Karen Brodkin
By | November 1, 2013
EVP, Business and Legal Affairs. Fox Sports Media Group
This former entertainment lawyer (Spike Lee was a client) masters the art of negotiation. She seeks to close deals with a competitive energy while finding a path in which both sides walk away feeling like winners. She has worked on nearly all recently closed major sports deals for Fox, including the Big East Conference basketball contract, the UFC/Fox deal, and the NFL extension. Believe it or not, she would want to swap jobs with Chuck Todd, NBC White House correspondent for a month. Why? “I’m a political/news junkie,” she says.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
The relationships I’ve made through this business. Quite a number of the people who work in sports and sports media are exceptional. I have made life-long friends with many people I’ve negotiated with and against over the years.
How do you define success in the workplace?
Good deal-making, respect in the marketplace, a reputation of fairness and integrity, and building and maintaining a talented, loyal team that makes work more fun than it should be.
Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance?
I actually have a few that I live by: Survive on a little less sleep. Makes lists. Ask for help. Work out very early in the morning.. Do the best you can—don’t worry about perfection on either side of the personal/professional life equation.
Who would you want to swap jobs with for a month and why?
Chuck Todd, NBC White House Correspondent/Head of the Washington, D.C., News Bureau. I’m a political/news junkie.