Danila Koverman

1. Getting Started – Part 1

Know Your Strengths – Know what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. Make a list of what comes easy to you and write out your ideal job. This will not guarantee you’ll get your ideal job, but at least you will have something to shoot for and some self -awareness. The clearer you are with your vision for yourself, the easier it will be for someone to hire you.

My Story – I’ve always been a very competitive person, with high energy, and good under pressure. A lot of it had to do with having three siblings and being in competitive sports in high school. So when I was told I had to try out for a newsroom internship at KCBS in Los Angeles, I was immediately drawn to this challenge. KCBS was not my first choice for an internship, (because of the drive), but it quickly became my #1 choice because of the try-out challenge! I spent two days at KCBS’s U-shaped assignment desk answering phones, doing beat checks, ripping wire copy, getting information to reporters, and editors. I did anything they threw at me. I felt at home amidst the chaos and the constant pressure of a local news deadlines. I got the internship and eventually was hired as a research reporter, which led to a variety of jobs in the Los Angeles market as an assignment editor and planning editor. I was very fortunate to have this high energy career start as it gave me a base knowledge about production, story telling, talent, management, and handling deadlines that I still draw upon today.

Be Flexible - Be flexible with your hours and with job responsibilities. This is really important early on when you are trying to break into your profession of choice. Flexibility could be the differentiating factor in you getting the job.

My Story: I landed two great jobs just because I was flexible with my work hours and work week. My first job offer at KCBS was for the night research reporter on the assignment desk, working the 3-11pm shift. (No one wants the night shift!) This meant adjusting my lifestyle a bit, i.e., not seeing my friends during the week, in order to get a job in my field on interest. I seized the opportunity and made a difference on the night shift. When Good Morning America offered me a job as a West Coast Producer for Entertainment, it came with the required work week of Sunday through Thursday and traveling to assignments. Both were easy gives for me and I snagged that job as well. My Good Morning America boss later told me that another more qualified candidate didn’t want to give up her weekends or travel, which made me GMA’s top choice. It was that close and that easy.

Understand the Current Job Market - In a down economy, jobs are hard to come by, so it’s important to do research about your profession and know which companies are hiring. Be prepared to conform to the needs of the current job market and adjust your career path in order to increase your chances of being hired. Regardless of the economic times, always make an effort to update your knowledge to stay current and relevant for the companies that are hiring.

My Story - As soon I became a manager, I was determined to stay in management and climb the executive ladder. I held onto this notion until there was a phase when management jobs were hard to come by. It’s inevitable; something will disrupt your ideal career path. This happened to me several times and each time, I opted to work in some capacity rather than sit idlely, waiting for the next ideal job to come around. This meant that I had to check my ego, and return to my roots as a producer. One project was as Executive Producer for Clint Eastwood’s “40th Anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival”. This was a one-hour video/dvd project that was a fundraiser for the Festival’s student fund. It put me in touch with an amazing music community and I learned a lot about the home video market through the WB’s home video department. On another project, I was Executive Producer for Telemundo’s series “La Cenicienta”, a Latino version of The Bacheloratte. I worked for Nely Galan who produced this series for Telemundo. Not only did I learn a lot about the booming Latino market, I had a great time working with an amazing production team. Both projects over delivered in the “experience and having fun” categories.

Have Mentors – This is obvious, but worth re-stating. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or colleague, have someone who knows you, and understands your profession, help you with guidance, support, and advice. Outside perspective is key.

My Story: I have benefited from a handful of obvious mentors over the years; my mom, my best friend, my husband, and even some unknowing mentors I admired from afar. When I read that Jane Pauley couldn’t fit in a social life while pursuing her career and raising her family, it was a huge relief, and I stopped trying to do it all. But my most important mentor-friend is Fran Shea. She was my boss at E! and transitioned to be my friend-mentor as we both navigated the rapidly changing digital world. Fran was my boss again at HBOlab and I couldn’t have asked for a more ideal situation. Having mentors with similar principles and goals, makes juggling your career and family life possible.

(Next in the Series: “How to Stay on Your Career Path”)

About Danila: Danila has nearly 20 years experience in the production and program development areas within major cable television, broadcast and digital media companies. Danila was VP, Program Development and Production at E! and helped launched the style network and Danila also was the SVP, Programming for the TV Guide Channel and has held many other senior and creative roles at HBO, Extra, Good Morning America and Telemundo.

About Break Media: an Internet advertiser based entertainment company that creates original content to target market to a predominantly male demographic audience. Danila is responsible for the development and production of short and long form digital content for original series, branded entertainment, and customized advertising across multi-distribution platforms. Danila works with Break’s commercial advertisers, and brand clients who want to reach a target audience via customized commercial content.

To read Part 2, click here.

About Danila: Danila has nearly 20 years experience in the production and program development areas within major cable television, broadcast and digital media companies. Danila was VP, Program Development and Production at E! and helped launched the style network and Danila also was the SVP, Programming for the TV Guide Channel and has held many other senior and creative roles at HBO, Extra, Good Morning America and Telemundo.

About Break Media: an Internet advertiser based entertainment company that creates original content to target market to a predominantly male demographic audience. Danila is responsible for the development and production of short and long form digital content for original series, branded entertainment, and customized advertising across multi-distribution platforms. Danila works with Break’s commercial advertisers, and brand clients who want to reach a target audience via customized commercial content.