I had worked in the business for almost 15 years before I discovered the importance and power of networking. It seems so obvious once you have started to share and reach out to others, but it took me a long time to connect the dots and figure out how, why, and when to do it. Now, I realize the best part of my job is the ability to connect other people together and create communities of common interests. The pay off is that they think I am helping them, but of course I learn a lot from these experiences as well.
Jaye Albright
Consulting Partner
Albright & O'Malley Country Consulting/RadioIQ

Internships can be a wonderful way to "pay it forward." Whenever my department sponsored an intern, I set up orientations with other departments as well. This gave our interns a good overview of the radio station or network and lots of ideas for careers in radio. Many of these interns became employees after graduation, a real win-win.
Denise Oliver
Oliver Media

There's very little that was missing from my early introduction to Radio. My early experiences were both full and rewarding. The only one thing missing early in my career was an understanding of where my career could grow. In 1979, there were very few women in upper management and the career path for most women was sales and possibly Sales Management. Little did I know that the opportunity for career advancement was available all the way to the top. Today, when I hire people, men and women alike, I tell them about the opportunities that exist for their career and hope that as a company, we can help them develop their career. Cindy Schloss
VP/Market Manager
Entercom Kansas City

My first after-college job was with a radio syndicator. One of the talents took me out for drinks and said, "There are only 100 people in this business. Be good to them and they'll be good to you." I said that a friend of mine had recently said the same thing and the talent said, "You know him? I know him!" It's been the same ever since. I tell new hires and anyone who will listen: it's a small world and smaller business. Default to the kinder of your options, it will come back to help you.
Ruth Presslaff
President Presslaff Interactive Revenue

I didn't have a clue what I needed when I got started in the business. What I needed was a mentor, someone who could give me insight into the business, the organization and how I seemed to fit into it. There are a few bruises and cuts that probably wouldn't be there if I had had the advantage of having access to a mentor's perspective.

My experience in business has made me aware that most men either come into business with a mentor in place, or they instinctively develop a connection to one immediately. Women tend to stand alone and don't seem to understand the need, the value or even how to find and use a mentor. It's crucial to excelling and to propelling your career.
Mary Beth Garber,
President
Southern California Broadcasters Assn

I liked the fact that the General Manager of my first radio station interviewed me personally before I was hired. I also liked the fact that the GM was involved with my department and cared enough to go out on calls with me when I was an AE. I try to do the same thing with new hires - I try to meet all full-time hires before they start to work for us. This is especially important when hiring new managers who need to understand our culture in order to instill it in their direct reports, but it's equally important to have that connection with all new employees.
Kim Guthrie
Regional VP
Cox Radio

It amazes me that we are in the communications business and we fail to make sure that we are communicating. I make sure that I have provided the new staff member with a clear picture of the position, expectations and compensation...and I do it in writing. I wish someone had done that for me. I learned the hard way that the interpretation of a vague statement can be costly. Deal with it up front.
Mary Quass
President/CEO
NewRadio Group,LLC

One thing that I wish someone had done for me at an early stage in my career is impress upon me the importance of building a network of people you can go to for help and information sharing. I think many of us still think that they don't have time to build those important business relationships and feel guilty taking the time required to build them. No one can grow without the help of others. One needs to make time for building a strong sustaining network. It's critical to growth and success.

One thing that I make sure to do whenever I bring new staff members on board is to team them up with company mentors who can help them navigate any issue that may arise. I also make sure that they fully understand our mission and values and their role in fulfilling that mission and upholding our values.
Kristine G. Foate
President and CEO
Summit City Radio Group, LLC

Share personal business successes as well as personal business failures. Obviously business successes should be incorporated into any training session that is conducted for new staff members. Sharing examples of failure is just as important. On the one hand, it shows a new staff member that it is okay to make mistakes and take risk; that failure can also be turned into a learning exercise on how to do things differently. On the other hand, the collaboration of real life experiences helps open up communication and is an effective use of knowledge and resources.
Debbie Durben
President
Interep Marketing Group

The one thing I wish someone had done when I first entered this industry was to personally mentor me and really explain the industry, personality types, horizontal and vertical politics, both externally and internally.
Aleta Clardy
Topaz Marketing Group

Advice that would have helped me 25 years ago, and that I share with people today, is to get to know the various department folks and their managers in the building. That advice pertains to anyone regardless of the department that she's in. Since I came up through the sales ranks, this next comment is directed specifically to those in sales: don't live in your own little sales bubble. Talk to the business manager; get to know the engineers. It's important to understand the big picture and how all the gears turn to create the product that you're representing every day. You'll be amazed at how other people inside your company can help you, sometimes the people you least expect.

I pay it forward in a meaningful way by promoting from within, by nurturing the diamond in the rough and making her (or him) shine. On my staff right now are four department managers, two men and two women, who years ago started with our company as unpaid interns…working events and hanging banners. You can't imagine how proud I am of them and what they've accomplished.
Amy Rosenthal
President and General Manager
ABC Radio Minneapolis