Women’s History Month: Celebrating TEGNA’s Female Leaders

Nicki Harkrider, Local Revenue Officer, TEGNA

THEN: Talk about your career path and how you got to where you are at today with TEGNA.  

While studying advertising at Texas Tech University, I had the opportunity to intern at KAMC-TV in Lubbock, Texas. It was a blessing to discover the world of broadcast station sales and I immediately knew this was the career path I wanted to pursue.   

Those connections gave me the opportunity to start as an entry-level seller at KAMR-TV in Amarillo before moving back to my hometown of Dallas, where I started at Katz National in national television sales. I had eight amazing years working in national sales before joining WFAA-TV in Dallas.  

My experiences as a seller, a job-share seller, and a leader have all contributed to my enormous passion for my job! I have experienced the very best people, the very best client results, and the very best leadership anyone could ever want in their lives. My personal mission and passions inspire others to do their very best work and be the best versions of themselves.   

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?  

As VP, Local Revenue Officer, I have the honor of working with our entire sales organization to fulfill our purpose through the strategy we execute. My leadership role is a gift, and it is something I do not take for granted. I feel it is my responsibility to earn the respect of our organization through how I lead each day.  

Halo Moment: What is the most rewarding project you’ve worked on?

It is not one single moment. It is a collection of many moments. I have witnessed our talented people beaming with smiles, giving high-fives, sharing joy, and feeling pride because of their accomplishments.   

Those moments are truly the greatest reward, not only because they experience professional success, but they experience personal success, team success, and FEEL great. Their teams FEEL great. The chemistry and culture feel great. Those are my halo moments. They are powerful. They make a real, meaningful impact. They are lasting! 

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

Being in good company means we are all committed to good work! There is a purpose, and it’s more than a job. It is about making a difference and changing lives and communities.  The purpose is what drives me, and I couldn’t be prouder to commit to GOOD!     

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

So many experienced people want to help people grow. Have confidence in being curious about everything you do because people want to invest in others. You don’t have to wait for the experience to give you a seat at the table. You can have a seat at the table with commitment, ideas, and curiosity.  

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

Media sales & marketing is a fantastic opportunity for women! I have watched so many women grow and flourish in our industry –  and many have done so while balancing their family lives with their careers.   

Tangible: I would tell young females to follow a passion.  Following your passion and your beliefs will always serve you well.   Your belief creates your attitude.  Your attitude creates your actions.  Your actions create your habits.  And your habits create your results.  So, always start with your why and your purpose.  That has an impact on everything else.  I believe in helping people, and leading people. It is my why. I am driven to do what it takes to make that happen.  

Emotional: Be truthful in everything you do.  By being vulnerable through honesty, you are able to stay clear-minded. Being clear-minded will absolutely create your greatest work. 

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Danielle Jimenez, Director of Sales at KENS5.

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

During college, I interned for KENS 5’s local lifestyle show, Great Day SA. I was mesmerized by the energy at the station, I knew I had to work there. Upon graduating, I applied for an Associate Morning News Producer position. When I went to the interview, they told me the hours were overnight, M-F 1 am-10 am. That’s when I realized the news life wasn’t for me. The Executive Producer of Great Day SA introduced me to the sales department shortly thereafter, and I was hired as an Account Executive at KENS in 2007. In 2011, I moved over to the Graham Media station in San Antonio (as an AE) for about 5 years before returning to KENS/ TEGNA as a Local Sales Manager in 2015. I was promoted to Director of Sales in 2018.

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?  

I am the Director of Sales at KENS 5. Our team is responsible for cultivating comprehensive marketing campaigns to meet best the needs and goals of local, regional, and national businesses.

Halo Moment: What is the most rewarding project you’ve worked on?

The most rewarding project I’ve worked on is KENS Cares. KENS Cares is an annual effort designed to raise awareness of the needs of the local community and provide support to local non-profits. In 2018 our sales team worked to develop the partnership framework, re-launch, and activation of this community-focused franchise. This is a total station initiative. Together with our sponsor, KENS has partnered with non-profits such as Communities in Schools, San Antonio Sports Foundation, and the San Antonio Food Bank.  Through toy, school supply, and food drives – we’ve worked with people all across our city to serve the San Antonio community better. It is empowering to witness and impact change in the local community. I am happy the KENS team can play a part in it.

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

To be in good company is to know that each interaction with a KENS 5/TEGNA team member consists of integrity and empathy. It’s a developed trust that your TEGNA team member has your best interest at the heart of every conversation and recommendation. Being in good company means creating and promoting an inclusive, positive, people-centric culture.

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

Listening is key. You learn the most when you stop talking and start listening. Also, learn from every interaction and experience whether good or bad. Celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. The wins prove that it can be done, but the mistakes/losses set you up for success and where you find the most teachable moments. I read a quote that said, “Failure is delay, not defeat” and I love that. Mistakes are inevitable but turning the mistake into an opportunity to come back better is what ensures success in your personal and professional life.

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

Tangible – Network! If you’re just starting the job search, connect with a mentor to gain insight into what a career in media entails. If you’ve just landed your first job in this industry (congrats!), time to network internally. Building a network of individuals in a similar role allows for best practice discussions, real-time situation analysis, and is also a great check-in for those “what would you do?” moments. Also, speak up. Don’t be afraid to find your voice and use it respectfully to offer constructive criticism and an alternate perspective.

Emotional – Increase self-awareness. Take the time to identify who you are, what you stand for, and potential strengths/areas of improvement. High self-awareness allows you to approach situations from a place of empathy first, even when an encounter is unfavorable. Learning how to manage your emotions can help you to differentiate between perceived vs. reality, become more amenable to feedback, and facilitates better decision-making.

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Joanie Kraus, Director of Sales at KARE 11

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

A wise person once told me to always look for doors that are opening. I previously worked in the financial industry, was a fitness competitor, and worked part-time as a fashion stylist for my love of helping others. 

As a stylist, I had a client that was an LSM for the local station in Columbus, Ohio. She asked if I ever thought of doing media sales. I’m naturally curious, love people, and watching things grow, so I went through the interview process and was offered an entry-level AE position. When I took the job, I promised myself that I was going to use the discipline of my fitness days and make this opportunity my sport. Work hard, give it my all, and be the best me, I could be. I was the top new business AE in a corporation of 250+ stations a year later.

From there, I moved to Minnesota to work at the CBS O&O, WCCO to be in a bigger market and further grow my career. I thought Minnesota was a layover but met my now husband and it became my home. 

I left WCCO to join TEGNA and the KARE 11 team because of the culture and how the corporation supports and invests in its people. I came to KARE 11 as an AE, handling a large share of its local business. I wanted to focus on the “we” instead of “me” and transitioned to an LSM. 

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?

I’m currently the Director of Sales of a fantastic team of people striving to help local businesses grow. Coming to KARE 11 and TEGNA was one of the best decisions, second to marrying my husband, that I’ve made in my life. I love what I do and who I do it for.

I’m part of a positive, hard-working team of experts that are focused on delivering dynamic results in a supportive environment. The team consists of wonderful people that wake up every morning committed to being passionate, innovative, and elite. It has been a humbling privilege to be their leader.

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

I have three projects that stand out. They are each very different, but all showcase the impact of empowerment and collaboration. We get the opportunity to work with so many talented people at TEGNA. Together, we can do tremendous things.

1. Super Bowl LVII & The Olympics – Hosting the Super Bowl in Minneapolis and having the Peyong Chang Winter Olympics was an epic experience, to say the least. It was a very special opportunity to work on some market-specific executions such as the warming house in downtown Minneapolis and the sponsored ice rink in our “backyard.”

2. IDEA Academy – Collaborated with Katia Mahiddine, TEGNA’s Talent and Acquisition Manager, and Grady Tripp, our Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, to create a thought partnership for an internship program that promotes diversity and recruitment for TEGNA.

3. Big Idea Task Force – KARE 11 broke team silos and sparked cross-departmental innovation with the Big Idea Task Force. In response to employee surveys, we divided employees who opted to participate, 85 in total, regardless of role and department into teams led by those who attended the innovation summit to ignite ideas that will grow our content, brand, and revenue.

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

Regardless of our roles, we have a unique opportunity to be the voice in our community – to be difference makers. At KARE 11 and TEGNA, I can feel the great effort and pride in creating this place of belonging for our community, our clients, culture, and corporation.

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

Don’t be afraid of failure. Stay vulnerable, humble, and a lifelong learner. Take care of your physical and mental health, take vacations, have a work-life balance. You will be a better leader and person if you do.

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

Start every day with gratitude and “the why” we are here. We get the honor to help businesses with strategies to help them grow and do big things. That takes tremendous trust for someone to do. Earn that trust by being a great listener that is committed to being an expert at your trade and provide client-centric solutions that drive results. 

Ask for feedback, be coachable, and the ultimate team player. You are going to spend just as much time with your coworkers as you do with your family. Treat them as such. Find a mentor (or two, it takes a village) and when it is time, pay that forward and become one.

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Jessica Daigle, VP Sales Intelligence

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

I started my career agency side at Media Contacts (Havas) in Boston trafficking ads but quickly found my passion for analytics. I was the first media analyst hired by the agency and helped them build their analytics team and their proprietary attribution technology. 

Later, my most formative career experience was joining a startup as employee number 35, and seven years later, seeing it through profitability and 200+ employees. During that ride, I found my passion for operations and technology. But, of course, data and analytics have always been my backbone.

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?

I am the VP of Sales Intelligence on the corporate revenue team. My team’s work focuses on the intersection of data and revenue.  

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

Earning the responsibility to launch TEGNA Attribution. It started as a great idea (not mine!) which almost died on the vine. With a team effort, we scaled it to today’s revenue-generating engine for TV and OTT. It’s been exhilarating, and yet, there is so much more left to do! 

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

I always strive to surround myself with the smartest people I can find. What makes TEGNA a good company to work for is that not only are there intelligent, accomplished, impressive leaders, but they are also very good humans who care about each other and take care of one another on a personal level. 

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

It’s OK to fail at things. I really hate to fail, but I have learned that some projects and ideas don’t work out. It’s best to let them forget fast than to hold on way too long.  

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

Do not be afraid to ask. When you are new to something, ask. You only have a chance to be new for so long, so don’t be shy and embarrassed. Take advantage! Learn as much as you can from all the people around you. 

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Christine Warren, Marketing Director at WTHR

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

After college graduation, I moved to Omaha, NE, to be a TV News Producer for the CBS affiliate. Three years later, I moved back to the East Coast and joined TEGNA (formerly Gannett) in 2009 at WFMY News 2 in Greensboro, NC. I started out on the Sales team in a research role and quickly worked my way up to become Director of Research and Creative Services in 2013. I was promoted to Local Sales Manager focused on Enterprise (new business) and digital solutions in 2015. Looking to expand my career at the TEGNA Corporate level, I moved to Dallas, TX, to join the TEGNA team as Director of Client Solutions Strategy, where I helped oversee strategy and creative marketing solutions for our 62 sales teams and their clients across the country.

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?

I am now the Director of Marketing at WTHR (NBC affiliate) in Indianapolis, IN, and LOVE being part of a local station family again in an amazing market! Our team is embarking on our station’s Brand Health journey this year, and busy planning for the Indy 500 race and prepping for the excitement of the Tokyo Olympics.

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

During my time at WFMY News 2 in North Carolina, I was able to work alongside our station’s leadership team, local City Council officials, and community leaders to create and execute an integrated marketing campaign called “Aviation Triad” which brought awareness to aviation education and career opportunities in the Piedmont Triad community. I was honored to win Gannett’s “Best Client Solution” companywide award with my GM and DOS in 2014. The ability to make a TRUE IMPACT in the community, helping connect skilled workers with aviation jobs in the “First in Flight” state, was by far my most rewarding accomplishment.

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

I have had the privilege to “Be in Good Company” with TEGNA mentors and amazing leaders within all disciplines of our company. We are surrounded by amazing advocates who are committed to investing and growing the next generation of leaders. I was honored to be selected to participate in TEGNA’s inaugural Executive Leadership Program in 2015. What a phenomenal opportunity to learn and connect with some of the BEST General Managers and thought leaders within our company. I am trying to ‘pay it forward’ through mentorship opportunities — to help influence others in a positive way, share the spirit of being in “Good Company” together and help others grow!

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

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Speak up and let your voice be heard. Knowledge is a powerful tool to grow both personally and professionally.

Learning new things (all sides of the business at a local TV station: News, Sales, Digital/social, Marketing, etc.) helps you have a deeper and holistic understanding of how ALL of our departments are interconnected and rely on each other to succeed. To build an ideal team culture mindset, we must have mutual respect for all roles/departments and work to break down ‘silos’ to foster better communication and collaboration.

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

Tangible: Surround yourself with a network of positive and encouraging female leaders! Get plugged into the local chamber and young professional groups who can help connect and empower you.

Emotional Intelligence: Always advocate for others! Truly LISTEN to your team members and colleagues. Empathy and understanding go a long way.