A Day In The Life CW TV’s Executive Director Of Sales Research
Meet Donna Raduazzo, Executive Director of Sales Research at The CW Television Network in New York City. She has a demanding full-time job -- yet she also manages to juggle other projects and spending time with her family. She and her fiancé Patrick also own a contracting company, of which he is president, and Donna is a mother of two girls, ages 3 and 18 months. During a recent chat, she walked me through her “typical” day and explained why she feels well-supported as a working mother.
Nicole Wolfrath: What do you do in your role at The CW?
Donna Raduazzo: I work with our Ad Sales Media and Marketing teams to deliver results-driven analysis of our program and commercial ratings as well as our program product integrations. I also develop customized sales pitch decks to position The CW (from a traditional TV, digital and social perspective) to potential clients.
NW: Walk us through a typical day or week as you juggle motherhood and working full time.
DR: Unfortunately, one of the stresses that I face is due to the fact that there is no “typical” day or week. The TV season from a media research perspective dictates the flow of any given day. I am out of the house from roughly 7/7:30am to 7pm. As the owners of a business, my fiance sometimes needs to address issues, schedule meetings etc.
Fortunately, my mother watches our girls every day. On Sundays I prepare meals for most of the week. Cooking in advance affords me time to play with, bathe, and just hang out with the girls for the hour-and-a-half that I see them at night during the week.
By 8:30pm the girls are in bed and Pat and I try and enjoy a meal, and some adult conversation before I am either doing financials for the business, prepping a meal for later in the week, folding laundry or answering work emails.
NW: Does your company support you as a working mother?
DR: Yes, our Head of Sales at The CW (here in NY) is a family man, and definitely understands the struggle to balance work and home. He also understands that family is a priority.
He allows me to come to work after I drop my older daughter off at pre-school three days per week. The challenges of getting a child out the door in a swift and timely fashion are great, but the ability to arrive to work with more flexibility on those days is a huge relief.
When and if I need to stay late for something or call in to a meeting with the west coast at night, I do it. I don’t abuse the flexibilities afforded to me, and that is why it works for me and my boss.
NW: How has your career changed since having a family?
DR: The biggest change has been in my drive. Before my family, I was driven for advancement because I wanted to be an executive in the industry. I wanted to prove to myself how successful I could be and I wanted to make money. Now, I still want to succeed, but not at the expense of spending time with my family. I will not let my ambition to grow my career affect my ability to get home in time to see my girls at night.
The reasons I want to succeed are also different now. I want to teach my girls the value of working hard and responsibility and that there is a balance in life. I know that I can have a successful career that doesn’t define me, but is just a part of who I am.
NW: Do you make time for yourself? If so, what do you do?
DR: I have a standing bi-weekly nail appointment. During off season times at work I can squeeze in days off, and my parents will take the girls for a few hours so I can do something for myself, or maybe do nothing at all.
Pat and I have made it a point to go out once or twice a month without the girls. We are fortunate that our town has great nightlife and we can have a relaxing time out close to home.
NW: If you had a fairy godmother (or Fairygodboss), what wish would you want granted?
DR: I would love to work only four days a week. Come the weekend, I feel like I have so much to do. Errands, housework, preparing for the next week. If I had that one day during the week to be productive, I would feel so much more at ease and probably enjoy my weekends even more!
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