Lori Lynem

Lynem serves as one of the lead negotiators for USA, Syfy, and Universal Cable Productions. With more than 20 years of corporate and entertainment law experience, she negotiates above-the-line development and production deals for both scripted and unscripted pilots and programs. A member of the Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Lynem says “the cable industry can do better by making hiring decisions that go against the norm either in the executive ranks, in front of the camera or behind the camera.”

What’s your biggest professional accomplishment in the past 12 months?

Helping facilitate a major change in the best practices of our creative, production and business affairs group by implementing a more efficient and effect process in preparing our deal requests for unscripted and scripted programming.

Best business advice you’ve received? 

Maintaining relationships with executives outside of your company will help make your negotiations more productive and deals close quicker.

How do you define diversity?

I believe the definition of diversity is to not be color blind, but to be aware of all of the different life experiences of the people around you and embrace their viewpoints on society, economics, family, etc.

How can cable better support diversity?

The cable industry can do better by making hiring decisions that go against the norm either in the executive ranks, in front of the camera or behind the camera.  We will be able to make larger economic and ratings strides if we push the envelope by including stories that involve people of various races, ethnicities and sexual orientation in our series.

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

CBS and HBO offering their signal over the web (over-the-top).  I believe this was a game changer.

How do you define success? 

Knowing that you’ve had a positive influence on someone’s life and provided joy and happiness in their day.