to top]

Politcal Savvy: Knowing and Using Your Brand

During this enlightening discussion, the panel discussed how to discover your brand and incorporate it into your professional journey. The panel shared the importance of putting your brand to work for you. From being prepared with the "elevator speech" to developing savvy about communicating your brand, attendees learned how to focus their brand so that they stand out from competition and take lead in their career.

From left to right: Rod Stoddard, SVP, Communications and Public Affairs,NCTA,;Genevieve Bos, Co-founder and publisher, PINK Magazine; Shannon Cassidy, Founder and Executive Director, bridge between, inc.;  Ellen Kroner, SVP, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC; Yvette Gordon-Kanouff, Chief Strategy Officer, SeaChange International; Laura Masse, EVP, Marketing, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel

From left to right: Rod Stoddard, SVP, Communications and Public Affairs, NCTA; Yvette Gordon-Kanouff, Chief Strategy Officer, SeaChange International; Francie Leader, VP, Eastern Region, Superstation WGN; Shannon Cassidy, Founder and Executive Director, bridge between, inc.; Ellen Kroner, SVP, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC; Laura Masse, EVP, Marketing, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel; Genevieve Bos, Co-founder and publisher, PINK Magazine; Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President & CEO, WICT [return to top]

Seek Out and Employ: Identifying and Engaging Leadership Potential

With the increased competition in the marketplace there is increased competition from both emerging and established leaders. How do companies keep and mature employees with high leadership potential? This panel discussed these challenges and shared their insight into how to spot potential leaders, how to provide the opportunities to draw out and develop leadership skills and how to keep these leaders engaged.

From right to left:  Pat Crull, VP and Chief Learning Officer, Time Warner Cable; Judy Girard, President, SVP, Strategic Programming Initiatives, Scripps Networks; Maude DiVittis, Founder, ExecOnBoard, LLC; Beverly Kaye, Founder/CEO, Career Systems International.

From left to right: Pat Crull, VP and Chief Learning Officer, Time Warner Cable; Judy Girard, President, SVP, Strategic Programming Initiatives, Scripps Networks; Maude DiVittis, Founder, ExecOnBoard, LLC; Beverly Kaye, Founder/CEO, Career Systems International.   [return to top]

Rarified Air: One of a Kind Leaders

Being a leader is an accomplishment in and of itself. But, what does it take to lead where others have not gone before you? This panel of phenomenal female leaders, who have all achieved break-through successes in their fields, shared their stories of inspiration, reflected on risks and challenges and revealed how they stay true to their vision.

Jeanette Lee, the "Black Widow", showing Cindy McConkey, SVP, Corporate Communications, Scripps Networks and Michelle Buchanan, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory how to shoot pool.

From left to right: Cindy McConkey, SVP, Corporate Communications, Scripps Networks; Jeanette Lee, the "Black Widow", professional billards champion; Kay Koplovitz, Founder USA Network, Chairman of the Board, Liz Claiborne, Inc., Chairman and CEO, Koplovitz & Company; Michelle Buchanan, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Andrea Immer Robinson, Author and Master Sommelier

From left to right: Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President & CEO, WICT; Jeanette Lee, the "Black Widow", professional billards champion; Kay Koplovitz, Founder USA Network, Chairman of the Board, Liz Claiborne, Inc., Chairman and CEO, Koplovitz & Company; Michelle Buchanan, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Cindy McConkey, SVP, Corporate Communications, Scripps Networks; Andrea Immer Robinson, Author and Master Sommelier    [return to top]

Corporate Culture- Understanding the Lay of the Land

The importance of understanding organizational culture cannot be overlooked. Organizational culture is something which can be perceived but not felt, sensed but not seen. An organization's culture defines appropriate and in appropriate behavior and can play a role in your own success. A panel of top executives explored the importances of organizational culture and the impact on individual and organizational success. Attendees learned behaviors that defined corporate culture and how to assess them; the importance of matching individual values with organizational culture and the role you play in reinforcing or transforming an organization's culture.

From left to right: Susan Scott, Consultant; Ellen East, Chief Communications Officer, Time Warner Cable; Kathy Payne, VP, Programming, Cox Communications; Kelly Regal, EVP, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. [return to top]

Technology: De-Mystifying What's New in Our Industry

During this session, industry experts provided an overview of the hottest technologies for 2008 & 2009, with a focus on what will impact the cable telecommunications industry. Attendees discovered the viewpoints from the cable operator, programmer, vendor and competitor and how they plan to use the new technologies in their sectors. The panel also discussed new trends and shared helpful insights to take back to the job, including the most recent information on such technologies as Open Cable and SDV.

From left to right: Leslie Ellis, Independent Technology Analyst Columnist and Author; Stephanie Mitchko, VP, Interactive Platform Development, Technology, Cablevision System Corporation; Beth Halvorson, VP, Strategic Accounts, Wholesale Division, Qwest Communications; Deanna Brown, President, Scripps Networks Interactive; Susie Riley, CTO, Camiant [return to top]

Networking Reception
Presented by Lifetime Networks

From left to right: Andrea Wong, President and CEO, Lifetime Networks; Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President & CEO, WICT [return to top]

What'd You Say? Communication Across the Generations

There are now four generations working side-by-side in the workplace: from the "traditionalists" to "boomers" to generation "X" and "Y." Not only are their expectations for their professional lives varied, so is how they communicate. How can companies become more flexible with these different groups while maintaining obligations? During this session panelist discussed what business leaders need to know about generational differences and how to leverage them successfully. The panel also explored the impact of changing family patterns, how the next generation of leaders defines success and several other eye-opening generational traits.

From left to right: Erika Andersen, Founder, Proteus International, Inc.; Lori Lebas, SVP, Strategic Business Operations, Disney and ESPN Media Networks; Jennifer Caserta Priore, EVP, Marketing, Communications, Scheduling and Alternative Platforms, IFC; Jennifer Goforth, VP, Online Production, Scripps Networks Interactive; Amy Tykeson, President, CEO & Chairman, BendBroadband

From left to right: Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President & CEO, WICT; Amy Tykeson, President, CEO & Chairman, BendBroadband; Erika Andersen, Founder, Proteus International, Inc.; Lori Lebas, SVP, Strategic Business Operations, Disney and ESPN Media Networks; Jennifer Caserta Priore, EVP, Marketing, Communications, Scheduling and Alternative Platforms, IFC; Jennifer Goforth, VP, Online Production, Scripps Networks Interactive       [return to top]

State of the Industry

A no holds-barred look at where the industry stands today by examining the immense changes taking place and identifying the key trends industry leaders see emerging from the chaos. Status quo has left the building and change is the key industry players these days. Attendees gained unique insight into what top leaders see in the immediate future and what they predict for the long haul.

From left to right: Maggie Bellville, Partner, Carter/Baldwin; Meredith Flynn-Ripley, CEO, Integra5; Benjamin Swinburne, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley; Mimi Thigpen, VP, Strategy, Cox Communications, Inc.; Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group

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Guys Do It All the Time!

There's a perception that men use different tactics than women to succeed in business. Myth or fact? If it's a fact, what are some of those tactics? Are men connecting over sports talk, sporting events or fantasy leagues? And what about women? Are they already using some of these tactics? And are they using their own passions to connect with others in business? The panel shared with attendees how they've found success and if they believe there is a gender difference in how man and women succeed in business today.

From left to right: Tony White, SVP, Marketing, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel; Kim Martin, EVP and General Manager, WE tv; Bob DeBitetto, EVP and General Manager, A&E; Ann Carlsen, CEO and Founder, Carlsen Resources, Inc.; Sara Laschever, Author

From left to right: Kim Martin, EVP and General Manager, WE tv; Tony White, SVP, Marketing, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel; Ann Carlsen, CEO and Founder, Carlsen Resources, Inc.; Bob DeBitetto, EVP and General Manager, A&E;  Sara Laschever, Author     [return to top]

Closing Keynote: Leadership Lessons Learned from the Firing Line
Presented by Time Warner Cable

Anne Mulcahy, CEO and Chairman, Xerox Corporation [return to top]

Congratulations Early Bird Renewal

Congratulations to Carol Crawford with Scripps Networks-Great American Country who won $100 gift certificate to GiftCertificates.com for her early bird membership renewal.

Renew by no later than March 31 and make the most of your WICT membership. (2007 members who are part of group renewal process through their companies don’t need to act).  Act today to continue receiving the monthly WICT Catalyst, a digest of business articles to keep you up-to-date and on top of your game.  Keep your access to WICT members and peer-to-peer networking and shared best practices.  Participate in year-round WICT Chapter and National professional development

Three easy ways to Renew Today:

• By Phone:  Call 703.234.9817.
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• By Mail:  Send back the renewal invoice mailed to you (a third notice drops this week).