Gwen Marcus

Navigating the landscape for launching digital services can be tricky, but with Marcus leading the way Showtime is conquering new territory. She brokered every deal that enabled the launch of the net’s online streaming service, available without a traditional cable subscription, including negotiations for every new distributor platform for the service, including Apple. She also oversaw the deal for the network’s last Floyd Mayweather fight in September. “We’ve all seen the press accounts about women in Silicon Valley being woefully underrepresented,” she says. “Based on our industry’s history, I’d like to think we’ll do better.”

What are the biggest growth areas for women in cable?

I think the biggest growth areas for women in cable (which also happen to be the biggest growth areas for men in cable) are those parts of our industry –be they technology-specific, marketing or otherwise–that directly enhance our ability to evolve with our customers–how they consume and engage with content.    I’ve always believed that because cable was once the industry of start-ups, women were offered opportunities they might not have had in more established businesses.  But we’ve all seen the press accounts about women in Silicon Valley being woefully underrepresented. Based on our industry’s history, I’d like to think we’ll do better.

What’s the most important aspect of mentoring?

For mentoring to be productive, both parties — mentor and mentee — have to want the relationship.   Because if that’s not the case, there won’t be follow-up, candor about corporate culture, career advice about next moves, or sharing of networking opportunities — all of which are important to the mentoring process.  We know why mentees want mentors, but what mentors learn from younger people — especially in our industry which is undergoing massive change — can be invaluable, so the trick is to find mentors who appreciate that.

Your favorite trick for unwinding?

I’m partial to the seemingly endless choice of real estate reality TV shows–the more formulaic the better.  So I don’t feel like a total sloth, I try doing the Times crossword puzzle at the same time.