Turner's Trailblazing Women
The goal was to tie in to TCM’s Trailblazing Women of Hollywood. We went four better: four weeks of profiles of Turner’s trailblazing women.
All this month, we are continuing our series Turner’s Trailblazing Women, highlighting super amazing women all over Turner who break new ground and set the tone for the future of our company. And this time we’re going global! We sat down with 8 inspiring women from all over the world to talk innovation, trailblazing and special superpowers…
TurnerNow: What accomplishment have you made at Turner of which you are most proud?
Jennifer Cohen (SVP, Entertainment Content Partnerships): The relationship with the team at CONAN. Working with the show on innovative partnership opportunities has been a true passion and joy for me. Being a part of a team that has led the way in late night for advertisers while keeping true to the voice of CONAN is something special that I am grateful to be a part of.
Lisa Griffin (Vice President, Entertainment Finance): I am most proud of those individuals I’ve had the opportunity to mentor, sponsor and advocate for throughout their careers. Additionally, years ago, within the Finance and Accounting organization I assisted in created a tool we called “Career Pathing within F&A”. This tool outlined all roles within F&A, the required skillsets and classes you could take to help prepare you for the next step in your career, which in some cases might be a lateral move.
Jennifer Kim (VP, Original Programming, TBS): When Kevin Reilly joined Turner, he asked us what we wanted TBS to look like. Brett, Thom and I decided to mock up a “look book” with our values, goals and our definition of success. We wanted to develop shows WE would watch. I would have never guessed that what began as a silly arts and crafts project would ultimately become the genesis of our brand evolution. I'm extremely proud to say that we accomplished our goals—launching 6 series in the first year- a 7th series this year, and 6 more in the pipeline!
Ellana Lee (SVP, Managing Editor, CNN International): I have been at Turner for more than 20 years so there have been plenty of moments over the past two decades where I’ve been so proud to work at CNN. The most recent example is last month’s special documentary ‘Secret State: Inside North Korea’ which was an exclusive one-hour special report that took viewers inside the secretive nation to places few outsiders have ever been including the first ever ascent by CNN of Mount Paektu, a sacred site for North Koreans. This special was years in the making and an extraordinary team effort with people involved from many different parts of the business.
TN: How have you tried to innovate or question conventional thinking in your role at Turner?
Rebecca Kutler (Vice President Content Development and Contributors): You can’t be afraid of failure – I’ve had cancelled shows, bad pilots, poor talent choices. Some managers retreat from failure into the safety of narrow thinking and conservative choices. I’ve tried to push against this – failure is a badge of honor. It means we tried something new. I like to embrace failure. I think as a company we should talk more openly about our failures and what we’ve learned from those mistakes.
Isabel Otero (Affiliate Sales Executive Director, North Region LATAM): This is a time of deep transformation for our company and our industry as a whole and therefore the perfect time for me to challenge my own way of thinking. I try to avoid approaching challenges through the lens of the past but rather by picturing what I want our future to be. We have a strong history of success, but we are confident that we have an even better future ahead of us.
Hania Poole (VP/GM NCAA Digital and Catch Sports): I think the way I innovate is sometimes quiet, sometimes loud. I push as hard as I can for a fan-first experience for March Madness Live, which means debating tough topics with TCD, Ad Sales, CBS. Less pre-rolls, more preview experiences, virtual reality. In the end, I have to compromise, but I just can’t live with acquiescing to the accepted norm if I know it’s a bad fan experience. But, sometimes, that’s the case. Doesn’t mean you don’t stop fighting.
TN: Who blazed a path for you?
Roxanne Cloutier (SVP, Business Applications, Systems & Tech): My parents are the true definition of trailblazers. They came to the US from Jamaica, worked extremely hard and excelled in the telecom and banking industries. They demonstrated and instilled in me the importance of integrity, excellence, hard work and humility. They also taught me to never stop learning and to always embrace challenges to grow stronger.
Ellana Lee: It was mom. For her, growing up in South Korea in a male-dominated society wasn’t easy. She was a trailblazer who became the youngest congresswoman in the country at the time.
Hania Poole: Outside of work, my mother. She was a doctor who immigrated from the Middle East in 1969 and came here knowing little to no English. To be a female doctor in the Middle East at that time was beyond trailblazing.
TN: Who was one of your biggest supporters along the way (boss, mentor, man or woman), and what lessons did you learn from them?
Jennifer Cohen: Dan Riess. He has never quieted my voice or made me feel insignificant with my ideas. He values my opinions and taught me to do the same. Every day he encourages me to live up to my potential - and every day I try to go beyond.
Rebecca Kutler: My current boss, Amy Entelis, starts most conversations with a simple question “What can I do for you” – this is a great lesson in how you treat your employees at every level.
Isabel Otero: I have had the great fortune of having not just one, but two awesome mentors. Gustavo Minaker, my current boss, and Whit Richardson have both always looked out for me and my career growth.
TN: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Roxanne Cloutier: I wanted to become a doctor. I love solving complex problems and helping people. My role at Turner allows me to do both. I still have a passion for medicine, health and healing. It’s become one of my hobbies.
Lisa Griffin: I wanted to go to law school and become the honorable Lisa Griffin - a judge.
Jeniffer Kim: DJ/record producer/fashion designer ;)
TN: What do you want women who are early in their tenure at Turner to know?
Roxanne Cloutier: Your opportunities at Turner are endless. Think beyond your current role and find opportunities that leverage your unique strengths. Do not doubt or underestimate yourself. Always accept feedback as a gift. Find and develop your strengths and never stop learning. Find a mentor as well as a mentee to constantly challenge your thinking.
Lisa Griffin: Become proficient in your role and within a year or two, branch out and get connected with other women outside your group and immediate partners. Stay curious!!!
Jeniffer Kim: To believe in yourself, invest in mentors and aim big.
Rebecca Kutler: Work hard and then keep working hard and then work harder. Take every opportunity, even it means moving to another city, working overnights, tolerating a less than ideal boss. One of the best ways to succeed is to say “yes” when everyone else is saying “no.”
Hania Poole: That you don’t have to figure it all out by age 29. That you don’t have to be who you are not to change things, or to succeed. And that, ultimately, hard work, results and integrity are what matter.
TN: What’s your secret superpower?
Roxanne Cloutier: Perhaps not quite a “superpower”, I would say perception and reading people's reactions have greatly guided me and impacted my personal and professional life. I ask a lot of questions and read reactions to try to keep things moving.
Jennifer Cohen: Listening.
Lisa Griffin: My super power is a timely and appropriate smile.
Jennifer Kim: I can function pretty well with very little sleep - does that count?
Hania Poole: Being two places at one time (Okay- it’s what I WANT my superpower to be).
TN: Who’s your favorite super hero? Real or fictional.
Jennifer Cohen: Winnie the Pooh – that little bear knows some things.
Rebecca Kutler: Peppa Pig – it’s the constant soundtrack playing in the background at my house each morning.
Ellana Lee: My favorite ‘little’ super hero is my 5-year-old nephew. Anyone who knows a 5-year-old will know exactly what I mean.
Roxanne Cloutier: I recently discussed this with my daughter. If we're talking about a fictional superhero, I would say Wonder Woman. She is fearless, confident, strong, yet humble. She has the perfect combination of strength and compassion. That powerful combination is what I constantly strive for in both my personal and professional life.
Isabel Otero: For me, I’m a fan of real people who want to change the world with what they do, make their life and others better, fight fear and push to accomplish their dreams.
