Established in 2022, The WICT Network’s Fearless Leader Award acknowledges an executive who exemplifies The WICT Network Touchstones of Leadership, serving as an inspirational role model to others. The award is named after inaugural recipient Jill Campbell, who was one of the earliest leaders and visionaries of The WICT Network, helping to make it among the largest and most influential associations in media and technology.
Jill Campbell Fearless Leader award nominees should possess the following attributes:
- Exhibits an unflinching commitment to the industry
- Exhibits dedication to enhancing workplace equality
This award is presented at The WICT Network’s annual Leadership Conference.
2023 Award Honoree
Laura Gentile
Chief Marketing Officer, Entrepreneur and Leader
Moonlight Drive
On September 18, 2023, The WICT Network announced that Laura Gentile, Chief Marketing Officer, Entrepreneur and Leader, Moonlight Drive, would be honored with the Fearless Leader Award during the organization’s annual Leadership Conference. Gentile, named to the 2023 Forbes “World’s Most Influential CMOs” list, as well as the Forbes “Most Powerful Women in U.S. Sports” list is highly-regarded in the industry.
Gentile served as Executive Vice President, Marketing, ESPN for the past five years. In that role, Gentile drove Marketing’s strategic priorities, creative output, budgeting process, fan segmentation, and media planning. She was responsible for marketing across all touchpoints with sports fans, inclusive of ESPN sub-brands, platforms, shows, and events. Gentile was responsible for the health of the ESPN Brand, crafting award-winning campaigns, notably “There’s No Place Like Sports” and “This is SportsCenter,” that revitalized the Brand. Laura helped develop the leadership marketing, advertising and promotions for key partners including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA and F1, and business priorities such as the ESPN App, Fantasy Football, and ESPN+, ESPN’s first streaming service. She was instrumental in fostering a culture that embraced creative excellence and valued new audience growth, engaging youth, women, Hispanic and black audiences throughout the ESPN ecosystem.
Gentile is also one of the esteemed 2024 Global Board of Directors for The WICT Network. Click the link here to read the press release, and visit our Board of Directors page to learn more about Gentile.
Questions?
If you have any questions about our awards or would like additional information, please contact Kathleen McNally.
2022 Award Honoree
Pictured above: Sandra Howe (left) and Leigh Woisard (right) present Jill Campbell (center) with the inaugural Fearless Leader Award.
Jill Campbell
President and Chief People and Operations Officer
Cox Communications
On August 19, 2022, The WICT Network announced that Jill Campbell, President and Chief People and Operations Officer for Cox Enterprises, would be honored with its inaugural Fearless Leader Award during the organization’s annual Leadership Conference. Campbell, one of the industry’s most highly-regarded executives, received the award during a special tribute on Tuesday, October 11, at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Campbell has played an instrumental role throughout her 40-year tenure at Cox, helping to grow the company’s nearly 7 million residential and business customers. She joined Cox in 1982 as director of communications, quickly rising through the organization to eventually become one of the highest-ranking leaders at the company and within the industry.
Likewise, Campbell was one of the earliest leaders and visionaries of The WICT Network, helping to make it among the largest and most influential associations in media and technology. Campbell chaired the WICT Foundation from 2005-2006, providing the formative leadership that has shaped the organization’s key initiatives, including groundbreaking research efforts that continue to drive industry attention to such key issues as pay equity, gender diversity and advancement opportunities. In 2008, Campbell was named The WICT Network’s Woman of the Year in recognition of her transformative and influential leadership across the entire cable landscape.
“The WICT Network is thrilled to recognize the extraordinary contributions Jill has made to The WICT Network, to Cox and to the industry at large,” said Maria E. Brennan, CAE, President & CEO. “Her impact as a business leader is indelible, and her fierce advocacy on behalf of women in the workplace has paved the way for the next generation of women in media, entertainment and technology. Jill’s purposeful and passionate leadership is an inspiration to scores of women and men.”
Questions?
If you have any questions about our awards or would like additional information, please contact Kathleen McNally.
