President & Managing Director, Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa

Kieli has grown the Discovery business across the CEEMEA region, driven share growth across all audiences and invested in content as well as key sports rights for Eurosport, including Bundesliga matches in Germany and the Premiere League in Romania. She’s also forged new strategic partnerships, such as with Turkey’s Doğuş Media Group, OSN and beIN within the region. Stay tuned for more great work from her as Discovery embarks on the road to becoming the home of the Olympics Games from 2018 to 2024. “We are currently working very hard on delivering a really excellent product that will be in keeping with both our and the Olympic Committee’s high standards,” she says.

What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?

I would say trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to take risks. I would also say that sometimes things may not go as planned and that’s OK – if you’re flexible and willing to roll with the punches, things will turn out well.

Which current programming best reflects the kind of women’s roles you like to see and why?

I am a big “Game of Thrones” fan and I think Daenerys Targaryen is a great female role – a very strong-willed but kind-hearted leader who holds her power not by force but by inspiring others. This type of woman is what TLC is all about as well – our characters are strong and feminine, inspiring, yet very down to earth and real.

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

From an international perspective, definitely Discovery and Eurosport becoming the new home of the Olympic Games in Europe. The European TV and multiplatform broadcast rights agreement, which covers the Summer and Winter Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024, was an amazing win for us but also an unprecedented strategic development for the cable industry as a whole. We are currently working very hard on delivering a really excellent product that will be in keeping with both our and the Olympic Committee’s high standards.

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