BIV is pleased to recognize five outstanding leaders with 2022 Influential Women in Business (IWIB) Awards.
This year’s recipients have achieved remarkable success in their respective careers. They are recognized by their peers for their contributions to community, and they are advocates and champions of women in business. Recipients will be celebrated on March 8 at the Terminal City Club. The event will be livestreamed at biv.com.
Jennifer Twiner McCarron is an award-winning producer, CEO of Thunderbird Entertainment Group and president of Atomic Cartoons. She has led Thunderbird through its public listing and the expansion of its studios.
What career highlight are you most proud of?
I am very proud of having a role in building Atomic Cartoons to what it is today. I joined the company in 2011, when we had 14 artists. Today, we have over 1,200 amazing Atomic team members who I feel so lucky to work with each and every day.
Your toughest professional challenge as a woman in business?
I am a people-person by nature, and I work for my team. However, when running a company of more than 1,400 people, it’s hard to please everyone. While I accept this, it is an ongoing challenge for me.
Greatest advice ever received?
Two pieces of advice I live by: you will get out of something what you put into it, and the harder you work, the more rewarding it will be.
What do you wish you knew when you were first starting out?
I believe that leading with kindness is paramount, but you also need to be kind to yourself. To be an effective leader and do the best possible job for everyone, you have to accept within yourself that mistakes will happen. When they do, do not beat yourself up. Instead, see it as a learning opportunity.
What does it take to be a leader in 2022?
I prioritize leading with patience and kindness. The last two years have been so hard on everyone. As a leader, I work for my team, find ways to lift them up and facilitate more conversations. Also, it is important to have compassion for yourself, and make sure you put your own oxygen mask on so you can continue to be there for everyone else.
Your top takeaway from leading during the pandemic?
Remote working has caused a loss in face-to-face interactions, and there is a human element missing when you can’t interact in-person. The key to any company’s success is creating a supportive culture. People are our greatest assets, now more than ever. We need to work for our teams so that they always feel seen and supported.
What is your best habit?
I am an early riser. Part of my daily routine is getting ahead of the day to be proactive, not reactive.
A book you would recommend?
The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.
A surprising or improbable fact about yourself?
I was over six feet tall at 11 years old. It allowed me to understand what it is literally like not to “fit in” and it helped shape my view of the world.
What are you looking forward to personally and professionally this year?
Professionally, continuing to build a major global studio, honing my skills as a CEO as we grow and to pivot as the needs of the company evolve. Also, to do the best possible job for the people I am working for. Personally, spending quality time with my family brings me immense joy. We finally have some family trips planned that will fill my cup if restrictions ease. •
