Stephen Hill

Under Hill’s leadership, the BET Awards experienced a record high this year, drawing 7.9 million total viewers that made it the top awards show on cable this season. “I’m very proud of what the entirety of BET does around the BET Awards,” he says. An innovator who has his pulse on what’s hot and what’s next, Hill continues to draw new viewers to BET. As he gears up for a third season of Kevin Hart series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Hill’s also unveiling a new dating reality show “Got Game.” Each episode features singles undergoing wild transformations before their big dates to see if their charm will shine through.

What’s been your company’s biggest innovation this year? 

I’m very proud of what the entirety of BET does around the BET Awards. Ours was high-energy, star-studded show with lots of seamless client engagement. A true winner creatively, critically …and with revenue. And we had it in the midst of our largest consumer facing event ever, The BET Experience at LA Live.

What’s the definition of diversity in 2014, and how can the cable industry do better in the area of inclusiveness?

Diversity is being able to go through your work day and interacting with managers, peers and co-workers from varied backgrounds. The strongest institutions are the ones that don’t just welcome diversity, they actively seek to make their workforce a mixture representing and reflecting the world. It’s crucial. Global is now and to handle it, you need a wide swath of understanding.

What qualities do you look for when making a new hire?

Knowledge of area, problem-solving ability, knowledge of what their goals are, ability to act independently, passion, joie-de-vivre.