In a fracturing media landscape, MacCallum’s ability to anticipate how audiences will consume news has been key to her success in bringing legacy companies into the digital age. In October, she spearheaded the launch of CNN’s direct-to-consumer subscription offering on CNN.com. With a leadership team that includes a significant number of women, she ensures women’s perspectives inform the highest levels of decision-making.
Name a challenge you’ve overcome in your career that you feel has shaped you professionally. For years—and years—I hated public speaking. I was painfully shy as a child. In one of my early jobs after graduating from school, I spent months hardly talking to my boss because I was too intimidated. But I’ve always loved rolling up my sleeves and getting work done. It’s taken me a few years, but after much forced practice, I’ve gotten comfortable with it—something I never would have thought possible.
What’s a routine or ritual that keeps you grounded? I spend at least three nights per week coming home to my husband and kids, and putting the kids to bed. When I walk into the house after a long workday, they greet me like I’m Taylor Swift and they are my biggest fans. This warmth towards their mom will be short-lived and is already going by like a flash, but I feel so lucky to snuggle with them after a hard day at work.
Is there a movie, show, song, or book you wish you had created yourself? I just finished “The History of Sound,” a beautiful collection of short stories. As I read it, I thought about what it would be like to be able to have the kind of creativity, precision and discipline it must take to create a book like that one, or really any incredible work of fiction. I deeply admire the ability to create something artistically stunning from nothing.