Governance, workforce, supplier diversity, programming distribution and content creation, and community investment are the five pinnacles of Comcast’s Diversity & Inclusion program—and together they are the core focus of diversity champion Arias. Look for her to continue to oversee her team’s progress across these focus areas, while also sharing corporate diversity best practices with other companies. “We need more male sponsors who are committed to supporting women, because men still hold the majority of senior leadership roles,” she says. “So, in many ways, it’s up to them to make real change happen.”
Who is your favorite current female TV character and why?
Carrie Mathison, from “Homeland,” is an amazing female character for so many reasons. She’s strong, smart, fearless, focused, and committed to reinventing herself. I’ve enjoyed watching her evolve over the seasons, and while her character is flawed, she is aware of that, and constantly making the effort to become a better person. I admire that in people.
What industry topic do you think will dominate industry headlines in 2018 and why?
The same topic we’ve been discussing over the past few years will continue to dominate, and that is, the disruption driven by technology, which is enabling our customers to consume content in innovative ways. Our product lines will continue to evolve, to meet the needs of a dynamic industry and a multigenerational and multicultural consumer base. To be successful, we will continue to be nimble, and responsive to market and technology trends.
What is one way the industry can continue to evolve in ridding itself of gender discrimination?
We need more male sponsors who are committed to supporting women, because men still hold the majority of senior leadership roles. So, in many ways, it’s up to them to make real change happen. Very early in my career, the few female executives around were hesitant and not as supportive as women are today. As more women come into power, they can, and should, bring other women along with them too.
What famous woman, living or deceased, would you like to have dinner with?
Hillary Rodham Clinton. She’s brilliant, powerful, assertive, ambitious, resilient, and dedicated to ensuring a better future for women everywhere. She’s fighting all of the stereotypes that strong women face, and she’s doing so with humor and grace. It would be wonderful to thank her for being a role model for so many women, who might not have otherwise thought about getting into politics, and also, to just pick her brain.
Best advice for relieving stress?
The best advice for relieving stress is to remember what centers you. For me, it’s my family and exercise. I’ll never forget when my kids were young, and I’d come home exhausted after a long day. One of them would inevitably say: “Mom, go take a run!” As I got older, it became: “Mom, go do yoga!” After which, I’d come home and be “human” again, and could enjoy my family time, while inevitably multi-tasking with work. Even today, my favorite workout is any kind of intense cardio, followed by yoga. It relaxes me, and makes a difference in my ability to focus and prioritize.