Lea in 2017 spearheaded the government relations and advocacy efforts for the successful acquisition of Argentine broadcaster Telefe by Viacom, coordinating meetings between the US Department of State, the US Embassy to Argentina, the Argentine Embassy to the US, the President of Argentina and more. Her portfolio covers a wide range of regulatory and public policy issues among the many countries where Viacom operates. “One global issue that remains critically important to Viacom and our industry is the advancement of laws that protect content creators and consumers alike,” she says. Lea serves on the board for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as well as MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
What have been the most important legal issues in media for you in the past year?
One global issue that remains critically important to Viacom and our industry is the advancement of laws that protect content creators and consumers alike.
How is today’s political environment impacting your job and the industry?
Politics is the new national pastime, and there’s certainly a lot more “noise” in Washington than ever before. But my job as Viacom’s chief advocate remains the same – work with policymakers around the world to make sure they understand our business and maintain focus on those issues that matter most to our company and our partners.
What is your golden rule for negotiating?
Trust is everything. Work hard to build strong relationships with those on the opposite side of the table.
