35. Kathleen Finch
By | November 1, 2013
President, HGTV and DIY Network
Three years after arriving at HGTV, Finch knows location, location, location matters whether it’s dealing with real estate or programming. By emphasizing such house-flipping shows as “Buying & Selling” and “Love It or List It,” Finch and her team bolstered HGTV to its best 1Q ever in 2013 for prime time and total day shares. Overall, total viewership rose 8% for 1Q 2013 over 1Q 2012. Finch defines success in the workplace as “looking forward to Mondays more than Fridays.”
What’s your favorite part of your job?
What I love most about my job is the chance to lead a team of smart people who are as obsessed with television as I am. Television is an unusually fun business—our products entertain millions of people every single day—and I relish working alongside people who never lose sight of that and don’t ever take themselves too seriously.
What’s been the biggest story in cable this year?
The biggest story this year is the impact of digital distribution and its power to change audience behavior, almost overnight. From “binge viewing” becoming an acceptable weekend pastime to Netflix winning awards once reserved for cable and broadcast outlets, new technology is upending the traditional business model and changing viewer expectations forever.
How do you define success in the workplace?
Looking forward to Mondays more than Fridays says workplace success to me.