CableFAX: 80. ¡Muy Bien! Tania O'Connor

Tania O’Connor

Title: EVP, Distribution Sale & Marketing, Univision
Age: 41
Education: BA, Syracuse
Social Media Quotient: 2

Why Her? Remember the fireworks that were supposed to erupt this year over Univision’s decision to bypass must carry and seek cash for carriage? Never happened, thanks to O’Connor’s deft handling of negotiations. Since joining the Spanish-language programmer last year, she has closed deals with nearly 150 distributors, including Time Warner Cable and Comcast. Maybe her competitive figure skating experience as a child helps her with the whole grace under fire thing.

Worth Watching: Can Univision make a major mark in the land of VOD?

The Year Ahead:

It’s a World Cup year.

Favorite Restaurant: Anywhere kids’ menus exist.

Favorite iPhone/Blackberry app: Blackberry Instant Messaging with the cool smiley faces

Trait I Admire Most in People: Spanish fluency

In 2010, The Economy Will…: Continue to be a rollercoaster — unfortunately, positive gains on Wall St. don’t reduce the unemployment rate.

Favorite Part of My Job: Working for a media company that is not only committed to delivering high-quality content but also to the empowerment of its audiences.

Worst Part of My Job: My inability to speak fluent Spanish — Rosetta Stone, here I come!

Best Business Advice Received: Take the job with Univision!