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Stoddard has not had as much time for reading
books as he would like to have |
Name: Zane Stoddard
Position: NASCAR VP/Entertainment Marketing & Content Development
Age: 46
Where I’m from: Danville, Calif.
Where I call home: Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Focusing on right now: With the Daytona 500 this week, we have several productions that we're shooting around the race, a couple celebrities that we're hosting and FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE performing pre-race. With the other eye on preparing for some projects that will be on the market in 2016 -- a six-hour documentary series for CMT and several digital projects.
Best advice: "Fight to be yourself." There's a lot of pressure in business for people to be one thing. But people were created uniquely, and if we can figure out how to build that up, it's not only a powerful thing in life, but it can really drive innovation.
A must for a new hire: I would take an "eight" that mixes and works really well with others over a double MBA that doesn't, every day. We spend too much time together at work to try to manage tough personalities, and no matter how smart the person is, it always comes to a head in the long run.
Exec I admire most: BRIAN FRANCE and ADAM SILVER. I've not seen the leader of a professional sports organization willing to make the kind of seismic shifts in the "on-field product" in an effort to contemporize the sport and reach new fans as Brian has. Regarding Adam, I've always admired his ability and willingness as an executive at his level, and as smart as he is, to engage ideas from all people.
Best book I've read this year: With two little ones, it's difficult to get a book in, but I am a fan of NELSON DEMILLE. I read a really interesting book recently by SUSAN CAIN called "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop."
First thing in the morning: I absolutely love the solitude of early morning: a quiet lamp, coffee and the Bible.
Talking tech: With so much happening, the platforms come and go and evolve. In developing content, I pay particularly close attention to the specific forms of content that are working, that are engaging people. The Vines and the Snapchats are groundbreaking, but the quality of engagement is very important also. And we're seeing that in the investment digital programmers and brands are making in content that tells a little more of a story, even in a 30-second piece.
Must have music: I've always been an unashamed Top-40 geek. I like what's new and hooky. I think SIA is amazing, I like ELLIE GOULDING and MAROON 5.
Food for thought: My dad says life is about trying to figure out what to do between meals. I subscribe to that. My family talks about food at the dinner table.
How I unwind: Simple family time. A weekend walk to breakfast is very tough to beat.
Day in the life: A consistent mix of right brain/left brain meetings. Internal meetings then various pitch meetings with networks and studios, and then brainstorms with our group to continue to try to push ideas that can engage new audiences.
