Indrajit Ponnambalam

Known as a someone gifted with an innate understanding of financial issues, Ponnambalam oversees financial planning and analysis for Time Warner Cable’s Residential division. But success isn’t always measured by numbers. “To me, success is using your talents and interests to achieve your goals and positively impact the world around you,” he says. “The key is not measuring success based on other people’s expectations, but rather your own values and goals.”

How can cable better support diversity?

The industry has come a long way in supporting a diverse workforce, but there is still room for improvement.  In many instances, I’ve seen leaders too quickly look to fill key roles on their team with people they already know and are comfortable with. These candidates often have similar backgrounds and experiences, which may make them an “easier” fit in the near term. To take us to the next level, though, we should evaluate all talent who are interested in open roles, especially those who come from diverse backgrounds (whether professional, geographic, ethnic, gender, or otherwise), and can offer unique perspectives to the business challenges we face.

What’s been the biggest story in cable this year?

The rapid pace of video innovation and competition is pushing all players in the industry to re-think business models and core competencies.  Consumers have more choice than ever – in the content that’s available to them, how it is delivered, and who they pay to access the content. It’s a fascinating time to be in the industry and see how all these changes play out.

How do you define success?

To me, success is using your talents and interests to achieve your goals and positively impact the world around you.  The key is not measuring success based on other people’s expectations, but rather your own values and goals.