Advice Straight From The Horse’s Mouth
Andrew Goldman, Co-Founder/Chief Strategy Officer at TVtibi and former VP of Program Strategy and Planning at HBO, shares his experiences in entering the infamous television network, and how to get ahead and stay ahead.
I recently interviewed Andrew Goldman, who has over 30 years experience in broadcasting and now the fresh platforms of OTT. We all know getting your foot in the door in this field of work can be very complicated unless your a member of the lucky sperm or egg club. His answers provide insight as to what he KNOWS works to succeed.
Interview:
Q: What advice would you give to someone entering the workforce that’s interested in working for a television or a OTT network?
A: Get in the building any way you can. Do not focus on the title of the position or the salary—those will come in time with experience and reputation. The job market is very competitive right now, especially in the entertainment area. Once hired, do your job and offer to help others with theirs. Being on a winning team is more important than being the star player. Spend time learning about the culture. In addition to the skills that got you there, navigating the workplace culture is equally, if not more, important to your career success and longevity at any company.
Q: How has programming become a global endeavor over the years? How has this affected the dynamics of the workplace?
A: Just as Wall Street and the foreign exchanges evolved into a global marketplace, programming has done the same. Entertainment companies now factor in the global economy when developing products. Hollywood has always been a great exporter of its content to other countries and now designs it to make it more appealing. For example, the movie “Transformers 4” has major scenes of destruction set in Japan, where there is a huge audience for that type of spectacle.
Q: What advice do you have for those of all generations on how they can keep up with relevant technology?
A: Three words: NEVER STOP LEARNING. Even before the non-stop introductions of technological advances, people who read and stay current on trends and forward innovations will always have a place at the table. I just spent 2 days at the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) in NY and was amazed at some of the current and upcoming products in development. In addition to going to industry events, I continue to teach at NYU’s Tisch school of the Arts—there is no better way to understand what the “next gen” is thinking and doing than being with them on a regular basis. I definitely learn from them. Hopefully, a dollop of my wisdom heads their way, too.
Q: How did you get started?
A: When I graduated from college, I was not ready to look for so-called “adult” work and wanted a relatively stress-free job, so I went back to work as a lifeguard at a pool I had worked for through high school and college. One of the members of the pool, knew I had graduated and asked me if he could help. He then offered to pass my resume to the CEO of HBO. Even with the CEO’s backing, this was no guarantee of getting a job. After many months of interviews, I was hired as a Guide Kit Coordinator in the Guide Publications at HBO. This story has 2 takeaways:
- You never know who can help you with your career. It does not have to be at a traditional networking or industry conference. It could be someone you meet at a dinner party, dog run, or even a pool.
- Even with the numerous persons in your corner to offer help (such as a CEO and his uncle) to get you to the front door, it is up to you to blow it off the hinges to get in the building.
Learning from those who have spent 30 years in one company can demonstrate the agility to work with the changes
@JocelynGreenky
I’m here to help! Reach out to me.
Jocelyn Greenky | JocelynGreenky.com
Office Culture and Politics Expert
Author | Producer | Speaker
www.JocelynGreenky.com
@JocelynGreenky
Info@JocelynGreenky.com