Dawn Holliday-Mack
Over the last year, Holliday-Mack has propelled El Rey Network’s commitment to diversity by spearheading the creation of The El Rey Diversity Council, an advisory group comprised of leading national Latino advocacy organizations. It’s all about sharing best practices that promote diversity, actively monitor the industry’s progress, and publish detailed annual reports. And this October, Holliday-Mack will work with NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) to launch the inaugural Latino Lens Filmmaker Showcase.
What’s your biggest professional accomplishment in the past 12 months?
The accomplishment that I am most proud of in the past 12 months is establishing El Rey Network’s Diversity Council, a coalition comprised of the nation’s top and largest Latino Advocacy Groups with a central mission to increase diversity of participation and cultural representation in entertainment. We want El Rey to be the instrument of change for the industry, providing opportunities and giving voices to Latino and other minority creatives, executives and talent. This October, I am working with NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) to launch the inaugural Latino Lens Filmmaker Showcase that will highlight works of rising Latino creatives, allowing them to debut their content both on El Rey Network and at a live screening in Los Angeles.
Best business advice you’ve received?
The best business advice I ever learned was from my father, who always reminded me that achieving anything in life is a marathon, not a sprint. There are so many learnings in those few words: 1) Always remember the big picture and long-term goals, 2) Research is essential – understand the terrain and plan for obstacles and challenges – there should be few surprises, 3) Never rush a decision – there is always time to make a smarter one instead, 4) Know your competition, play to their weaknesses, 5) Know yourself, play to your strengths…. The list goes on and on, I’m still finding anecdotes every day that I hope to pay forward to my own daughter.
How do you define diversity?
I would define diversity as evolving from the limited concept of uniformity and assimilation and instead embracing and celebrating the richness and complexity of the human experience with our varied backgrounds, cultures, languages, genders, races and other qualities that shape our past, present and future and make us all unique and special. Diversity is our biggest strength as the human race.
How can cable better support diversity?
Cable can better support diversity by consciously striving to shape boardrooms, C-suites, senior executives, producers and showrunners to more closely match the diverse composition of its consumers – the new mainstream audience.
What’s been the biggest story in cable this year?
The biggest story in cable this year was the launch of standalone OTT services and skinny bundles that challenge traditional monetization in our industry. It is more important than ever to engage the consumer and demonstrate the value of our product. In order to do that, companies must be in touch with the consumer and those that have diverse teams who mirror and inherently understand the habits and tastes of the new mainstream audience will prevail.
How do you define success?
Success is the art of attaining true wisdom, fulfillment and happiness that you can’t wait to share with the next person and pay it forward.
