From fostering a sense of belonging at NBCUniversal through her work as a member of the Content Distribution’s DEI Committee to her leadership in addressing economic inequality in education in her community, Chandis makes a mark both within, and outside, the media industry. As a key advisor to NBCU’s distribution and coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, she championed an environment where different perspectives are valued and celebrated.
What does work-life balance mean to you? Work-life balance means making a concerted effort to carve out time to do what centers you during those times that work is stressful, hectic and time consuming. For me, that means finding time to spend with family and friends over a meal or drinks, phone call or neighborhood walk. Even if it’s for an hour, having conversations that are not work-related and laughing always help me recenter.
Advice I would give a recent graduate: My advice would be to take initiative, which could happen in a variety of ways – figuring out what part of a project you can take ownership of and be responsible for the work product, anticipating your manager’s or team’s follow-up questions, developing a diverse network by fostering relationships with your co-workers and industry peers. Additionally, I’d recommend learning through observation. Pay attention to how those senior to you conduct themselves professionally in different settings – how do they present information and communicate verbally/in writing to different audiences, how do they prep for meetings or projects, what qualities do you admire in their leadership and management styles. By observing other people, you can learn what is effective and feels authentic for you as you grow and develop your career.
What nonprofit are you proud to champion? I am proud to support Brooklyn Independent, a private, non-profit middle school that aims to provide a solution to Brooklyn’s unequal education system by using a true sliding-scale tuition model to integrate academically-qualified students across socioeconomic lines. As a former board member, what drew me to be part of the founding board was the school’s principle philosophy that learning in a diverse environment is proven to enhance every student’s education, and is reflective of the world we live and work in. In addition, Brooklyn Independent’s focus on small-classroom learning and balancing a rigorous curriculum with experiential learning helps provide its students with the best possible education — academically, socially and ethically.