Most Influential Minorities
_{Celebrating Diversity in 2016}

With Conde leading the charge it was a banner year for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, with Telemundo’s primetime ratings the highest in its history in the A18-49 demo, a new global headquarters investment in Miami-Dade County, and the creation of a comprehensive news coverage and voter registration platform, #YODECIDO 2016, for young Hispanic voters nationwide. Naturally, his personal election campaign slogan would be Yo Decido (“I decide”). “While this slogan is also the banner of Telemundo’s voting initiative during the 2016 election, it accurately sums up what I hope will happen—that voters will feel empowered to make it their personal responsibility to be informed, make their own decisions and participate, especially in light of all that has been happening in our country and around the world.”

What are the television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
“Celia,” “Shades of Blue,” “Larrymania,” “Chicago Med,” “This Is Us”

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Yo Decido (I Decide).  While this slogan is also the banner of Telemundo’s voting initiative during the 2016 election, it accurately sums up what I hope will happen – that voters will feel empowered to make it their personal responsibility to be informed, make their own decisions and participate, especially in light of all that has been happening in our country and around the world.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Social and community initiatives are integral to my business approach and empowerment initiatives for the Hispanic community are very important to me, which is why I am so proud of our community empowerment platform, “El Poder en Ti” (The Power in You), which has three primary areas of focus: education, health care and financial literacy. Personally, I am also active in organizations that focus on the development of educational opportunities for young Hispanics.

Prior to landing his current role, Boubazine was CEO of Altice in the Dominican Republic, a role he had held since 2014. There he oversaw cable TV, broadband and mobile operations for more than four million customers and worked to expand the company’s fiber network and migration from DSL, increase 4G coverage from 5 percent to 65 percent, and launch new products and services. Now Boubazine is focusing on integrating Suddenlink and Optimum businesses and enhancing the customer experience across the footprint. His personal election campaign slogan would be “Mi Campaña Eres Tú” (My Campaign is You). “For me, it’s all about doing what’s best for our employees and our customers.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Altice’s new all-in-one home hub device!

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Mi Campaña Eres Tú (My Campaign is You) – for me, it’s all about doing what’s best for our employees and our customers.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
With Altice in the Dominican Republic, I worked closely with Manos Unidas Por Autismo, a non-profit dedicated to autism research and education.

Pascal stepped into his role at the beginning of 2015 and has shown both chops and vision in overseeing Turner’s financial operations, including mergers & acquisitions, forecasting and reporting. Under his leadership, Turner was financially positioned to make such investments as video streaming company iStreamPlanet, content distribution platforms Great Big Story and Super Deluxe, and burgeoning eSports league ELEAGUE. Citing “Wrecked” and “Mr. Robot” as current series that exemplify diversity goals, Desroches says of the industry, “Cable has done a much better job of promoting women and people of color into senior ranks over the past decade, but those positions continue to be predominantly seated by white males.”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
C+: Progress has been made, but there’s still room for improvement. Cable has done a much better job of promoting women and people of color into senior ranks over the past decade, but those positions continue to be predominantly seated by white males.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
DOCSIS 3.1. The vast increase In speed of uploads and downloads for consumers opens the door to  “personalized” networks and creates capabilities that fundamentally change how ad inventory is managed and ads are served.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
“Wrecked,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Mr. Robot”

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Prep for Prep develops leaders of color by placing about 200 of New York City’s most talented children in an accelerated academic program each year. Following the 14-month curriculum, the students are then placed into leading private and boarding schools.More than 90% of the students that go through this program are accepted to the most prestigious universities in the world. Alumni of the program include Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Scholars and Whitehouse Fellows.

Allen has had a big year. Entertainment Studios grew subscribers by more than 250 percent across its portfolio of seven HD cable nets to reach nearly 80 million U.S. households. Among milestones, in January, AT&T/DirecTV began carrying all seven networks. Additionally, Allen launched his sixth court series, “The Verdict With Judge Hatchet,” in both broadcast syndication and on the Justice Central network and is launching comedy game show “Funny You Should Ask” and comedy talker “Trending Funny.” Allen also recently sealed a deal for distributor Anchor Bay Entertainment for Blu-ray, DVD, EST and transactional PPV/VOD distribution rights in the U.S. to Entertainment Studios theatrical content. He thinks the industry has a long way to go on diversity, giving it an F-. “The reason why is because the networks are not owned by the people of the community. Cable operators are paying $70 billion a year to license content, and none of it goes to the people of the community,” he says.

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
I give the industry an F- (F minus) on diversity.  The reason why is because the networks are not owned by the people of the community. Cable operators are paying $70 BILLION a year to license content, and none of it goes to the people of the community.

Examples:
— There isn’t anyone who is Asian-American who owns a cable network. Their voices are not heard at all.
— Hispanic networks are not owned by people who are Hispanic.
— The LGBT community has a network targeting them, but they do not own it.
— In the African-American community, African-Americans do not own the networks that target us. Diversity starts with     ownership, and we must have ownership so all of our voices are heard unfiltered and widely-distributed so we can truly participate in the American democracy—a diverse country.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
It won’t be technology, it will always be better content.

My personal election campaign slogan would be..
Everybody in America gets a better quality and free education—all the way through college and graduate school.

Carr is a well-rounded individual, most recently penning two books—“Dirty Little Secrets” and “The Little Black Book: Daily Motivations for Business and Personal Growth.” Both offer valuable lessons he has learned in his career. In June, Carr earned the Diversity Award from the Hyatt Corporation celebrating his work around diversity from both personal and professional standpoints. In September, he was to receive another diversity award at the First Annual Legacy of a Lifetime Award Celebration. He is celebrating 30 years at BET Networks, where he continues to grow ad revenue. He’d give the industry a D when it comes to diversity. “They have improved in regards to the on-air talent but have not improved behind the camera and executive ranks,” he says.

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
D. They have improved in regards to the on air talent but have not improved behind the camera and executive ranks

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Change you can see and feel

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Louis Carr Internship Foundation (LCIF) which gives minority students internships within our industry

Under Cohan’s leadership, A+E continues to extend its global footprint. The company launched its first global free-to-air channel bringing Lifetime to Turkey and Crime + Investigation to Portugal and the Netherlands. Cohan’s team also closed substantial sales agreements for “Roots,” with broadcasters in 115-plus territories, and sealed a deal to grow A+E’s Japanese partnership with Super Network/Tohokushisha (TFC), significantly increasing its stake in History Japan from 50 percent to 80 percent. “The cable industry needs to continue to work making opportunities in media more visible to a broader spectrum of job candidates,” he says. “Media business would benefit from having more diversity represented in the entry-level and early career talent pipeline.

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
B-. The cable industry needs to continue to work making opportunities in media more visible to a broader spectrum of job candidates.  As a whole, I think the media business would benefit from having more diversity represented in the entry-level and early career talent pipeline.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
I am enormously proud of “Roots” (History) and “UnReal” (Lifetime), which both have helped shape the conversation around race, identity and diversity for a new generation at a time when it is needed more than ever.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
I serve on the Board of Directors of The Opportunity Network, a program that is giving kids from some of NYC’s underserved neighborhoods a chance to excel. It is an intensive, six-year program designed to equal the playing field for high-achieving high school and college students by creating access for them to career opportunities, professional networks and competitive colleges.

Clinkscales led Revolt to new heights over the last 12 months, expanding the network’s reach via both traditional and nontraditional distribution avenues despite a fragile climate for indie networks. He is leaving the three-year-old channel, but his contributions will continue to be felt. His tenure included bringing in new brands as partners for the network and leveraging Revolt’s reach with the millennial audience. He left a team in place that’s pumping up the volume both on distribution, and social and digital platforms, while building on the curation of a redesigned website and the network’s third annual Revolt Conference.

Arias, who gives props to NBC’s “Superstore” and USA’s “Mr. Robot” for celebrating diversity, oversees the implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives across Comcast. She works closely with the company’s executive internal diversity council, and external Comcast NBCU joint diversity advisory council, comprised of more than 40 national civil rights, community and business leaders. Voice-enabled technology is the technology that will most benefit cable during the next year, she notes. “The Xfinity Voice Remote is just the beginning for us, and we’re incredibly excited about the ways in which this technology will improve and enhance every aspect of our customers’ experience.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Voice-enabled technology is changing the way our customers interact with our products and our content. The Xfinity Voice Remote is just the beginning for us, and we’re incredibly excited about the ways in which this technology will improve and enhance every aspect of our customers’ experience.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
There are so many great shows that not only embrace diversity but celebrate it. “Superstore” on NBC and “Mr. Robot” on USA, which feature incredibly talented minorities in leading roles, are changing the game and doing incredibly well with audiences. I’m also proud of NBC’s coverage of the Rio Olympics, which features inspiring women and minorities like Simone Biles, Simone Manuel and Katie Ledecky, who have become role models to Americans of every age, race, gender, and background.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
I’m honored to be on the Board of Directors of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc. The organization’s goal is to strengthen Latino communities, and I have a particular passion for their commitment to education and workforce readiness. I love that the program extends from kindergarteners all the way to adults who are trying to expand their skills and take on new challenges.

More than two years after taking an elevated role within the Viacom family, Armstrong is a key voice in shaping the future direction of the company and its brands. He continues to work to identify new market opportunities to launch BET, Paramount and Spike in addition to overseeing the strategy, branding and operations of those launches. A testament to his ethic as a leader, Armstrong says his personal election campaign would be “Be good to all.” Cloud-based computing, he says, is the technology that will most benefit cable in the year to come because “it supports easier delivery for programmers and operators building their own OTT offerings, network DVR and full series catch-up offerings.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Cloud-based computing will continue to positively impact our industry the most.  It supports easier delivery for programmers and operators building their own OTT offerings, network DVR and full series catch-up offerings.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
I am biased but my favorite is “Being Mary Jane” on BET.  A multi-ethnic newsroom, with a strong, independent black female lead anchor and a gay, black male on-air personality who both happen to be produced by a Latina female producer.  There are racial, inter-generational, and class issues which all work their way through the very well written story lines.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Be Good To All

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH).  I am proud to serve as Board Chair of this historic institution.  DTH has instilled pride and confidence in thousands of young people of color for nearly 50 years, 99 percent of whom will never dance professionally.  They have however applied these traits in order to be successful in other life pursuits.

Bargueiras’ well-earned promotion to his current position proved to be a win for both the company and its Latin audience. Under his expanded role, Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic already has outpaced ad sales market projections in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and the Southern Cone. He also helped broker a mutually beneficial deal with one of the world’s largest digital publishers, Batanga Media. While he believes the cable industry has made strides both in the U.S. and globally when it comes to diversity, Bargueiras says there is always room for improvement. He says “Grey’s Anatomy” and “on a more humoristic side,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” are shows that best embrace diversity.

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
I believe the cable industry strives to be representative of the diverse audience that exists, not only in the U.S. but globally, have definitely made incredible strides.  Like everything, there is always room for improvement.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Platform-agnostic technology that offers customers flexibility to view content as they see fit while enabling viewership to be measured.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – that best embrace diversity?
“Grey’s Anatomy” and on a more humoristic side, but still showcases diversity – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Together We Will Succeed or Make Every Day Matter

Favorite charity organization you work with?
It would be a challenge to name just one favorite charity organization as I support a number, such as the San Juan Bosco Food Drive, for example.

With more than two decades of communications experience, Jin Davis is focused on implementing product policies, guiding the company through regulatory and legal requirements, cost reduction and managing business compliance in partnership with other departments. She serves on Comcast’s internal Diversity Council and acts as a liaison to the Comcast and NBCU Joint Diversity Council. She’s also an executive sponsor of Asian Pacific Americans at Comcast. Jin Davis is very active with professional associations such as WICT, having been a fellow in its Betsy Magness Leadership Institute. Both CTAM and NAMIC have awarded her with leadership accolades, with the latter doling out a Luminary Award. Outside of Comcast, she supports the Asian American community by serving on several boards.

With her hands in both the cable and home entertainment sides of the business, Chang understands how, when and where today’s viewers want to access content. She was also recently tasked with overseeing digital distribution, including HBO Now, across multiple platforms. She takes a holistic view of diversity in the workplace. “In managing a global team, I believe diversity is more than people of different races, ethnicities, genders. The worldwide digital distribution and home entertainment team is made up of individuals whose experiences vary across industries, who approach problems differently, and whose skills balance one another. I am proud that I have a team of direct reports who do not reflect me but rather complement me.”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
I can’t speak for the entire industry.  HBO continues to be a great company that encourages and supports diversity in the workplace across all levels.  In managing a global team, I believe diversity is more than people of different races, ethnicities, genders.  The worldwide digital distribution and home entertainment team is made up of individuals whose experiences vary across industries, who approach problems differently, and whose skills balance one another.  I am proud that I have a team of direct reports who do not reflect me but rather complement me.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
As technologies further expand and evolve it is tough to choose one that is most beneficial to the industry.  The strongest asset will be what can give content providers the ability to continue to appeal to more customers by offering multiple product and platform choices.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
I enjoy programming where I can immerse myself in the story and its characters.  On HBO, my favorites include past series like “The Wire,” “Sex And The City,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “Oz,” and current programming includes “Game of Thrones” and “Veep.”

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
It probably won’t get me elected but a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that reflects my approach to many things is “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

Favorite charity organization you work with?
The Dragon Kim Foundation was started less than a year ago when my friend’s teenage son and his friend passed away when a tree fell on their tent on a camping trip.  The mission of the Foundation is to provide funding to enable children to pursue their passions within academics, athletics and the arts.

Chadda tends to financial planning, analysis and controllership, and leading operating initiatives across NBCU’s cable properties. No stranger to the field, before taking his current post he was CFO for Oxygen Media and before that worked at MSNBC in financial planning and analysis. He believes improved operating systems from cable companies will make a positive impact in cable next year. “With so much original content being produced, that is really important.” Chadda enjoys working with the charity Person-to-Person, which provides disadvantaged people with emergency assistance for life’s basic needs. “They do great work, and I’m happy to help in big and small ways whenever possible.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year…
Improved operating systems from cable companies. The XFINITY product from Comcast curates content in a very consumer-friendly way.  With so much original content being produced, that is really important.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Running for the future of my kids and yours.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Person-to-Person (www.P2Phelps.org).  It’s a charity focused on providing disadvantaged people with assistance for life’s basic necessities that many take for granted.  They do great work and I’m happy to help in big and small ways whenever possible.

In an ever-changing industry like cable, the forward thinking Simons is focused on addressing the residual effects consolidation and shifting business models may have in the areas of diversity and inclusion. Simons’ supportive leadership style inspires dedication from and collaboration among his team, and through NAMIC’s 16 chapters across the country. As far as on-screen diversity, he says, “Since its debut, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’s’ casting and storytelling have captured a wide spectrum of human interactions while reflecting the diversity of the viewing audience. The show’s commitment to covering timely subject matter such as interracial marriage, elder care, race and gender relations and the LGBT community is to be commended.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Streaming media will allow companies to extend their demographic reach and provide increased opportunities for the production and distribution of diverse programming.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
Since its debut, “Grey’s Anatomy’s” casting and storytelling have captured a wide spectrum of human interactions while reflecting the diversity of the viewing audience. The shows commitment to covering timely subject matter such as interracial marriage, elder care, race and gender relations and the LGBT community is to be commended.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
A charity with which I am involved is the Westchester ARC, a nonprofit organization that provides services to people with various developmental disabilities. The services the organization provides are invaluable to the communities that it serves.

Strong oversees the affiliate field sales teams domestically as well as accounts in Canada and the Caribbean for the entire A+E portfolio. She also coordinates digital media and business development to negotiate VOD, TV Everywhere, mobile and other digital media products. This year she helped maximize revenue and distribution for the A+E Networks portfolio across platforms including OTT and Sling. Strong believes technologies that use audience data to assist in content creation and monetization will benefit cable during the next year. Aside from A+E programs including “Roots” and Lifetime’s “Unreal,” she praises ABC’s “Black-ish” and “Fresh Off the Boat” for their celebration of diversity.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is:
Any technology that will utilize audience data to assist in content creation and monetization across platforms.

Which television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
I believe that A+E Networks has been at the forefront of embracing diversity this year with History’s “Roots” Reimagined, Lifetime’s “Unreal,” which featured an African-American suitor and the new A&E comedy series “Black and White,” which is a smart, funny, honest conversation about race in America.  I also like what ABC is doing with “Black-ish,” “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Scandal,” to name a few.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
I’ve worked with the Pencil program. This is an organization that partners business executives with public schools offering opportunities to groom and mentor the next generation of business leaders.

In an ever-evolving way, Harris continues expanding the reach and impact of the Emma Bowen Foundation by attracting new partner companies and recruiting students of various interests and backgrounds from a wider array of schools and organizations. The Foundation helps shape the future of the industry by providing students of color with opportunities to intern at many of the country’s top cable and media companies. Harris also works to highlight and promote best practices in diversity and inclusion in the industry itself. Harris says he’d give the cable industry a B when it comes to diversity. Here’s why: “Senior management isn’t racially and gender diverse. Diversity has the most impact at decision-making levels of companies. Just check their websites.”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
B- Senior management isn’t racially and gender diverse. Diversity has the most impact at decision-making levels of companies. Just check their websites.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
On demand viewing… Audiences want to watch what they want, when they want.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore,” “Broad City,” “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” anything created by Shonda Rhimes

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Not me, us.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
HarlemGrown. Our mission is to inspire youth to live healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.

So far, one might say Kang’s had an inspiring 2016. In a year where the vast majority of Nielsen-rated networks have lost subscribers, INSP is among the handful of networks where those numbers continue to climb. The wholesome network has gained 1.3 million subs so far this year, and already has surpassed the 82 million mark. It now ranks second among all independent networks in total subscribers. Kang supports an organization called Families in Transition and says his personal election campaign slogan would be: Make America Wholesome Again.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Faster broadband

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Make America Wholesome Again

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Families In Transition

Jennings leads the former Mile High and Mountain Regions, which last year were integrated into the new Mountain West Region. His responsibilities include oversight of Comcast’s operations in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico and Utah, amounting to more than 1.5 million customers and 3,500 staffers. Jennings is competitive by nature, and it inspires his team to achieve the best. Case in point: he introduced the rally cry “Elevate our Game” to the region, challenging the team to lead within the company and industry wide. He’s passionate about both family and work—and focused on successfully balancing the two. Community engagement is a priority for him. In 2015, he was honored as Father of the Year by the American Diabetes Association’s Colorado chapter for his commitment to his family and the community. His grade for the cable industry on diversity is a C+. “C stands for lots of improvement opportunity in the C-suites!”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
C+ – “C” stands for lots of improvement opportunity in the “C”-suites!

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
DOCSIS 3.1

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
Reality TV seems to be in the lead in terms of diversity (on several levels)

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
You know we are in tough times with choices if you would actually have to consider me for president…

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Young Americans Bank, founded by cable pioneer Bill Daniels… Only nationally chartered bank for kids under the age of 21 with programs that teach kids economics, financial literacy and the free enterprise system!

Regis is part of the team that brought Scripps Networks its first-ever $500 million quarter in U.S. ad sales this year—and in 2015 put Scripps Networks Interactive over the $1 billion mark in gross ad sales for the fourth consecutive year. It’s no wonder the team won Cablefax’s 2015 Most Creative Sales Programs Award for continually finding creative new ways to reach the various target markets of Scripps’ networks. Regis’ stewardship ensures its ongoing success and underscores the importance of having a clear objective and laser-beam focus. Asked which technology will benefit the industry the most in the coming year, Regis says, “TV Everywhere. Keeping (and measuring) customers inside the current ecosystem is of benefit to all.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
TV Everywhere. Keeping (and measuring) customers inside the current ecosystem is of benefit to all.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Focus is More Effective Than Worrying

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Community FoodBank of New Jersey

While overseeing financial and strategic planning for two of Discovery’s highest-profile business units—the flagship network and the Domestic Distribution team—Osuri played a pivotal role in Discovery’s affiliate renewal negotiations, striking comprehensive agreements with Comcast and SVOD distributors alike, securing carriage of the company’s 13 domestic networks. He also handles finances for Discovery Education, which serves more than 30 million students around the world. As for diversity in cable, Osuri says, “We’ve come a long way organizationally, but only scratching the surface on-screen.” Of current series’ diversity efforts, he says, “Plenty embrace it, I think the challenge is embracing it in an organic and compelling way. I’ll go all the way back to ‘The Wire’ as an example where diversity enriched a story without becoming the story.”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
We’ve come a long way organizationally, but only scratching the surface on-screen.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Operating systems, whether in a box or app, that allow consumers to more easily engage with their content. Cable is still the best entertainment value out there, but platform matters.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
Plenty embrace it, I think the challenge is embracing it in an organic and compelling way. I’ll go all the way back to The Wire as an example where diversity enriched a story without becoming the story.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
We the People

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Street Sense, a “street paper” in Washington, D.C., that provides income but more importantly purpose and dignity to our city’s homeless community. I’m a bit biased as it was founded by my amazing wife, but it really is a great program.  Check it out at streetsense.org.

Since being upped to her current position, Durant has played a key role with ESPN’s eight-year contract extension with the NBA and has managed relationships with Major League Soccer, FIFA and Olympic sport leagues as well. She’ll continue to maximize the value of ESPNU properties across multiple platforms and spearhead signature events for ESPNU such as its Signing Day franchise. With Durant leading the charge, ESPNU’s nationwide distribution increased from 25 million to 74 million, thanks to locking in long-term carriage agreements with top distributors. Regarding shows that exemplify diversity in media, Durant says she’s proud of the work ABC has done, from “Scandal” to “How to Get Away with Murder” to “Black-ish.” “ABC proves that you can create great, award-winning television that reflects the diversity around us,” she says.

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
The cable industry continues to make progress, but not fast enough and not universally (across companies, disciplines, executive ranks).  I give the industry as a whole a C+.  I’m fortunate to work for a company that recognizes diversity (and inclusion) as a business imperative, and we’re much better because of it.  It starts at the top.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
I am very proud of the work that ABC has done – from “Scandal” to “How to Get Away with Murder” to “Black’ish” – ABC proves that you can create great, award-winning television that reflects the diversity around us.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
There are several, but I’m particularly proud of the T. Howard Foundation. As a product of the organization and a board member, I share their dedication to increasing diversity in our industry

Lopez played a key roll in relaunching Fuse last fall, which helped propel the network to become the largest independent multicultural and largest Hispanic-targeted cable network. She also struck renewal deals for Fuse and distribution agreements for the new music network FM, bringing the networks into roughly 70 million and more than 43 million homes, respectively. Although Lopez is making her mark as one of a small number of industry leaders invited to be part of The Cable Center’s Hauser Oral History project, she knows there’s more work ahead when it comes to diversity within the industry. “Diversity in media is a work in progress, which is why I’m such a strong supporter of the T. Howard Foundation.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
I am excited to see what the industry does to take advantage of virtual reality.  We are seeing some bits of experimentation with VR in cable, but the possibilities – from news coverage and documentary programming to sports, entertainment and music – are endless.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
ABC is a good example of a broadcaster that has shown that diversity in programming is good for all – from viewers to networks, affiliates and advertisers.  When the quality of programming is excellent, everyone stands up to notice, and when that programming features diverse talent in front of and behind the camera, we all benefit.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Diversity in media is a work in progress, which is why I’m such a strong supporter of the T. Howard Foundation.

D.C.-based Cajigas oversees Discovery’s operations and transmission across several departments. And she has played critical roles in consolidating the Media Technology, Productions and Operations (MTP&O) business operations and strategic planning functions across the company, which helps ensure efficiencies and seamless project management. Prior to her current role, Cajigas, who joined the company in 2006, served as SVP of Operations for the DLA/USH division, where she was responsible for redefining the process and structure of the Operations groups and their relationships with other stakeholders.

Within the competitive Florida landscape, Biava and his team have delivered the highest employee satisfaction scores since he took over leadership for the team. He’s responsible for managing all facets of the technical operations organization, including contractor support, outsource partners and numerous vendors. Looking ahead, his focus will remain on business services, Xfinity Home and X1 adoption. Biava is very engaged with community efforts, including mentorships with L. Patrick Mellon and WICT, and speaking engagements at universities. In addition, “Our family devotes a lot of time to various classical music charities—from donating to various community and university orchestras to playing in concerts that raise money for other charities. Music has always been a huge part of my family, and we want to continue that for the next generation.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
X1 and DOCSIS 3.1

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
Our family loves to watch and enjoys “America’s Got Talent.” It really is a snapshot into the wide diversity of people that live in this country and their amazing and various talents.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Our family devotes and donates a lot of time to various classical music charities–from donating to various community and university orchestras to playing in concerts that raise money for other charities. Music has always been a huge part of my family and we want to continue that for the next generation.

Overseeing day-to-day relationships with national distributors is just one facet of Fang’s job. She also deals with some of the division’s most complex partnerships—representing more than half of Fox’s distribution revenue—and is constantly developing and refining new distribution models while negotiating carriage deals for the company’s portfolio of brands, as well as its digital, on-demand and emerging platforms. In her free time, Fang stays busy with her four young children and works with Hope for LA, an organization that helps underserved and marginalized people. And she keeps up with current TV shows. Asked which best embrace diversity, Fang answers, “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Empire” and “any Shonda Rhimes show.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Targeted advertising

What television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
“Fresh Off the Boat,” “Empire” and any Shonda Rhimes show

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Hope for LA

As the network’s president, Santana’s goal is to preserve and extend Telemundo’s reach across all viable platforms. And he’s had a banner year in doing so, as he helps steer the engagement of young audiences. In March, Season 4 of “El Senor de los Cielos,” a Telemundo super-series, aired to 2.79 million viewers—the largest total viewer premiere ratings in the network’s history. During Santana’s tenure with the company, Telemundo has become the second-largest worldwide distributor of Spanish-language programming, with programs airing in more than 100 countries. Santana is a current member of the Board of the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Since being upped to his current role, Garcia has raised the bar for the viewing experience for multicultural customers across multiple platforms. He spearheaded the design and development of a Spanish-language user interface for X1 and went far beyond that: He’s devoted significant time to presenting numerous company initiatives from the X1 multicultural strategy, including a bicultural kids zone, the summer of soccer, and the bicultural Olympics experience. Garcia thinks cloud/cable digitalization will be the technology differentiator next year. It will “enable personalization, ubiquity and contextual relevance of the TV/Video experience—putting users in control to watch what they want, when they want it, where they want it on multiple screens in and out of home.”

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
Cloud/cable digitalization will enable personalization, ubiquity and contextual relevance of the TV/Video experience – putting users in control to watch what they want, when they want it, where they want it on multiple screens in and out of home.

What television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
Personally, I enjoy shows such as “Superstore,” “Suits,” and “Power.” All three offer great plot lines and feature main characters that happen to be diverse and multi-dimensional. The characters don’t fall into stereotypes and that’s what makes these shows unique and interesting to me.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
A nonprofit I love is Common Sense Media, an organization focused on education and advocacy for families to promote safe technology and media for children. On a personal level, and being a parent of two daughters, this organization has been tremendously helpful. It’s led by great people who serve as great partners to us as we work together in extending this resource to bicultural Hispanic Comcast subscribers.

King has overseen a transformation of ESPN’s iconic SportsCenter brand, anchored by the move into a 10,000-square-foot studio inside the brand new Digital Center 2. Coupled with that was the build-out of SportsCenter’s social presence. He’ll continue to revamp SportsCenter and ESPN’s news coverage in the coming year. King has a background in both print and digital, making him a great fit for creating editorial news of today and evolving for tomorrow. Fun fact, which calls out his love of journalism: He once got a job sorting mail at the Washington Post, where on occasional Sundays Bob Woodward would invite him to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream along with others in the office. His personal campaign slogan? “Vote… anyway.”

What are the television show/s – cable or broadcast – best embrace diversity?
I’m extremely proud of our colleagues at ABC for creating fantastic examples such as “Black-ish,” “Modern Family” and the slate of shows penned and produced by Shonda Rhimes. And as a father of three children of color, I find Disney Channel shows such as “Bizaardvark,” “K.C. Undercover” and “Elena of Avalor” simply beautiful to see.

My personal election campaign slogan would be,
Vote … anyway.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
There’s a tie at the top for my favorite charity organization: The V Foundation for Cancer Research, and the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance. These entities fight tirelessly for people I love and people I’ve lost.

The combination of Maldonado’s marketing experience, his analytical nature, and his uncanny ability to build and sustain positive and productive working relationships within both Cox and the MSO community has served the company, its partners and customers well. His innovations in customer marketing strategies continue in the form of a new cross-functional team and its enterprise-wide customer value management methodology, which was designed to help with strategic and operational decision-making across the company. Maldonado’s desire to improve the experience of others is also found in his charitable work with the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Services. “They help homeless families transition from the streets to affordable housing,” he says.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
DOCSIS 3.1 as it will allow the industry to quickly achieve Gig speeds to a sizable footprint.

What television show/s—cable or broadcast—best embrace diversity?
“Extra Gear” — it’s a new sister show to the BBC show “Top Gear.” The love of cars knows no limits!

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Red Shield Services, which is part of the Salvation Army. They help homeless families transition from the streets to affordable housing. They provide transitional shelter housing, career guidance, parental training etc. It’s an awesome organization that does difficult work that materially helps people.

Perry oversees business and legal affairs, and has helped establish OWN Studios, overseeing all rights and clearances, business affairs and production legal for that business. She led negotiations for the OWN-Lionsgate deal for new series “Greenleaf” and “Queen Sugar.” A frequent panelist at industry and academic gatherings aimed at fostering growth for women and minorities, Perry is also a passionate advocate for the arts, as evidenced by her work with CalArts. When it comes to technology, “The more the cable industry can embrace mobile technologies we will see a greater spike in consumer affinity for cable based services,” she says.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
I think that the more the cable industry can embrace mobile technologies we will see a greater spike in consumer affinity for cable based services. The growth in smart phone adoption and increased data capacity has pushed many consumers to use their personal phone as the primary mode of connectivity to content. As a greater number of eyeballs have shifted to mobile for video  – via app and browser – cable has an opportunity to successfully migrate business from large to small screen consumption. Not only will this shift give cable a necessary foothold in on-the-go and second-screen viewing, but it will also aid in appealing to a generation of younger, influential media consumers.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
“Make American Eagle Outfitters Great Again.”… Khaki is on the Comeback.

Favorite charity organization you work with?
There are several charitable organizations that I am involved with, however, the work I do with California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is probably the most rewarding. My husband and I are ardent supporters of the arts and the opportunity that I’ve had to serve on the CalArts Board of Trustees has been tremendous. In an era where arts education budgets are increasingly trimmed from primary and secondary schools, I relish in the support that I can lend a post-secondary institution that believes in nurturing the next generation of diverse, creative minds.

Raj drives corporate strategy, partnering with business units across Comcast and NBCU on market development opportunities, with a focus on business and geographic expansion. Accomplishments in the last year include creating next-gen TV advertising models—which positively influenced the upfront—and transforming Comcast’s internal financial planning and reporting. Expect more domestic and international growth to come. A Yale PhD in applied physics, Raj serves on the Board of Trustees for the New York Hall of Science (also his favorite charity) and was selected as a young global leader by the World Economic Forum in 2014. When asked what technology will shine in the coming year, Raj points to DOCSIS 3.1.

The technology that will most benefit cable over the next year is…
DOCSIS 3.1

What are the television show/s – cable or broadcast  – best embrace diversity?
“Scandal,” “Modern Family,” “The Mindy Project,” “Quantico,” “Black-ish,” “Empire,” ”Superstore”

Favorite charity organization you work with?
Plan International and The New York Hall of Science

Scott is highly respected within the philanthropic community, with extensive experience overseeing charitable initiatives at a worldwide level. She has been named one of the “Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” by Savoy Magazine and an “Innovative Rising Star: Building Communities” by Forbes. Scott also has been a featured speaker at several forums highlighting impact and innovation in philanthropy. She is a member of the executive leadership council and previously served as a member of the advisory council of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

Casanas may be new to Showtime, but she’s wasted no time in setting forth her goals at the company. She recruits talent externally, but also focuses on team building and executive coaching internally. For example, she’s involved with executive management in the deployment of key business initiatives, including corporate retreats. Efforts to recruit new employees can be challenging for HR execs, she notes. “We all try very hard to attract diverse candidates so that our employees reflect our audience; however the pool of candidates at varying levels is limited so we’re all vying for the same people.”

What grade do you give the cable industry on diversity and why?
I would give the TV industry a B+ on effort and a B- on delivering. We all try very hard to attract diverse candidates so that our employees reflect our audience, however the pool of candidates at varying levels is limited so we’re all vying on the same people. I believe we all need to continue working hard on attracting the graduating diverse students and get them hooked into TV from the very start of their careers. Additionally, internship programs are the best entry for diverse students to experience the career potential in TV.

My personal election campaign slogan would be…
Michelle Obama’s: “When they go low, we go high”

Favorite charity organization you work with?
I am not connected to any one charity but when called upon I gladly volunteer…  just recently I had the pleasure and satisfaction of supporting The Fresh Air Fund and entertaining young children at the Port Authority before they got on their bus rides to their 10-day host family homes.