NuvoTV's Berto Guzman on What Inspires him About his Mentor
By | May 22, 2013
Editor’s Note: In recognition and celebration of the diversity within the cable industry, we will be highlighting some of the 2012 CableFAX Most Influential Minorities and their responses to a series of questions on mentoring, job skills and diversity. For the 2012 CableFAX Diversity issue in its entirety go here.
VP, Affiliate Sales & Marketing
nuvoTV
Tell us at least one true story of a mentor (or mentors) who gave you advice you still use to this day.
My boss and mentor, the founder and [former] CEO of Starz John Sie, was inspiring in his story as an unlikely immigrant-turned media mogul and visionary. He was passionate, unrelenting, fearless and far smarter than most. But the advice, sometimes his command, that he shared with me was to be always curious. He attributed his success to his endless curiosity, always asking why and what if. Never accepting anything at face value. Questioning everything, discovering something, and expanding what you know. It’s advice that continues to work.
What’s the skill has helped you the most in your career—and what’s the next skill you want to master?
Follow-through. I consider credibility paramount for my position. Any success I’ve achieved, is a function of my credibility among my peers, which is built on my ability to deliver and follow-through with promises made. Beyond that, I’d like to master salsa dancing.
What advice do you have for young people trying to break into the cable industry?
Don’t wait to get into the cable industry before you get involved in the cable industry. Join the local chapters of organizations like WICT and NAMIC. Through volunteering and participating you’ll expand and deepen your network, sharpen your understanding of industry needs and opportunities, and improve your profile among decision makers.
In your opinion, how is cable doing on diversity? Where do you want to see improvement?
I’m proud of the extent that cable prioritizes diversity. Diversity is truly a verb for the cable industry, because they put it to action. For decades, diversity has been a leading priority among programmers and operators. The fruits of that effort are evident in the increasing number of shows, networks, and opportunities that more closely reflect the diverse nature of the nation. Extending that type of representative diversity to the very highest levels of the executive board room is still a challenging goal.