It would be difficult for Laulis to wear any more hats. Her appointment to board chair in November 2017 makes her the highest-ranking woman on the operator side of the cable industry. Under her leadership, this past year Cable ONE delivered $960 million in revenue and fully integrated NewWave Communications. Thanks to Laulis, Cable ONE can offer 1 Gigabit speed to NewWave customers. She still manages to make time for a personal life, and she and her family often volunteer for Feed My Starving Children and Family Promise. Laulis places a strong emphasis on mentorship, citing former Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham as an inspiration. “Her use of mentors, her growth in confidence, and ability to make tough decisions and lead a company during times of chaos—in a human, caring way—is nothing short of inspiring!” Laulis says.
What’s a recent example of a step forward for women in the media industry?
Having two women CEOs at the helm of two of the top 10 MSOs! Let’s keep the trend going!
Who is an inspirational woman you admire, and why?
I greatly admire Katharine Graham. For those who have read her biography or maybe recently saw the movie THE POST, you know that she was thrust into a role in a time that was far less open about women in the workforce. Her use of mentors, her growth in confidence and ability to make tough decisions and lead a company during times of chaos—in a human, caring way—is nothing short of inspiring!
What’s been the most dramatic change in your sector of the business today vs. three years ago?
For Cable ONE it would have to be our entrance into the public company sector (July 2015). The pace, the rules, and the energy are all very different from when we were a division of our parent company, GHC. I believe we all have great pride in what our associates have been able to accomplish for our customers and shareholders in this realm.
