Molly Solomon
Executive Producer & SVP, Production and Operations, Golf Channel
It’s been a banner year for Solomon. She led Golf Channel to its highest-rated year ever in 2015, with 2016 on pace to be highest-rated and most-watched year in the company’s 21-year history. That’s in part due to an unprecedented stretch of events in 2016, including, The Open (Golf Channel’s first coverage of a men’s major championship), golf’s return to the Olympics, the FedExCup Playoffs and a U.S. hosted Ryder Cup. Solomon led all the productions during this 12-week stretch. She’s also been a driving force behind the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit as a board member the past two years. On gender equality in cable, she says, “I find that women are applying for entry-level television jobs in incredibly high numbers. I find myself asking if we’ve hired an entry-level male candidate in a while. How amazing is that?”
Which sector of the cable industry best demonstrates gender equality?
I find that women are applying for entry-level television jobs in incredibly high numbers. I find myself asking if we’ve hired an entry-level male candidate in a while. How amazing is that? Which could use some enlightenment? Television sports management and executive roles are still predominantly male. It may be a decade from now where we see these female go-getters make inroads.
What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?
Since I have triplet 13-year-olds, this is incredibly relevant to my life: I counsel my kids to search for their passions, dream big and most importantly, be compassionate.
Which current programming best reflects the kind of women’s roles you like to see and why?
In recent months, I’ve observed more and more female programming and production leaders getting influential jobs. Hopefully in the coming years, we will only notice because we know them, not because of their gender.