cfx_october-2024 - 26

Rodolfo Martinez
SVP, International & ESPN Deportes Production
ESPN
Martinez increased content offerings for ESPN's Hispanic audience by expanding
" Ahora a Nunca " to two hours per day and launching " Entre Copas. " He inspired a
new generation of women to get into sports media by making Carolina Guillen the
first female baseball play-by-play commentator; appointing the first female playby-play
Spanish-language announcer for " NFL Monday Night Football " ; hiring an
all-female panel to host the soccer highlights show " Goles y Más; " and launching a
women's soccer edition of " Fútbol Americas. "
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT DIVERSITY WITHIN THE
INDUSTRY? Often lack of diversity in media is solved by placing more diverse
individuals on screen or as the face of media. However, diversity is created not only
by adding individuals on the " front line " but also by having diverse people behind the scenes and empowering those
individuals.
Dennis Mathew
Chairman & CEO
Altice USA
Diversity starts at the top for Mathew,
who has surrounded himself with a
diverse team of executives and is a
staunch supporter of and a champion
for Optimum's eight affinity groups,
which provide employees a platform
to connect, support one another and
advocate for positive change within
the organization and beyond.
WILL AI HELP OR HURT DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION? Optimum is exploring
many ways to utilize AI to benefit our
customers, business and teammates,
and it's already having a positive
impact. But we will be thoughtful with
every step we take to ensure AI does
not undo the incredible progress that
has been made in fostering a more
inclusive society. I'm very hopeful that
over time AI will further democratize
high-quality education.
Naila McKenzie
Global Head of DEI
AMC Networks
It's been a busy year for McKenzie
that included spearheading AMC
Networks' first official partnership
with Veterans in Media & Entertainment
and collaborating on its first
Indigenous Non-Profit PSA with the
Native American Rights Foundation.
She also helped AMCN tap its first
Native American diverse supplier,
with Amber Morningstar Byars serving
as impact producer on IFC Film
" Lakota Nation vs. United States. "
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE
ABOUT YOUR LIFE? Tracee Ellis Ross,
not as herself, but her character from
" Girlfriends, " Joan. Joan was the first
time I saw an unapologetically awkward
and charming bi-racial Black
woman lawyer represented on TV
and I lived off episodes of Girlfriends
during law school almost as a lifeline.
Lori Hall McKissic
Co-Founder & Head of
Creative
Pop'N Creative
Hall McKissic is the co-founder and
head of creative at Pop'N Creative,
a Black women-owned, women-led
multicultural marketing agency that
has rapidly expanded into a 15-person
team with 200% year-over-year
revenue growth. Her leadership is
reflected in the agency's diverse
portfolio, which includes partnerships
with prominent brands
such as Revolt, Cartoon Network,
National Geographic and BET+. In
addition to growing the agency, she
has developed a robust internship
program.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE
ABOUT YOUR LIFE? Nia Long. She
has this boss chick, no-nonsense
professional character down, yet she
also has the fun girlfriend side to
her character that would reflect me
perfectly.
26
October 2024
CablefaxDiversity.com

http://www.CablefaxDiversity.com

cfx_october-2024

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