Emboldened
By The Emma Bowen Foundation Alumni Association
Emboldened's mission and vision is to bring the Emma Bowen Foundation community together. So that means you.
By giving listeners exclusive access to trailblazers and influential decision makers in the media industry.
EmboldenedAug 19, 2020
Niéna Drake: Stay Ready, Get Ready, Be Ready
Niéna is a highly respected Emmy Award-Winning Showrunner + Executive Producer, Director & DJ who has increased revenue, engagement, and diversity for major brands, media, and tech companies. Her television work includes on-camera appearances, hosting, developing, and producing for television and digital networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, OWN, Disney, Showtime, and more.
Niéna talks about image and reputation and being your authentic self. She also shares what got her into DJing from such a young age. Listen more to Niéna's story on this episode.
Willie Sanchez - Incubation of Podcast
Willie Sanchez is an experienced multi-media professional with 25+ years of experience in all media formats. He works as a senior director of digital operations at Fox News Radio. Willie shares his journey in the podcast world, what started it, and how it looks today. He also shares his experience on what it is like proposing ideas in the workplace. He encourages listeners to remember a simple "No" doesn't mean, "No, never," it means "No, not right this second" and to keep working on those ideas you might have.
Tracy Lawrence: Knowing Who You Are
Our guest Tracy L. Lawrence is the Founder and CEO of The Lawrence Advisory. The Lawrence Advisory is known for hiring, coaching, and building high-performing teams, emphasizing innovation and performance. Lawrence was recently named the first Executive-in-Residence at USC’s Marshall School of Business.
Before launching The Lawrence Advisory, Tracy Lawrence led the Los Angeles-based consumer and Entertainment practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, one of the world’s largest recruiting and assessment firms. Previously, Lawrence served as General Manager of Fox Family Channel, leading the cable network until its sale to The Walt Disney Company for more than five billion dollars, the most significant price ever paid for a cable network.
Lawrence uses her real-world expertise to advise Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, asset management companies, media and technology companies, and nonprofits in creating teams that drive growth and performance. She has held leadership roles at Viacom, Kraft, Nestle, and PWC.
Landrie Hatcher: 3 Pillars
Our guest Landrie Hatcher is a multimedia producer residing in Los Angeles, CA. He has over 8 years of industry experience specializing in television, film & event production. Landrie currently produces lifestyle content for Architectural Digest & SELF Magazine and is in the process of building his own health & wellness business. His largest passions in life include anything that gets him outdoors and experiencing new things daily. When not busy with work, Landrie can be found traveling, hiking with his puppy, and enjoying seafood. Landrie is a graduate of Howard University and a former Emma Bowen Fellow.
Kathy Johnson: Paving the Way
Our guest Kathy Johnson is a consultant and principal at The Lawrence Advisory, a human-capital consulting firm that offers Executive Search, Organizational Development, Leadership Coaching, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consulting. She brings extensive leadership experience from both the corporate and non-profit sectors and a track record of success in building organizational capacity, infrastructure, and leadership programs to drive workforce diversity.
Brad Billington: Storytelling Through Different Mediums
As we enter a new season with Adrienne Perkins and Zion Baldwin as hosts, we talk to Brad Billington a former Emma Bowen Foundation Alumni. He now works as a full-time field producer for the network's new in-house production company -- ABC News Studios, where he will lead field shoots for documentaries airing on Hulu, Disney +, Nat Geo, and ABC News Network. Before entering his role Brad learned all parts of the newsroom. He found passion in storytelling but wanted to share their stories with more time. Now, he can.
"Ultimately. I want to just look back on my career and say how many people I have been able to help by telling their stories," Brad Billington.
Neima Abdulahi and Marquise Reflect on Season 2
Neima and Marquise look back on another blockbuster season of conversations with Emma Bowen Foundation alumni, board members, and supporters of the foundation. Our first two seasons packed with insights, lessons, and fun anecdotes from some of the most influential and powerful people in the media business.
Rob Kennedy - Innovation, Evolution, Self Development
Our guest today is none other than Rob Kennedy, President and co-Chief Executive Officer of C-SPAN. Mr. Kennedy wrote the company's first business plan for the startup cable network during its inception. He's also a long time Emma Bowen Foundation board member, friend and supporter.
Rachel Scott - Balance, Drive, Faith
Our guest today is a proud alum of the Emma Bowen Foundation. Rachel Scott is the Congressional Correspondent reporting from Capitol hill across all ABC News programs and platforms.
William Strahan - Connection, Optimism, Insights
Our guest today is William Strahan, Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Comcast. He's responsible for all aspects of HR from talent compensation, benefits, learning employee and labor relations.
Bill has been involved in various aspects of Human Resources work for over 35 years. He began his career with over a decade of work at Macy’s Department Stores and Riggs National Bank. The second decade of Bill’s work included practicing law in Washington, D.C. in the area of Compensation and Benefits – mostly in the context of mergers and acquisitions and in initial public offerings. For nine years, Bill was a consultant and manager at Mercer HR Consulting.
Bill holds a B.A. in Religion from Villanova University; and a Juris Doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law. He is an Active Member of the Virginia State Bar.
Asjia Garner - Gratitude, Paying it Forward, Work/Life Balance
Our guest today is Asjia Garner, Communications Coordinator to the First Lady of the United States.
She focuses on strategic communications in elevating Mrs. Biden's message. Asjia graduated from California State University in 2019 in just two years she has done so much in a little bit of time. While at EBF, she interned at Warner Brothers for three summers and even snagged an internship at NBC through NAHJ.
Dr. Rahsaan Harris - Innovation, Growth, and Family
Dr. Rahsaan Harris, CEO of the Citizens Committee for NYC, and former CEO and President of the Emma Bowen Foundation. Dr. Harris, who has more than 20 years of experience leading nonprofits and international grantmaking, partnering with communities to make local investments, and promoting community organizing, is Citizens Committee’s first black CEO in the organization’s 45-year history. More...
Katherine Barnett - Courage, Dedication, and Legacy
Chairwoman of the Emma Bowen Foundation board of directors, Katherine Barnett was promoted in 2019 to senior vice president of human resources for Hearst Television after having served as vice president of human resources for Hearst Television since June 2013. She joined the company in 2012 as senior director of human resources. She oversees the company’s efforts in the areas of recruiting, personnel management and employee relations, and has significantly expanded the company’s efforts in the areas of diversity and military recruitment.
Delia McGee: Commitment, Mentoring, Lifting Others
Our guest today is none other than DeliaMcGee, Senior Business Analyst, Portfolio Operations at Peacock for NBC Universal. Prior to that, she spent five years at HBO, but you all know her as the current President of the Emma Bowen Alumni Foundation.
EXPERIENCE
October 19 - Present
Senior Business Analyst, Peacock TV
March 2017 - October 2019
Associate Business Analyst, HBO
September 2014 - March 2017
Process Management Coordinator
May 2010 - June 2014
Scholar, Emma Bowen Foundation
Sue Suh: Curiosity, Journey, and Culture
Sue Suh is the Chief People Officer of TIME, the iconic media company where she focuses on culture, building recruitment, human resources, and so much more.
Experience
Dec 2018 - Present
Chief People Officer, TIME
Oct 2014 - Dec 2018
Various roles as Interim Director, Chief Talent Officer, Acting Director of Employee Services, and Managing Director Bellagio and Fellows program - The Rockefeller Foundation
2010-2012
Director of Community Outreach, Board of Directors, The Kind Exchange
2009-2012
Member, Operational Advisory Council, Impact Investment Exchange Asia
May 2006 - Feb 2009
Various roles as Special Assistant and Director, And Interim Director - The Rockefeller Foundation
2001-2006
Multiple roles at U.S. Department of State
Jan 2002 - Aug 2002
Presidential Management Fellow, U.S. Department of Defense
1996 - 1997
Fullbright, Korea
[This podcast is sponsored by Crown Media and Fox Television Stations]
Meet the hosts: Neima Abdulahi and Marquise Francis
We've been introducing significant people in the last few months on the podcast. Now it's time to introduce ourselves as the co-hosts of the Emboldened podcast, and talk about just how much the foundation has not only shaped us, but this industry.
Rodney Hawkins: Mentorship, Diversity, Opportunity
Our guest today is Rodney Hawkins, CBS News Producer, and one of Emma Bowen's newest board members.
Since 2011, Rodney has risen up the ranks at CBS from a broadcast associate to a 2012 Joe Biden off-air reporter to an associate producer at CBS this morning to a full blown national producer.
EXPERIENCE
CBS News
- 2016 - Present, Producer
- 2014 - 2016, Associate Producer
- 2013 - Digital Journalist
- 2012 - Presidential Election Off-Air Reporter
- 2011 - Broadcast Associate
Emma Bowen Foundation Fellow
- 2007 - 2010, Fox Television Stations
New York Times
- 2010 - Video Journalist
Michael Powell: Opportunity, Vision, Moral Character
We are so lucky to have Michael Powell today. CEO of the Internet and Television Association, formally the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.
"Michael K. Powell is the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nominated by President Bill Clinton and sworn in on November 3, 1997. He served as a member of the FCC for eight years during which time he was designated its chair by President George W. Bush in January 2001 and continued in that capacity until April 2005.
During his time as FCC chair, Chairman Powell oversaw the rapid transformation of communications markets into the Digital Age. During his tenure, the Internet came into widespread commercial use, as did smart phones, Wi-Fi networks and satellite radio.
In his current role as President & CEO of NCTA - The Internet & Television Association, Mr. Powell leads one of the largest trade associations in Washington, D.C., representing the communications and content industries. Prior public service includes Chief of Staff of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and service as an armored cavalry officer in U.S. Army. In the private sector he practiced law and was a senior advisor in a private equity firm. Chairman Powell also served on the boards of Cisco and AOL.
Chairman Powell serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Mayo Clinic, The William and Mary Foundation and America’s Promise Alliance. At America’s Promise, he co-chairs the Grad Nation project, an effort to address the high school dropout crisis.
Powell received his bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary and also holds an honorary doctorate from the College. He also served as Rector of the school’s Board of Visitors. He received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center." - NCTA
EXPERIENCE
- President and CEO, NCTA
April 2011 - present - Chairman, FCC
1997-2001
Patricia Jordan: Positive, Determined, Focused
Henry Rivera: Foundation, Mentorship, Stewardship
Henry is an internationally recognized communications expert, author, speaker, and conference leader. A former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner, this highly experienced practitioner has been named one of the District of Columbia’s “Super Lawyers,” among The Best Lawyers in America in Communications Law and named by Lawdragon as one of “500 Leading Lawyers in America.” He has also been singled out as a “Leading Lawyer” by Chambers USA and named among the top 12 Telecom experts in the U.S. by Legal Media Group’s Best of the Best.
EXPERIENCE
- Partner, Wiley Rein LLP
- Member, Federal Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State
- Chairman and Member, Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity in the Digital Age, Federal Communications Commission
- Co-Head, Agency Review Team, Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team
- Member, Advanced Television Field Test Technical Oversight Committee, Federal Communications Commission
- Member, Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, Federal Communications Commission
- Federal Communications Commission
- -> Member, Federal-State Joint Board on Separations
- -> Commissioner
- -> Chairman, Advisory Committee on Alternative Financing for Minority Opportunities in Telecommunication
- -> Supervisory Commissioner, Telecommunications Industry Advisory Group to Revise Uniform System of Acc
Nikki Bethel: Vision, Unafraid, Vulnerable
We welcome our guest Nikki Bethel. Ms. Bethel is the current interim CEO of the Emma Bowen Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation she was the Senior Vice President of talent management for HBO and responsible for overseeing the areas of talent, acquisition, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.
Nikki helped with recruitment and engagement, executive leadership, coaching management, training, and professional development. She also oversaw culture and talent assessments, succession planning, and organizational strategy and team development.
EXPERIENCE
HBO, SVP Talent Management
2003- Present
A-List Inc., Consultant
2001-2003
Morgan Stanley, Associate, Global Diversity
2000-2001
Merril Lynch, Human Resources Associate
1998-2000
Pat Younge: Improve, Be Open, Push
Our guest today is media executive, Patrick Younge. He launched his own consultancy and content production company, Cardiff Productions, after running BBC productions, the world's largest TV content creation business. Prior to BBC, he led a successful joint venture transaction of the Travel Channel Media valuing business at 1 billion in 2009.
And while at BBC, he was the most senior black executive for the company, and has always believed there's more that can be done to increase diversity at all levels. Mr. Younge is an executive with international experience at senior levels in journalism, production, public service, television, digital media, and more
- Travel Channel Media, President/General Manager
- Discovery, President/General Manager
- BBC, Producer
Gio Benitez: Proud, Appreciation, Onward and Upward
ABC News Correspondent, Gio Benitez, is our esteemed guest today. He is currently the transportation correspondent for ABC News based in both New York and Washington, D C., and he may be one of the first reporters to shoot a story on an iPhone?
Gio is the epitome of what makes the Emma Bowen foundation. Great. He works hard. He started working at a local station in Florida working his way up to NYC. And now the sky is the limit.
EXPERIENCE
Jack Abernethy, CEO, FOX Television Stations
FOX Television Stations is a founding partner of the Emma Bowen Foundation's program and have been integral to the success of the program. FTS has consistently taken on the largest number of fellows each summer, and they have given over 65 alumni their start in the industry as interns. Over thirty-five alumni have continued their careers at FTS. The company has the highest number of Student of the Year winners, 34%, since the award has been given out in 2001.
Our guest today is Jack Abernathy, CEO of Fox Television Stations since 2004. In this role, he oversees 29 owned and operated FOX Television Stations in the nation's largest television markets.
The FOX Television Stations are industry leaders based on the growth and success of locally produced programming, which have more than doubled under Abernathy's leadership with over 1000 hours of locally produced news each week, and more than any other owned and operated broadcast group.
We would like recognize and thank FTS for sponsoring the EBF virtual summer conference and this podcast!
Robert Apter: Hope, Integrity, Devotion
Our special guest this week is one of the founding members of the foundation. Robert Apter is the former senior vice president for finance and administration at ABC Sports.
Mr. Apter ensured the foundation was off to a good start and on solid ground for thirty years. As the treasurer and finance committee chair he is responsible for making sure the funding is coming in, accounted for, and spent in a responsible way to ensure the longevity of the foundation.
He has also mentored many students in the program and still keeps touch with them to this day. The foundation means a lot to Mr. Apter and it is his hope that "people who listen to this podcast can get a sense of how devoted we all are to it."
Sanda Rice: Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Sandra Rice has served as the senior vice president of national recruitment at the Emma Bowen Foundation for 22 years. In October of 2019 she moved on to a new role to serve as the senior vice president of outreach and strategic partnerships for the Center for Talent Innovation.
In this episode she will share her why. Why she got involved with the foundation, and why she dedicated her life to building up the next generation of talented minorities interested in the media industry.
Any fellow from the program will undoubtedly have a story or two or three to share about Ms. Rice. Quite a few of them include receiving an email with a subject line of "Please call me...". There is no doubt that each student called Sandra as soon as possible. Sandra remembers many of the fellows when they were in the program, what they were like as they were growing up, and maintains a connection with them well into their careers at major media organizations. She shares why she was so dedicated to the success of the fellows, the partners, and the programs.
"I wanted our Emma Bowen and any other interns to feel like they belong to that company and how that, how they could bring their best selves to fill up so they could climb the ladder and, and succeed."
EXPERIENCE
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OUTREACH AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS- The Center for Talent Innovation
Dec 2019 – Present
- SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT—NATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Jan 2012 – Nov 2019
- VICE PRESIDENT—EASTERN REGION
Sep 2000 – Feb 2012
- REGIONAL DIRECTOR—WESTERN REGION
Nov 1997 – Sep 2000
- MARKETING MANAGER—ABC DAYTIME
Sep 1992 – Nov 1997
- MANAGER—DISTRIBUTION
Sep 1984 – Sep 1992
- COORDINATOR OF AWARDS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Sep 1980 – Sep 1984
Phylis Eagle-Oldson: Evolution, Quality, Family
Our inaugural guest is an instrumental figure in the Emma Bowen foundation. Phylis Eagle-Oldson has served as EBF president and CEO from 1999-2014.
Today she is giving us a backstory on the foundation's history, her involvement over the years, and advice she has for young professionals in the industry.
Experience- President & CEO, Retired
Emma Bowen Foundation
1999 – 2014
- Member Board Of Directors
Wegener Communications
2004 – 2013
Member of Audit (Chair), Compensation, and Nominating Committees.
- VP Adm and Finance
National Cable and Telecommunications Association
1980 – 1999
- The George Washington University - School of Business
Bachelor of Accountancy with Honors
Source: LinkedIn
Podcast Hosts: Neima Abdulahi and Marquise Francis
Emboldened Trailer
Emboldened's mission and vision is to bring the Emma Bowen foundation community together. So that means you.
By giving listeners exclusive access to trailblazers and influential decision makers in the media industry.