ABOUT US
Mary Kay Wedel
At the start of my career, I was very fortunate to be introduced to a growing industry called Cable TV and it is that industry that marked my career for 25+ years. My career was filled with so many exciting adventures. I traveled all over the United States and had the chance to work with great people and even meet some famous ones along the way.
I began working in local programming and doing on-air work followed by franchising work (having communities sign-up for Cable TV) and then settled into the area of Marketing and Sales. I moved from Manager to Director to Vice President with different Cable companies over the first ten years and then I moved to the fun side of the industry – the Programming side. I worked for Showtime Networks in National and Regional Accounts and then became the VP for Special Markets. (My career at Showtime began because Lee Tenebruso hired me – she was my first female boss…and lucky for me we are still friends and now working together on this project).
Another big opportunity was offered to me when I joined U.S.S.B. (later DirecTV). I was responsible for developing Commercial Markets for Satellite TV (like the early days of Cable TV – the industry grew very quickly). Most recently I worked for Eclipse Marketing as VP of National Accounts and Business Development. Along with my focus on One Piece of Advice, I have launched Performance Coaching and Communications, LLC, specializing in Leadership Development for business leaders and teams. I am a Certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). I will combine my business and career knowledge and experience to grow both One Piece of Advice and my coaching business to help people reach their goals and make their lives a little easier and enjoyable.
I am a wife and busy mother of two children, the Past President of the Monmouth Beach School Board and eight year member, Treasurer of the Historical Society, and a community volunteer. I am also active in the media industry as a member of CTAM and Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT), and the International Coach Federation.
Some important advice I’ve received along the way…
- Know where you want to go – set professional goals every year.
- Smile…but not during negotiations.
- Visualize the results you want.
- People like to deal with organized people – keep your desk clean.
- Treat people how you want to be treated.
- Don’t emulate the behavior of a bad boss to your staff.
- Play the game (I didn’t always take this advice).
- Have fun!
Lee Tenebruso-Shultes
I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed a successful career in the media industry for over 30 years. Throughout that time I’ve worked for major corporations, starting out as a secretary in the sales department at CBS, and entering the Cable TV industry, at TelePrompTer Corporation, in a junior position in public relations. I had my fullest experience at Showtime Networks, where I was employed for 17 years, serving in leadership roles in public relations, national accounts, and in programming promotions. Most recently I served at Court TV as Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Education. Throughout these years I have held junior level positions, held management roles, been vice president, and on occasion a senior vice president, for various media companies, and across many disciplines. Through my experience at these companies, I’ve traveled extensively throughout the country, and have worked in our Nation’s Capital.
During my career I have been honored with eight awards for public relations, public affairs, and education initiatives. In 2007, I received the highest honor for public affairs leadership from the Cable Television Public Affairs Association. It has been my great pleasure to work with remarkable business professionals, many who have counseled me and shared valuable insights. One of the true joys of having a career focused in one industry, is the benefit of forming long-term friendships. Mary Kay Wedel and I have developed such a friendship, which has its roots in our days as colleagues in the sales department at Showtime Networks.
In my private life, I am married, and one of my great passions is art. I am an active member of arts organizations, I paint abstracts, and my work is shown in galleries in the New York tri-state area.
I’d like to share just a handful of advice given to me by business leaders and colleagues. These words are golden to me, and evergreen indeed.
- Always dress the part.
- When you’re heading into an important meeting, be well prepared. Never wing it.
- When your company downsizes – step up to the plate and offer to fill in the gaps.
- Every worthwhile idea should be presented in a formal plan.
- Even the grandest vision will not be achieved without a sound execution process.
- Be bold.
- In business, never hitch your career completely to another person. People leave. Don’t hitch yourself to a company. Companies fold. Find an ideal – you will have it forever.
