As beloved for her empathetic leadership as she is respected for her professional prowess, industry veteran Howell returned to Crown Media last fall to lead the company’s full scope of communications and social media strategies. Her No. 1 reading rec? Brené Brown’s “Daring, Greatly,” which Howell says “debunks the myths of vulnerability as a weakness and delves into its contribution to courage, resilience, authenticity in the workplace and so much more.” A tireless mentor both within Crown and across the industry, Howell serves in leadership roles for several organizations and was recently named chair of the Alliance for Women in Media, home of the Gracie Awards.
Do you have an example of male allyship that made a difference to you?
I feel incredibly blessed for the immense support I have received from women and men throughout my entire career. From day one, some of the best men I know have been in my corner and many of them stayed there with me for decades. One of my first bosses at Ogivly & Mather and later Powell Tate (we worked at both shops together), gave me one opportunity after another to write (and sharpen that skill), to manage my first accounts and clients, to go on the road to pitch for new business and to believe in myself and my abilities. I was terrified with each first and he cheered me on. In my cable career, I have and maintain true friends, allies and supporters from so many former colleagues at Discovery, AMC and Crown…not to mention the industry—men who supported me when things were going great and when things were quite down and to them, I am eternally grateful.
What one female empowerment book do you think every woman should read?
One of the books that resonated deeply and still does many years later is Brene Brown’s “Daring, Greatly.” Her book debunks the myths of vulnerability as a weakness and delves into its contribution to courage, resilience, authenticity in the workplace and so much more. It was a game changer for me.
