Rob Simmelkjaer

Simmelkjaer manages the NBC Sports Ventures unit, a collection of NBC Sports properties. He also plays in the game, too, in his role as an on-air contributor across multiple NBCUniversal platforms including NBC Sports, NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC. His duties have expanded to overseas as well, now that he is charged with leading international business development for the NBC Sports Group. Simmelkjaer feels that the walls preventing a more diverse culture in television can be scaled by expanding opportunities across the board. “Create ways in the door, such as college internships and entry level jobs, for those without family connections to the industry,” he says.

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

The creation and growth of new NBC Sports properties such as NBC Sports Radio, Spartan Race and Nitro Circus.

Best business advice you’ve received?

Treat people with respect – whether they’re partners, colleagues or employees.

How do you define diversity?

People from different backgrounds, cultures and points of view who come together to create something great.

How can cable better support diversity?

Create ways in the door, such as college internships and entry level jobs, for those without family connections to the industry.

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

Accelerating subscriber losses.

How do you define success?

Making people’s lives better – from your own and your family’s lives to those of people you’ve never met.