44. Patty McCaskill
By
| November 1, 2013
SVP/Chief Programming Officer
Suddenlink
McCaskill and her team had another strong year of contract dealmaking with both broadcasters and programmers. Even the most difficult deals got done on reasonable terms, with no channels going dark. No small feat in a year marked by heated controversies. Among highlights, McCaskill added programming to the company’s online video service Suddenlink2GO, resulting in a jump in monthly streams. For this exec, though, the cable business is all about the people. “Whether they are at my company, the program networks we partner with, or folks across the industry I have worked with through WICT, CTAM, Cable Positive or at other industry events, these are special people who have enriched my life,” she says.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
By far, the favorite part of my job is the people I have met and have learned from, many of whom have become true friends and mentors. Whether they are at my company, the program networks we partner with, or folks across the industry I have worked with through WICT, CTAM, Cable Positive or at other industry events, these are special people who have enriched my life.
Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance?
First you need to identify daily/weekly/monthly what is most important for personal and professional success and then focus on those important things one day at a time. One day it might be most important to attend a child’s recital, another getting a deal done. The challenge is recognizing you can’t do it all. Stop beating yourself up and get comfortable with the choices and compromises.