Colleen Fahey Rush

Rush and her team sit at the intersection of every business function at ViacomCBS, creating and reinventing how to organize and analyze data and fielding consumer research. Her belief is that the industry must reimagine ways to reach and understand audiences on every platform. She has worked to revive the business of measurement and has championed the need for a diversified currency strategy, which she believes is paramount to achieving a holistic audience view. She also instituted the ViacomCBS Research Council to coordinate research and analytics across the company’s portfolio. Given Rush’s commitment to reimagining research practices, it isn’t surprising she named Shonda Rhimes’ “Year of Yes” as the one female empowerment book to read. She likes that Rhimes “reminds us all to take on new things and build a fresh perspective.”

How would you rate the industry regarding gender bias in shows/characters?
While it’s improving, there’s still a lot of progress to be made. At ViacomCBS, we have a powerful legacy of creating and supporting content and causes that drive conversation and positive change. From MTV Entertainment Group’s $250 million commitment to nurturing content from women- and BIPOC-owned and operated production companies to the ViacomCBS ViewFinder Emerging Directors Program that provides underrepresented directors the opportunity to enhance their skill set and grow their network, ViacomCBS has a long history of celebrating and supporting strong, diverse women and girls on and off screen across all of our brands. We’re proud of the work we’ve done so far, but as an industry we know we have more work to do.

What one female empowerment book do you think every woman should read?
Shonda Rhimes’ ”Year of Yes.” Reminds us all to take on new things, build a fresh perspective.

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