Cablefax The Magazine October 2022 - 43

Mirna Eusebio Lithgow
SVP, Product
Altice USA
THE WHY? When not working with her team to enhance Altice's existing
products and develop new ones-including 5Gig Fiber Internet, Optimum
Mobile, Optimum Stream and Affordable Connectivity offerings-Lithgow
serves as the executive sponsor of HER Impact Network, which is one the
company's affinity groups. The industry organization She Runs It recognized
Lithgow for her efforts in helping women advance in the workplace and
making the industry more inclusive for women and minorities.
SHE SAYS... " Listen to employees and create safe spaces for them to
collaborate and reflect on DEI issues and how to solve them. "
BOOK I WISH EVERYONE WOULD READ: " Daring Greatly " by Brené
Brown.
D&I CHAMPION
Davis is so committed to ensuring that
Disney Branded Television's content is
reflective of the world, she sees a literal
reminder every time she enters her
office. On the door hangs a sign that
reads: " We are the stories we create,
and the stories we create are us. "
" I am incredibly lucky to have the opportunity
to lead a tremendous group
of diverse executives that come from
unique backgrounds and various
points of view. We have immense respect
for our Disney legacy, for our
beloved characters and stories, for
our audience and for each other, "
Davis says. " We believe strongly that
purposefully reflecting the incredible,
beautiful diversity of our audiences
allows us to most impactfully create
the hopeful, optimistic, uplifting stories
that Disney Branded Television is
known for. This is not a mission statement;
it is baked into our DNA and informs
how we operate every day. "
Growing up, Davis said she was in
an environment where she didn't
see a lot of people who looked like
her. That changed when she attended
HBCU Dillard University. " It was
great to have the opportunity to go to
a school where my teachers and other
students not only looked like me, but
they also came from all walks of life
and taught me so much, " says Davis,
who now serves on the board of her
alma mater. " Going to Dillard built my
confidence, gave me a sense of pride,
and made me less insecure about my
place in the world. Quite simply, it expanded
my sense of belonging. "
CablefaxDiversity.com
When the company created a combined
Disney Branded Television
group in November 2020, Davis hit
the ground running to expand the
content slate and fuel the linear networks
along with SVOD Disney+,
first as EVP, Creative Development
and Strategy and now as President.
She's following in the footsteps of her
predecessor Gary Marsh, the 33-year
Disney vet who developed and oversaw
the launches of Disney megahits
such as the original " High School
Musical " and " Hannah Montana " as
well as the launch of Disney Junior.
She seems well equipped to build on
his legacy. Under Davis' leadership,
Disney Branded Television won two
NAACP Image Awards in 2021 for
Disney Junior's " Doc McStuffins, " two
2021 Kids Choice Awards for " High
School Musical: The Musical: The Series "
and a Peabody Award for Disney
Channel's " The Owl House. "
Other wins have included inking a
multi-year overall deal with " The
Proud Family " creator Bruce W. Smith
and TV veteran Ralph Farquhar, an
executive producer on " The Proud
Family " to produce animated and
Ayo Davis
President
Disney Branded
Television
October 2022
43
live-action series and films as well as
a partnership with Moonbug Entertainment,
the content giant behind
" CoComelon. "
Like any proud parent, Davis won't
name favorites. But she does have
some DBT content that she's especially
proud of, such as animated series
" The Proud Family: Louder and
Prouder " and " Eureka. " " On the live
action side, I'm excited for our upcoming
'American Born Chinese' series
for Disney+, starring Michelle
Yeoh. It has tons of heart, comedy and
action-while also exploring relatable
issues of identity, culture and family, "
she says.
DIVERSITY
http://www.CablefaxDiversity.com
Cablefax The Magazine October 2022

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