Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Team TEGNA

Then: Talk about your career path, how you got to where you are today at TEGNA.  

I started with TEGNA 15 years ago at WFAA back in 2006.  I was fortunate to get an opportunity to be a Digital Account Executive at WFAA. I started this job the Monday after graduating from Rice University the previous Saturday, so I technically had one day off between finishing college and starting at WFAA.  I have been with TEGNA ever since. I was a part of the WFAA sales team for 12 years in various roles, from account executive to sales leadership, and joined the corporate revenue team back in 2018.   

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?  

My current role is to team up with TEGNA’s powerful 64 stations in 51 markets to increase enterprise revenue, focus on business development, and deliver client results. I also partner with the senior corporate leadership team to lead current and future business development initiatives. In addition, I collaborate with and coach TEGNA’s future sales and leadership members in our innovative sales enablement program called Inside & Out. 

My Halo Moment: What was the most rewarding project you’ve worked on at TEGNA?  

Seeing team members’ personal and professional growth and development through various sales enablement programs, training, and learning experiences is one of the most rewarding experiences in my current role.   

Our talented people allow us to continue to WIN in a commoditized media landscape. It’s all about what we accomplish together as a TEAM. Also, helping businesses grow and TEGNA continuing to deliver client results is our WHY. From a local HVAC company growing from $5M in annual revenue to $10M YOY to a local tier 3 Chevrolet dealership improving from #5 to #1 in their market, this is our purpose and one of the most rewarding elements of being a part of team TEGNA.    

Good Company: What does being in good company mean to you?  

Being in Good Company starts with our purpose to serve the greater good of our communities by hiring the best talent, leading with good intentions, and delivering great outcomes. Prioritizing the importance of team, CLIENT RESULTS, and creating an empowering and innovative culture to grow our team members professionally and personally. It means appreciating the value of partnerships, achieving results together, and working in our audiences’ and clients’ best interests.  

Note to self: What advice would you give yourself looking back on earlier days in your career?  

Always pride yourself on being a GOOD LISTENER and be FEARLESS. Being an active listener is extremely powerful. Instead of thinking about what you are going to say next, listen to what is being said, especially in conversations with prospects. They are sharing valuable information about their business that you need to grow their business. Being FEARLESS is being curious, it’s asking a question that you have or cold calling a prospect that you saw on cable or thinking BIG and asking for a million order when it is in the best interest of the client.  

”You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky  

Tangible & Emotional Intelligence: What advice would you give to a young AAPI looking to work in media/sales/marketing?  

On top of being a good listener and being fearless, approach a media sales position with a mindset of delivering CLIENT RESULTS. Everything will take care of itself if you prioritize having your client’s best interests in mind. You have an incredible opportunity to change lives and deliver results. People invest in people. Your success will come with their success.  In addition, understand what you are genuinely passionate about. What brings you fulfillment professionally and personally? Align these goals and build a roadmap on how to get there.  

Then: Talk about your career path, how you got to where you are today at TEGNA. 

Then: I was working with a Talent Agency for Creatives at Vitamin T who found a freelance position at Hatch/TEGNA in October 2015. Hatch was looking for a presentation designer to build White Label Programs for TEGNA Sales. Hatch had planned to give me one project to work on that week, which I had it done in 3 hours, and decided to keep me for two weeks and consecutively until the end of the year. In 2016, they offered me the position as a Design Strategist at Hatch. Fast forward two years, Hatch merged with G/O Digital and PREMION as TEGNA Marketing Solutions. Last year in 2020, our creative team at TEGNA Marketing Solutions joined forces with TEGNA Design Tank as Ad Sales Marketing team. 

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA? 

Now: Fortunately, my role as a Design Strategist has been the same since day one. Part of what I do is to create a centralized file sharing for the sales team, which the TEGNA Library was created in 2018. Along with that was some of the Sales Initiative, including the Inspiration of Tokyo, the Sales Summit from 2017-2019, and the 2020 Pep Rallies. 

My Halo Moment: What was the most rewarding project you’ve worked on at TEGNA?  

I don’t have anything specific because most of what I do is truly rewarding in itself. When I get a personal note, a phone call, an email, or a gift to thank me for my work, it brings a big smile.     

Good Company: What does being in good company mean to you?  

To me, it’s about building good relationships with the people I work with. It’s about respect and empathy. 

Note to self: What advice would you give yourself looking back on earlier days in your career? 

Never take things too personally. When you are at work, it is about professionalism. Search for the value in feedback or criticism.  

Tangible & Emotional Intelligence: What advice would you give to a young AAPI looking to work in media/sales/marketing? 

Take on new challenges. Speak up or stand up for something. Always help others, you never know what people are going through.

Then: Talk about your career path, how you got to where you are today at TEGNA.   

I studied telecommunications and marketing at Indiana University in Bloomington and interned at the university–owned TV station WTIU. I then realized that I wanted a career in television media sales. After graduating, I moved to Dallas, TX and started my career at Avery Knodel Television a national rep. firm. After I finished the sales training program in New York, I moved to the St. Louis office.   

My next position was with Anheuser Busch in the Bud Sports Group, selling sports and entertainment programming on a national network, and then to KTVI, the ABC affiliate (currently FOX) in local sales and was promoted to national sales manager. I departed broadcast to sell for the local cable interconnect (currently Spectrum Cable) and as NSM, developed their national sales effort.   

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA? 

I am celebrating my 25th year as an Account Executive at the station. My passion is local sales, and I am honored to be part of the incredible heritage of KSDK– 5 On Your Side.   

My Halo Moment: What was the most rewarding project you’ve worked on at TEGNA?   

There have been several, but a few stand out: Our partnership with Folds of Honor and a local grocery nominated for a TEGNA best client solution. We are in year #4 of our exclusive partnership and have helped raise over 3.2 million for scholarships for the families of injured and fallen soldiers. The St. Louis Blues historical Stanley Cup run, The Olympics, and our exclusive year-long partnership with the Missouri History Museum’s exhibit: #1 in Civil Rights.   

Good Company: What does being in good company mean to you?   

Being in good company means having people you can count on to help you and your clients succeed.  A company with the resources, knowledge, and infrastructure to lead the conversation and develop solutions and ideas that help our clients grow their businesses.   

Note to Self: What advice would you give yourself looking back on earlier days in your career?  

Don’t’ sweat the small stuff.  Keep your eye on the big picture and your head out of the weeds. 

Tangible & Emotional Intelligence: What advice would you give to someone looking to work in media/sales/marketing? 

Tangible: Build strong relationships with the people you work with, and you will have a solid foundation for success. 

Emotional: Show your clients and the people around you that you care.  They will succeed, and so will you.