Christina Douglas
Senior Manager, Discovery Communications
As part of the ID Development team, Douglas is tasked with filling 650 premiere hours in a year, the most in all of cable. She has a gift for spotting good talent, including the star of the top performing series “I Am Homicide,” Garry McFadden, and the production company Blackfin that helped develop the show. One of her habits that she attributes to her success is that she “soaks up as much content as possible.”
What sort of culture is important to you in the workplace?
A culture that rewards creativity, thinking outside the box, and big swings, but is disciplined and smart in its decision-making. A culture that thrives on creative passion, and directs that energy into a product that fits the brand and delivers on a clear strategy. I’ve been so lucky to be a part of the Investigation Discovery team where this type of culture is a reality. The top execs at the network inspire the teams to think big, and for each individual person to take part in building the brand. Cultivating this type of culture has made the network the success it is.
What is the one habit that makes you most successful?
Watching, listening, and soaking up as much content as possible! I find that the more exposure I have to different, unique, and new forms of expression, art, and content broadens my understanding of storytelling in general, and helps me think more creatively. Luckily we work in an industry where screening a movie, or listening to a podcast counts as work – even though it doesn’t feel like it!
What is the most exciting thing about working in this industry?
Oscar Wilde said “Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life.” This is one of my favorite quotes, and is truly at the heart of what excites me most about working in this industry. Working in TV gives each of us an incredible opportunity to impact those who consume our content, by inspiring them, relating to them, broadening their understanding of the world, and exposing them to new cultures and people. I don’t take for granted that I have at my fingertips access to millions of people across the globe – it’s not only a huge responsibility, but it’s an opportunity to create change. I hope we all remember that the energy we put out through our art has the power to directly impact the world around us.
Join the Overachievers at a celebratory networking reception on Wednesday, December 14 | Register Today