{"id":39374,"date":"2024-05-01T20:32:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T00:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=39374"},"modified":"2024-12-02T12:39:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T17:39:20","slug":"bonnie-hammers-next-chapter","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/bonnie-hammers-next-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"Bonnie Hammer&#8217;s Next Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin bu-blocks-block-editorial-leadin is-style-side-by-side has-media has-wider has-media-focus-center-middle\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"999\" height=\"1193\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2024\/07\/bonnie-hammer-banner-e1721422573372.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Black and white sketch of Bonnie Hammer with light blue and green accents.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/07\/bonnie-hammer-banner-e1721422573372.jpg 999w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/07\/bonnie-hammer-banner-e1721422573372-533x636.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/07\/bonnie-hammer-banner-e1721422573372-857x1024.jpg 857w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/07\/bonnie-hammer-banner-e1721422573372-768x917.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/07\/bonnie-hammer-banner-e1721422573372-837x1000.jpg 837w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Illustration by Orianna Fenwick.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBonnie Hammer&#8217;s Next Chapter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">After four decades in televison, the Emmy-winning media executive is guided by pure excitement. She hopes her new book will help other women succeed.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-categories\">\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/alumni\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlumni\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/com-365\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCOM\/365\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/film-television\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFilm &amp; TV\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">May 1, 2024<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/authors\/molly-callahan\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMolly Callahan\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div style=\"display:none;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-inner js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t<h4>Share<\/h4>\n\t\t<p class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-title\">Bonnie Hammer&#8217;s Next Chapter<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-link\">\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/bonnie-hammers-next-chapter\/\" readonly>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<label>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Copy URL:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Copy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Bonnie Hammer\u2019s home office is filled with the trophies of a long and storied career. Some are personal, like the decorative arrow (sometimes called a \u201cprayer arrow\u201d) that reminds her that a new perspective (and a little faith) can turn a tough situation around. Some are inspiring, like the framed black-andwhite family- and television-related photographs Hammer took\u2014a nod to the creative outlet that still fuels her today. And some are literal trophies: two Emmy Awards sit just behind her, a testament to the quality of her instincts and vision. Hammer has led television networks, including USA and SYFY, to 167 Emmy nominations for shows including <em>Monk<\/em> and <em>Battlestar Galactica<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After graduating from Boston University, Hammer (CGS\u201969, COM\u201971, Wheelock\u201975, Hon.\u201917) got her start at WGBH, the public television station in Boston, as a postproduction supervisor on <em>ZOOM<\/em> and then an associate producer on <em>This Old House<\/em>. Slowly\u2014and, Hammer will tell you, circuitously\u2014she took on more responsibility within bigger and bigger networks. Today, she is vice chair for NBCUniversal; in 2020, she launched NBC\u2019s streaming platform, Peacock, which hosts original shows such as <em>Dr. Death <\/em>as well as series from NBCUniversal\u2019s library of titles, including <em>Suits<\/em> and the Emmy-nominated <em>The Sinner<\/em>\u2014both of which come from Hammer\u2019s cable portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along the way, Hammer has picked up a number of awards for her professional and activist work. She\u2019s consistently been named to Hollywood Reporter\u2019s Power 100, an annual list of the most influential women in Hollywood, and she was inducted into the Broadcasting &amp; Cable Hall of Fame in 2007. In 1996, while Hammer was at USA Network, she spearheaded an antidiscrimination campaign called \u201cErase the Hate.\u201d It earned a National Emmy Governors Award, an honor that recognizes transformational contributions to the television industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After 40-plus years in the business she is embarking on another, more personal, venture. This spring, 15 Lies Women Are Told at Work\u2026 And the Truth We Need to Succeed will be published by Simon &amp; Schuster. She describes it as \u201ca pocket mentor\u201d for women in corporate America, pulled from her own experiences with the goal of debunking the trite advice women often receive, and replacing it with lessons that are actually helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>COM\/365 spoke to Hammer about her  career, the state of television and what\u2019s next for a person who has reached the highest echelons of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title-heading\">Q<span>&amp;<\/span>A<\/h2><h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title-subheading\">With Bonnie Hammer<\/h4><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Your book comes out this spring. What has the writing process been like?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">As someone who\u2019s worked successfully in media all my life, this foray into writing and publishing has been sobering. It\u2019s not a memoir, but it draws on my life experiences and calls for a lot of introspection and digging deep inside. Though it\u2019s been more work than I ever could have imagined, it has also been extremely fulfilling. Trying to do something you\u2019ve never done before really does take a village!<br><br>I\u2019ve been a mentor\u2014especially for women\u2014for virtually my entire career, and my book will serve as a kind of \u201cpocket mentor\u201d for anyone who wants to get ahead in the corporate world. The book calls BS on all the clich\u00e9s that women are taught to believe and have become conventional wisdom\u2014but actually serve as barriers and self-sabotage to advancement in real life.<br><br>One example is, fake it until you make it.<br><br>My point of view is, the minute you start faking something, the minute you start leading people to believe that you can do things that you really can\u2019t, they turn into lies, and those lies build on other lies. So, it puts you in a situation where you can\u2019t win. My belief is, don\u2019t fake anything; make it by learning, getting advice, talking to people, trying to figure out the capabilities you\u2019ll need to get somewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What makes a good mentor?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Mentors come in two flavors: sweet\/supporting and spicy\/challenging. My father was the first type\u2014nurturing and encouraging, leading by example. He convinced me I could do anything I set my mind to. The word \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d wasn\u2019t in his vocabulary\u2014if I felt I couldn\u2019t do something, according to my dad, I just wasn\u2019t trying hard enough. A couple of early bosses at WGBH were like that too\u2014patient and understanding while they taught me the ropes.<br><br>The spicy\/challenging types are all about tough love, and they\u2019re the ones that you might actually learn the most from. They push you beyond your limits and teach you grace under fire. They force you to build up your inner resources so you can thrive in just about any circumstances you find yourself in. I\u2019ve had a few challenging mentors in my time, but Barry Diller [longtime media executive] was\u2014and still is\u2014the all-time champ.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Would you say you&#8217;re more of a sweet or spicy mentor?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">There is a flavor trend called \u201cswicy\u201d\u2014which, you guessed it, is the mixing of sweet and spicy into one product. Think mango salsa, jalapeno margarita or hot honey. With that in mind, I would say that my mentorship style is swicy, a sweet-and-spicy combo of supportive and challenging\u2014and everyone needs both. These days as a mentor, I challenge, I support, I push and I hug.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Do any mentors\u2014or lessons\u2014stand out from your<br>time at BU?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> The person who stands out most for me was the most challenging mentor I had ever encountered to that point\u2014the late Harris Smith, a brilliant ex-Army sergeant who taught photography and ran his darkroom like a boot camp.<br><br>In those predigital days, you weren\u2019t able to take dozens of shots at a click or instantly delete unwanted images. Harris wouldn\u2019t tolerate a wasted frame, so he made us submit our contact sheets\u2014a relic of those bygone days\u2014to make sure every photo was clearly thought out. He taught me to frame and capture an entire story in a single shot. To this day, I attribute my attention to detail in my life and job to Harris.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">You\u2019ve had a hand in bringing a wide range of shows to the small screen. How do you know when something will work?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> The common denominators in virtually all successful content are strong, authentic characters, inspired casting and compelling storytelling. If you have all three, it doesn\u2019t necessarily guarantee success, but it will definitely minimize the chance of failure.<br><br>A great example of that theory in action was USA Network\u2019s content strategy. We had a checklist for anything we green-lit: a show needed strong characters; drama with a touch of humor; blue skies, literally and figuratively; and an aspirational tone. That brand filter made USA the top-rated cable network for 13 consecutive years, with hits such as <em>Royal Pains<\/em>, <em>Psych<\/em>, <em>Burn Notice<\/em> and <em>White Collar<\/em>.<br><br>Of course, you also need flexibility in order to adapt to shifts in culture and in our audiences. We launched Mr. Robot, a huge critical and ratings hit, when we sensed an appetite for darker, more complex fare. The show satisfied the most critical USA criteria\u2014strong characters and compelling storytelling\u2014but it was certainly darker than our previous content. But it was conscious risk-taking. I was surrounded by the best team in the business, and it was a totally collaborative process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">There\u2019s been much ado about the state of television and about the financial feasibility of supporting content on streamers. What\u2019s your outlook?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">The TV business has always been about change\u2014from black and white to color, from broadcast to cable, from videotape to DVDs, from DVR to streaming. But through all the changes in tech, one thing has never changed\u2014people\u2019s desire for great content. And they\u2019ll find it\u2014wherever it lives and however it\u2019s delivered. The business will adapt as it always has.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">COMtalk:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Does your book mark the end of a long and successful career? A new chapter? (Pardon the pun.)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Bonnie Hammer:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> It definitely does not mark the end of it! In fact, I feel like I did when I first started in this business, guided by pure excitement and agenda-free passion.<br><br>I often think about this in football terminology\u2014we speak a lot of \u201cfootballese\u201d in our house. When quarterbacks talk about why they become better as they get older, they say it\u2019s because the speed of play seems to slow down in their mind\u2019s eye. They\u2019re able to focus only on what\u2019s important\u2014like knowing when to change a play and knowing who should get the ball. They also develop an intuitive sense of when a big defensive lineman is about to flatten them. Most impressively, they are able to do this quickly and decisively. I\u2019m told that Tom Brady\u2014one of the oldest quarterbacks to ever play\u2014 would get rid of the ball a half second faster than his peers. There may be players on the field who are faster and stronger, [but] sometimes the more experienced guys have a little something extra that can make the difference. I can relate to the idea that over time you develop an intuitive, big-picture sense of what\u2019s happening on the field, whatever field it may be.<br><br>Today I feel far more focused, more intuitively decisive, much less afraid to take risks. I feel energized and eager. Most important, I\u2019m having fun. Why would I stop when I am having so much fun? <\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bonnie Hammer\u2019s home office is filled with the trophies of a long and storied career. Some are personal, like the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1654,"featured_media":39462,"template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"categories":[962,1481,9],"tags":[100],"bu-publication":[],"discipline-type":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/39374"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1654"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/39374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39445,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/39374\/revisions\/39445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39374"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=39374"},{"taxonomy":"discipline-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/discipline-type?post=39374"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=39374"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=39374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}