As Head of Standards and Practices, Molina is the guiding voice for CNN as journalists cover major stories such as COVID-19, the Ukraine war and the divided and contentious political landscape. The decisions she and her team make don’t just impact CNN, but the entire industry. That important role alone makes her a mentor to many, but Molina also is executive sponsor of Warner Bros. Discovery’s women resource group and has mentored through the Circle Mentoring Program, where she advised, supported, and empowered dozens of young women from all corners and levels of the company.
She also serves as a mentor to media executives through NAMIC and is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Arkansas. In the classroom, she not only teaches journalism students about the importance of ethical decisions and diversity in the media, but she has created a mentorship circle that brings together students to help each other as they navigate the first years of their careers.
“We all have busy jobs, but that should never stop us from finding time to help others. I have been very fortunate to have had incredible mentors and champions in my career. They come from different backgrounds and professions and they took the time to invest in me, give me advice and teach me very valuable leadership skills,” Molina says. “Just like them, I want to give back. Just like them, I want to give honest feedback to help women and other people of color learn from their mistakes and acquire important skills. Just like them, I want to help others find their potential and believe in themselves. Sometimes it means having a chat over coffee, or creating a mentoring program, or helping them solve a specific problem at work. And sometimes it means showing them what they can do, opening their eyes to limitless possibilities and encouraging them to take risks.”
One of the individuals who has benefited from Molina’s support is CNN Senior Marketing Coordinator Kenesha Cook. The two met during a WICT mentorship program and continue to keep in close contact. “Her energy has a way of drawing you in. We immediately connected. I admire the way that she’s able to do it all and makes it look so easy,” says Cook. “She has always been so encouraging and helped me through my career journey. She’s more than a mentor to me, she’s my friend.”
Molina’s advice for a strong mentor-mentee relationship is to set clear goals upfront. “But you also have to be open to just listen, guide them in solving problems that suddenly arise and be flexible when they need something different from what was originally discussed. Being there when they really need you, in the most crucial moments, is really important,” she says.
CNN’s commitment to cover the news from all angles so that no one group’s voice is left out of the conversation is personal to Molina. Having arrived in the U.S. from Peru when she was 12 years old, she is one of a few Latinas in the news industry who has an executive and influential role in both the Hispanic and English market. “Our world is incredibly diverse, and elevating the voices of underrepresented communities is crucial in order to tell the stories of the audiences we serve,” she says. “Having a multicultural workforce helps our organizations understand those communities better, brings attention to issues that are important to them and gives them a seat at the table where decisions are made.”