WOW

This year's Kaitz Foundation co-Chairs, Patrick Esser, President - Cox Communications, Inc. and Johnathan Rodgers, President & CEO - TV ONE were proud to report $1.5 Million was raised at this year's dinner.  The industry awarded U.S. Representative Hilda Solis with the Kaitz "Diversity Advocate" award.  Representative Solis' tireless efforts to fight for access to new technologies for her Latino and Asian constituents and be out front on raising awareness of violence against women as a partner with Lifetime TV is a true tribute to her, the daughter of immigrant parents that toiled in the fields in CA.  MTV Networks accepted the Kaitz "Diversity Champion" award for their diverse workforce and programming which accurately reflects the many cultures and ethnicities they serve world-wide.  MTV's tagline is "Where Diversity Rules".

The new Walter Kaitz Executive Director, David M. Porter, Jr., Ph.D. made his first public address at the dinner.  He expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the continued work ahead for the foundation and the industry.  In my opinion, the gentleman who stole the show was a recent Emma L. Bowen student, Alfonso Rosales, Production Coordinator - Travel Channel.  With much eloquence and sincere appreciation, he acknowledged the hand extended to him by Phyllis Eagle-Olsen, Executive Director - Emma Bowen and Discovery Communications, Inc.  in shaping the opportunities provided to him while attending NYU.

I had the opportunity to sit with Sue Panzer, Lifetime TV and a WICT National Board member, for the dinner.  I'm always amazed at the women and men who are the faces of the cable industry.  Sue's story is incredible and her commitment to helping women is unwavering.

Now that diversity week is winding down.  I will spend a few days reviewing my experience and drawing some comparisons between the '06 and '02 diversity events.  More to follow...

Great panel discussion today.  Title:  "Cable and the Crossroads:  The Future is Today"

Moderator:  NCTA's very own:  Rob Stoddard, SVP - Communications & Public Affairs

Panelists:  Nomi M. Bergman, EVP, Strategy and Development - Advance/Newhouse Communications

Deborah Blackwell, EVP and GM - SOAPnet

Italia Commisso Weinand, SVP, Programming and HR - Mediacom Communications

Lauren Zalaznick, President - BRAVO - NBC/Universal Cable

The NY Chapter 's Executive Women's Luncheon is an annual signature event that really encapsulates the very core of WICT's mission.  Kudos go out to Marie Svet, President of the Chapter and her great leadership over the last three years.

Rob took sometime to address the title of today's session.  The spirited discussion examined diversity in the panelists companies today.  Technology and the lack of women in this, a dynamic area of our business is perplexing to say the least.  Lauren has had no problem with creating a senior team of women that cover BRAVO's new media (broadband and interactive).  It's a call to women to put aside any apprehension or preconceived opinions and move into the field.  Don't waste time as an assistant to a Silicon Valley Executive.   But instead, if you have a technology idea, create your own company and bring it to market.  If not, you're stepping back and it will take you 20 years to catch-up.

As with any discussion on the topic of women in the boardrooms, we need to continue to have that conversation at the top.  A reminder was made that NCTA's Board of Directors is home to the industry's CEOs.  Perhaps this discussion needs to continue at this level.  I know that Kyle hosted a joint board of directors meeting today between NCTA and NAMIC's Board of Directors.

Another provocative point .  Given Cable's stage of growth as a mature industry, perhaps we should really start thinking about the grooming of CEO replacements so that in the event of some wide spread retirement of our current leaders, we have competent, hopefully some women, able to lead our companies.  You never know, you may not live forever!!!

Kyle acknowledged the recent NAMIC study release on the diversity among cable industry.  Yes, there is still room for improvement, but the good news is that, as an industry, we continue to acknowledge and work toward a more multi-faceted workforce.  As Kyle acknowledges, we are not working with our head in the sand, but instead willing to self-assess and strive to improve.

Kyle sent out a call-to-action to the membership to make your presence known in Washington, D.C. among legislators and regulators.  We need to continue to put a face to our industry efforts across the country.  You need to come to our Nation's Capitol and tell your story.  This is a very dynamic, well-positioned industry and we need to hear from you.  NCTA staff is ready and able to provide the necessary background to prepare for such visits on the Hill and at the Commission.

Personally, I will be reaching out to our cable program networks and local systems in D.C. to bring their programming, initiatives and technology demos to NCTA's new "Cable Media Center".  Scheduled to open October 2, 2006, the center will include a small scaled down "Broadband Home", a Theater (105 seats), Boardroom and other conference room space with capabilities including, a small editing suite, HD programming, video conferencing, webcasting and downlinking capabilities.

New Capitol Hill address (effective October 1):

25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW - Suite 100
Washington, DC  20001

As promised, I have some additional details to share about the above break-out session on Day 1 of the NAMIC Diversity Conference.

The instructor, Dr. Robin Denise Johnson presents the "Dance of Leadership" which identifies five leadership styles and their metaphorical expression through Dance.  The "Flowing" and "Staccato" are two styles that are more familiar and considered extraverted in nature.   "Chaos", "Lyrical", and "Stillness" are three styles that are less familiar and considered intraverted.  Dr. Johnson suggests that leadership occurs within the rank and file of an organization.  Middle managers and front line supervisors display one or more of the various leadership styles.  After participating in this session I walked away with a clearer understanding of my own leadership style.  Of course, I couldn't possible fit nice and neatly into one style but instead two, "Flowing" and "Stillness".   Flowing is defined as taking one step at a time, grounded and able to channel energy in a very methodical manner.  Famous leaders that exhibit Flowing style include Mother Teresa, Cleopatra, Michael Jordan and Dona Fela.  My second style is Stillness.  This style is characterized as living and walking the talk.  They are the change agents by their mere prescense.  Popular leaders of our time include Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Dalai Lama, Cesar Chavez, Thich Nhat Hahn and Aung San Suu Kyi.  This is the hardest leadership style to quantify.  As you can imagine, this affects ones ability to justify promotion and salary increases.  Not to worry, there are ways to measure the contributions of a Stillness leader.  Dr. Johnson coaches middle managers as well.

Dr. Johnson teaches at UCLA and shares her Dance of Leadership to NAMIC's ELDP students.  For more information, check-out her book, "Dance of Leadership" - first edition.