Paige B. Medina

I attribute my success to being a people leader. My biggest accomplishment is that in the 14 years I was with Warner Brothers Discovery, I had zero turnover - nobody would leave. When I would interview for a direct report, which was not that many because people stayed, I focused on developing them. The one person who I trained to replace me actually took a job at a very well-known Atlanta-based organization, a job that I should have taken, but I bowed out and gave it to him, because what kind of leader would I be if I didn't give him a job that I've been preparing him for? That's my biggest accomplishment. I also grew up with an organization where we were encouraged to continue to brand ourselves, but it's never been about me, it's always been about somebody else. When I show up to a room, I don't go to the person smiling, I go to the person who's frowning, because it's my goal to see if I can penetrate that person and turn that frown into a smile.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can have the career you dream of if you lead with purpose, consistency, and people-first values. One of my proudest achievements was serving as a successful people leader with zero turnover throughout my 14 years at Warner Bros. Discovery. That experience reinforced for me that strong leadership is built on trust, support, and creating an environment where people feel valued and empowered to grow.

I would tell young women entering this industry that you can absolutely build a successful career through hard work, dedication, and a willingness to keep learning. Stay confident in your abilities, remain open to new opportunities, and don’t be afraid to take on challenges that help you grow professionally. Consistency, resilience, and a strong work ethic can open doors and create long-term success.

In my field, one of the biggest opportunities right now is strengthening digital presence to better support visibility, engagement, and business growth, especially as I step into a new role and focus on building and improving the organization’s website. At the same time, a key challenge is ensuring the platform is both strategic and user-friendly while aligning with overall organizational goals, which requires balancing design, content, and functionality. I see this moment as an opportunity to create a strong digital foundation that enhances credibility and supports long-term growth.

The most important value to me is caring for others and making the world a better place than I found it. I channeled the energy of Ted Turner, who inspired me to continue to care for others. When I show up to a room, I don't go to the person smiling, I go to the person who's frowning, because it's my goal to see if I can get that person to turn that frown into a smile. It's never been about me, it's always been about somebody else. I'm also a human rights activist - I was blessed by John Lewis, and my mentor was Lily Ledbetter. I'm big into mental health because I attempted suicide three times, and I've decided to stop, so I'm done. I will not be taking my life, I'll be living my life. I'm happy to share that story with anybody who says 'I can't do it' - yeah, you can. If I can go through getting three hard hits in one day - that my mom's dying from a heart condition, my golden handcuffs were being removed and my position was being eliminated, and I was suffering from menopause - and still keep going, anyone can.