This year’s overarching theme for MIPCOM‘s Women In Global Entertainment Power Lunch? Resilience.
Some of television’s most senior industry execs flocked to Cannes’ Hotel Majestic on Monday as MIPCOM formally kicks off another year, with the creator economy — and YouTube, in particular — firmly in the spotlight.
A&E is a sponsor of the annual Power Lunch and The Hollywood Reporter, which publishes its annual list of the most powerful women in international television to coincide with the event, is the official media partner. Inspiration flooded the room as seasoned professionals reflected candidly on their learnings from working their way up the ladder in a male-dominated industry.
“It is so thrilling and exciting and grateful to be in this room with all of you amazing international execs who are driving culture, provoking thought and empathy, which we all need more right now, and providing inspiring models of leadership,” began Jeanie Pyun, THR‘s deputy editorial director.
British comedian, author and former TV exec Cally Beaton was the session’s host, tasked with bringing out the best of her impressive panel that included Lauren Tempest, general manager of Hulu; Kate Phillips, the BBC’s newly-appointed chief content officer; and Justine Ryst, managing director of YouTube France and southern Europe.
The group covered a vast amount in just under 30 minutes with a sharp focus on the challenges that lay ahead for fellow women and how to remain strong in the face of professional hardship. “When you’re a woman in the media industry, you need more resilience than men,” said Phillips. “It’s just the way we are judged, the things we’ve experienced in our lives… And I think power is an interesting word, because the more senior you get, yes, technically, I suppose you do have more power. But I worry about the younger people in the industry,” she added. “And I think the industry is tough at the moment, it’s tough for freelancers, and I worry people aren’t calling out bad behavior because they’re just scared about losing their jobs.”
Phillips speaks at a pivotal time for the BBC — the company has been had to enact widespread change in the face of concurrent scandals, namely Huw Edwards’ sexual abuse conviction and MasterChef bedlam. “At the BBC, we’ve done a massive piece of work on a culture of encouraging people… [to] call it out,” she continued.
“It’s about not being scared, to speak up, having safe places,” said Phillips. “It’s so important and I always say, everyone is replaceable. Don’t think if you’re treated badly by someone, they are irreplaceable.”
Tempest concurred with Phillips, and urged other women in the room to “embrace the hard” moments. When Beaton asked her panel what advice they have for those in the room, she responded: “I do not practice this, but I’m trying to channel it. It is the notion that it is not about trying to make all the moments right and perfect. It’s about the resilience. It’s about how quickly you can respond to the hard and move on.”
The panel also spoke extensively about the realities of raising children with being a TV professional deeply committed to their work. Ryst, only recently, has found liberation in setting boundaries with work where her children are involved. “I just took a three-month break to accompany my kids through a very important life moment for each of them,” she told guests. “I said, ‘Fuck it. I’m gonna take those months off…’ And it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said to a round of applause.
This year’s MIPCOM marks the end of an era and the beginning of an uncertain future, both for the 41-year-old TV market and for the industry it serves. Read more from THR‘s event preview here.
