Jane Rice

This 2015 WICT Woman of the Year is a lead negotiator for A+E Networks while managing a distribution team and creating new ways to monetize the nets’ content. “The culture at A+E Networks is one where risk-taking and creativity is rewarded and I’m inspired by our entire executive team,” she says.

Where are the biggest growth areas for women in cable?

There isn’t a single area in cable that doesn’t offer growth for women although some companies clearly do a better job than others. At A+E Networks we have flourished under the leadership of Nancy Dubuc, our current CEO and her predecessor Abbe Raven.   There is no doubt that there are many areas in cable where we are significantly lacking in female representation such as tech and we need to do better there. It all starts with recruiting and engaging bright minds early and showing the promise of cable as an innovative, creative and progressive career path. For the record I don’t think we do ourselves any favors in referring to the industry as “cable”. We are so much more than that!

What/who inspires you at work? What/who inspires you outside the office?

The culture at A+E Networks is one where risk taking and creativity is rewarded and I’m inspired by our entire executive team from our CEO, Nancy Dubuc to my boss David Zagin and all of my colleagues across the Content Distribution department.

Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance?

There’s no such thing as balance – it’s a blend and that depends on who and what needs your attention more. As a working mother of two busy girls, I can categorically say I wouldn’t trade family or career and feel incredibly lucky to have both.