From his time as an intern in 1998 to his current title of SVP of Programming, Glenn Goldsmith has spent nearly three decades not only advancing his career at Mediacom, but also elevating those who have accompanied him along the way. His journey, defined by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and helping colleagues fulfill their ambitions, has been matched by an equally unwavering commitment to mentorship.
What began as informal guidance to interns evolved into established support that spans every level of Mediacom’s operations. The inspiration was sparked even before Goldsmith became an official Mediacom employee. During his interview, his first meeting with Italia Commisso Weinand—now Mediacom’s EVP of Programming and HR—turned into a three-hour conversation.
“She never offered me a job. She never told me about anything like that, and then after three hours, her assistant knocked on the door to say, ‘Hey, you’ve got a meeting.’ And [Italia] looked at me and said, ‘Can you come back?’ And I’ve been coming back every day since 1998,” Goldsmith recounts.
The warm embrace solidified to Goldsmith that Mediacom held a family-like atmosphere, and thus fostered more opportunities for collaboration and development. If leadership were willing to spend three hours with a prospect, Goldsmith felt that trust and guidance should be reciprocated. But for him, it doesn’t matter what title or job level an employee holds.
“I like to reach back to people. I like to talk to people, whether you’re at the same level as me or below me, male, female—I don’t care about race, I don’t care about any of those things. I just want to tell a person my story,” Goldsmith says. “I want to tell them we have a beautiful company here. Hold on, because whatever your dreams are, they could be realized right here.”
Goldsmith himself is an example of achieving one’s aspirations. With an associate degree to his name, he went back to school and got a degree in accounting from Marist College while still working at Mediacom. It didn’t stop there. “I went back to Seton Hall Law School because I needed to know about contracts. I went to get my MBA because I didn’t think having a bachelor’s degree in accounting was good enough, because I was dealing with different aspects of the organization [such as] operations, HR, engineering,” he says. “Plus, I had to show my kids it’s not all about words. It’s about action.”
His commitment to mentorship goes past the Mediacom walls. Goldsmith contributes to industry associations, including NAMIC and CTAM, as well as his college alumni associations. Through those groups, Goldsmith further expands his guidance to students navigating the challenges that come with entering the workforce and taking the leap into the professional ranks.
Within Mediacom, Goldsmith encourages employees to participate in charitable and community initiatives. As if he doesn’t have enough schooling, he regularly contributes to the training content found in Mediacom University, where his insights span topics ranging from workplace challenges to emerging opportunities for growth and the resources needed for career advancement.
“Glenn Goldsmith’s journey with Mediacom is a true testament to dedication and leadership. He has grown into a visionary leader whose impact on our programming division is immeasurable. His strategic insight, paired with a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation, has helped shape not only our content but the culture of our team.,” says Commisso Weinand. “Glenn’s story continues to inspire excellence across our company. When our Founder and CEO Rocco Commisso established the Mediacom Pillars of Our Culture, which include conducting yourself ethically and leading by example, he had someone with Glenn’s attributes in mind.”
Goldsmith’s mentorship has created a ripple effect within Mediacom and the cable industry at large. He’ll continue to view mentorship as both a responsibility and an opportunity, but he hopes to preserve the lessons of the industry’s pioneers while preparing the next generation to lead with skill, integrity and pride.
“Everybody has talent. You just have to bring that out of them,” he says. “It has to be intentional investment—just like anything.”