Gena McCarthy
By | November 1, 2013
SVP, Programming BIO Channel
Considering McCarthy’s stellar work as SVP of non-fiction programming at Lifetime, it wasn’t a surprise when AETN tapped her over the summer to work the same magic at BIO Channel. Her record speaks for itself. Lifetime has over-delivered prime audiences for the “Dance Moms” spinoff “Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition” while continuing “Project Runway’s” ownership of the catwalk. To keep the momentum going, McCarthy started the process of tripling the slate of unscripted series. As she heads to a new challenge at BIO, she reflects that her favorite part of the job is “seeing all the creativity under pressure when you build something new culminate in strong content that entertains people.”
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Seeing all the creativity under pressure when you build something new culminate in strong content that entertains people.
How do you define success in the workplace?
Inspired team, creative producers, happy viewers.
Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance?
Suck it up, focus and execute.
Who would you want to swap jobs with for a month and why?
My son’s kindergarten teacher. For the joy of working with fresh, innocent, imaginative minds and helping children—it reinvigorates you and keeps you inspired.