Name: Tola Murphy-Baran
New title: Senior vice president, marketing, Sirius Satellite Radio
Previous job: Senior vice president, market development, NFL
Education: Bachelor of arts, communications and English, Fordham University
Resides: Westfield, N.J.
Grew up: Merrick, Long Island, N.Y.
Executive most admired: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Joe Clayton, CEO of Sirius Satellite Radio
Brand most admired: The stars and stripes of the American flag
Favorite vacation spot: Alaska
Last book read: “Mystic River” by Dennis Lehane
Last movie seen: “The Day After Tomorrow”
Favorite movie: “Animal House”
Favorite music: The Beatles, Chicago, Bob Seger, Genesis, Phil Collins, The Doobie Brothers
Typical hours worked in a week: 65
Tola Murphy-Baran began doing voice-overs for radio commercials as a 10-year-old. Years later, she’s back in the radio business as the new senior vice president, marketing, for commercial-free music broadcasting company Sirius Satellite Radio.
Murphy-Baran has worked in marketing for 25 years and was most recently with the NFL, where she launched the NFL Sunday Ticket out-of-market subscription TV package. In addition to working at NFL, she has been the vice president of market development at Viacom Satellite Networks and worked at Showtime/The Movie Channel, AMC and RKO Radio.
Away from work, Murphy-Baran enjoys spending time at her family’s beach house and riding her bike.
“Being involved in the sports industry is a tremendous amount of fun. If you work as many hours as I do, it is nice to be in such a fun field,” Murphy-Baran said.
What is the biggest challenge in your new position?
Time. I either need a much longer day, or I need a clone.
What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
In 1981 I left ABC to work at Showtime. My boss said, “Cable TV is a flash in the pan, you’ll be back in 18 months.”
What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Launching and managing a new business for the NFL that turned into an extremely profitable venture, called the NFL Sunday Ticket, in 1994.
What is the best career advice you’ve been offered?
When I was first beginning my career, I had the opportunity to spend some time with one of my father’s friends. He provided me with valuable contacts and when I asked him how I could repay him, his response was, “Always keep your door open, always help other people looking for a job. No matter how secure you feel in your job, remember that that could be you out there.”
What one story are you continuing to watch in the sports business?
What’s happening with sports broadcast rights and emergence of new networks that are owned by the teams.
What one element would you like to change about the sports industry?
The exclusionary character of most sports organizations in regard to women. There are very few women in executive positions in sports, yet there are many women who could make contributions within the industry and are qualified to hold executive positions.
