Daniels is tasked with overseeing three of the top-rated cable networks for men, and she’s been knocking it out of the park. She delivered a stunning 30 original series that averaged over one million total viewers in 2019 across Discovery Channel, Science and Animal Planet. Science saw its highest-rated year ever with W25-54, and Discovery became the top cable net in M25-54 (excluding sports) for the fifth straight year. And Daniels still delivered a robust slate of content from quarantine. “I think with all the challenges of working remotely, reaching out to your employees for more than the day-to-day work became a higher priority,” she says. “I check in with everyone and have initiated a weekly email checking in and am being really honest about my feelings and challenges.”
What is one of your proudest moments during the pandemic? My proudest moments were centered around the fact that the whole network was able to take an incredibly challenging situation and figure out how to make it work.
Some research has suggested COVID-19 may set women in the workplace back half a decade. How can we ensure the progress made isn’t erased? Continue to hire and mentor women on all levels.
How has your leadership style changed during the pandemic? I think with all the challenges of working remotely, reaching out to your employees for more than the day to work became a higher priority. Don’t get me wrong we are in many ways working harder than ever; but people are in challenging situations – whether they be all alone or juggling kids home learning and work. I check in with everyone and have initiated a weekly email checking in and being really honest about my feelings and challenges.
What is the biggest factor needed to eliminate gender inequality in the workplace? More women in senior positions. I feel very lucky to work for a company that does this.
