Lisa Gillingham

Gillingham joined the company in February and has wasted no time in bringing key customer service initiatives to Cablevision, including the implementation of a “voice of customer” dashboard. Gillingham doesn’t believe that work and personal life are balanced, but rather integrated. “We live in a 24-7, connected always-on world,” she says.

What’s the most important aspect of mentoring?

Mentoring can be broken down into two different but equally important categories: Mentoring and Sponsorship. Mentoring is about listening to what the mentee is looking to achieve and then helping to guide them down their desired path. The key to mentoring is to enable someone to feel empowered enough to take the steps towards their goals. Sponsorship is about helping someone advance their career by identifying potential and helping them grow their skills to achieve a specific next step. Both relationships are incredibly helpful, whether you are early in your career or a seasoned professional.

Best trick for maintaining the personal-professional life balance? 

I’m part of the camp that does not believe in balance; rather, I believe in work and life integration. We live in a 24-7, connected, always-on world, and I’m fortunate to work for a company that is committed to providing that connectivity that we all desire. Apps and cloud solutions have empowered us to do a lot more outside of the office then we’ve ever been able to do, which gives us the flexibility to work while on the go. That being said, it’s important for me to invest in my family and relationships outside of work by reserving time for them and setting boundaries. My advice to everyone is to prioritize what matters to you, be clear about your boundaries, and then do a fantastic job.

Your favorite trick for unwinding? 

I’ve always been into living a healthy lifestyle, and regular exercise is important to me. With both of my kids now off to college, I’ve been spending more of my out of office time on the golf course. While playing a round isn’t “stress-free,” it’s a different type of challenge that requires my full attention and allows all the other stresses of life to disappear for the four or five hours on the course. I also practice breathing exercises or mindfulness. It’s a series of deep, focused breaths that help me move more oxygen into my often racing mind, and I use the breathing time to think of one thing I am grateful for. It allows me to let go of the stresses of the day and shift into a refreshed and positive mindset.