Matt Windsor

Senior Publicists, Discovery Communications

(NOTE TO READER: Matt Windsor and Jared Alpert were nominated as a team)

Windsor and Alpert have complementary strengths, which together make them a force in the Animal Planet publicity department. The pair has worked on a variety of series, specials and stunts that span genres from domestic pet to wildlife and beyond. Windsor’s big events this year included The Road to Puppy Bowl yearlong, multi-pronged initiative, and South By Southwest cat panels and several other cat festivals nationwide. Alpert worked on shows “Puppy Bowl,” “Pit Bulls & Parolees” and “The Last Alaskans.” “Thinking about working on some of the amazing stories that have yet to come is something that really energizes me in my career,” Windsor says.

Matthew Windsor Q&A:

What makes you most excited about this industry as you advance in your career?

I feel like we are in a time where there is amazing storytelling on television. Whether it’s scripted, natural history or documentaries, we are witnessing a rebirth of fantastic storytelling. Thinking about working on some of the amazing stories that have yet to come is something that really energizes me in my career.

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

I was once told that you should always be confident in your abilities because “What you know someone else doesn’t, and what you don’t know, someone else can teach you.”

What is one habit that makes you most successful?

I’ve often been told that I am fearless in the workplace. This means I’m always open to throwing out off the wall ideas or pitching something eccentric. I believe in my heart that the worst that can happen is someone will say no. At that point, hopefully we’re having a meaningful dialog.

What tech item or social platform could/couldn’t you live without?

For me, I’m constantly on Twitter on my iPhone. It really helps you to connect with others in the industry and get a snapshot at what they are thinking.

Who has been your biggest mentor and why?

Patricia Kollappallil, a Cablefax most influential minority in cable and my first team leader at Animal Planet, has been instrumental in my career. She’s always kept an open door and taught through action and without hierarchy. And, she has always taken the time to explain her thought process and why she approaches something the way she does. She’s a true leader in PR and in life.

What three things make you most successful?

My ability to see beyond the task at hand and focus on the bigger picture with outside the box ideas has helped achieve goals and served me well in my career. Once I’ve come up with some off-the-wall things, being confident in myself and my abilities and pushing through with a fearless attitude hasn’t always led to success, but it’s helped shape me into the person I am today.