Judy Schmeling

Having taken on her dual HSN roles last May, Schmeling’s strategic initiatives delivered gross profit and margin improvements leading to 4 percent growth in net sales year-over-year to $1 billion. She also escalated the company to a $3.4 billion direct-to-consumer retail portfolio. When not in the office, she can be found running around with her husband and three sons. “You can also literally find me running, whether it is in a race, training for a race, or running just to clear my head and for the balance it provides me,” she tells us.

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

Some of the biggest stories in cable this year are the potential merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable and AT&T acquiring DirecTV. It brings up the questions…How will these acquisitions impact the industry and will the government begin to impose greater regulatory oversight?

How do you define a successful career?

It is not defined by any one thing, but rather the journey one takes to fulfilling what you want to do. While there may be many crossroads, no single decision is what makes or breaks a career. Finding a path that empowers one to try more, risk more, and ultimately achieve one’s potential is the journey of a successful career.

When not in the office, where are we most likely to find you?

Running. You can find me running around with my husband and our three sons from place to place for their various extracurricular activities. You can also literally find me running whether it is in a race, training for a race, or running just to clear my head and for the balance it provides me.