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Weathering the Storms: Advice from a Veteran News Executive

In this episode, Nora shares invaluable insights on inclusive leadership and building successful careers. But that's not all - she reveals the crucial lesson she learned from a career-altering mistake, and how it transformed her approach to leadership. Dive into Nora's captivating narrative and discover the unexpected keys to impactful leadership and professional growth. 

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Overcome Adversity: Learn how to develop exceptional leadership skills through adversity and emerge as a stronger and more resilient executive.
• Propel Your Career: Master the strategies to build a thriving and influential career in the dynamic and competitive news media industry.
• Drive Team Performance: Harness the power of inclusive leadership to elevate your team's performance and foster a culture of collaboration and achievement.
• Plan for Success: Implement effective strategies for succession planning to ensure the continuity and success of leadership within your organization.
• Achieve Work-Life Balance: Discover effective ways to balance the demands of a high-powered media career with family responsibilities and personal well-being.

My special guest is Nora Zimmett

Nora Zimmett, the president of original news for the Weather Group, brings a wealth of experience in the news media industry. With a distinguished career that includes roles at CNN, Bloomberg Television, and Fox News Channel, Nora has earned an Emmy Award for her work on the 2012 presidential election. Her journey from a professional actress to a senior leader in the television and digital media sector showcases her resilience and dedication. Nora's insights into inclusive leadership, the impact of leadership on team performance, and her strategies for effective succession planning make her a valuable resource for aspiring female executives in the news media industry, seeking to navigate and excel in their careers.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Facing Adversity and Becoming Better Leaders

00:01:28 - Nora Zimmett's Journey into Television and Digital Media

00:04:23 - Learning from Failure and Personal Growth

00:10:30 - Overcoming Challenges and Gender Barriers

00:15:01 - Leadership Lessons and Team Support

00:18:27 - Importance of Hiring Smart People

00:20:36 - The Weather Channel's Mission

00:23:00 - Mission-Driven Organizations

00:27:25 - Lack of Responsibility in Leadership

00:35:03 - Advice for the Next Generation

00:37:08 - Importance of Collaborative Leadership

00:37:50 - Privilege of Leadership

00:38:22 - Gratitude and Acknowledgment

00:38:46 - Conclusion and Gratitude

Full Bio:

Nora Zimmett serves as President of News and Original Series for Weather Group and is responsible for the overall editorial direction of The Weather Channel television network and Pattrn, the network’s brand dedicated to climate and the environment. Nora oversees all aspects of live programming on The Weather Channel television network – including its world-renowned, Emmy award-winning storm coverage – as well as the network’s original programming. She also oversees all weather content for the network's digital platforms, including The Weather Channel television network streaming app, and The Weather Channel Español – the nation's first 24/7 Spanish-language free-streaming weather news network, providing weather coverage and news across the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America.  

Since joining Weather Group in 2014, Nora has led the team responsible for production of the network’s flagship morning show America’s Morning Headquarters, and Storm Center, as well as its popular original shows such as Uncharted Adventure, The Earth Unlocked, and Deep Water Salvage. In addition to creating original series for The Weather Channel, Nora has developed broadcast syndication programming for Allen Media Group, such as Storm of Suspicion. Nora also led the network to two national News and Documentary Emmy awards in 2019 and 2021.

Prior to joining Weather Group, Nora served as co-creator and executive producer of “New Day Weekend” and “Smerconish” at CNN. During her CNN tenure, Nora received an Emmy Award for her work on the 2012 presidential election. Prior to her role at CNN, she held senior producer and producer roles at Bloomberg Television and Fox News Channel.