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Wendy McMahon

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  • President & CEO of CBS News & Stations and CBS Media Ventures
  • President of ABC Owned Stations
  • Senior Vice President of ABC Digital

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Wendy McMahon: Transformational Leader with a Vision for the Future

Wendy McMahon is a pioneering executive recognized for driving innovation, building high-performing teams, and transforming legacy institutions into modern, mission-driven organizations. As President & CEO of CBS News and Stations—and previously as President of ABC Owned Television Stations—McMahon led groundbreaking shifts in digital strategy, expanded local journalism, and built nationally recognized content brands. A champion of creativity, culture, and accountability, she brings a deep understanding of how to lead through complexity and inspire teams to thrive amid constant change. With decades of experience at the helm of some of the nation’s most trusted news platforms, McMahon speaks with clarity and credibility on what it takes to lead with vision, values, and results.

 

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Giants of American Broadcasting: Wendy McMahon - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Wendy McMahon
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Leading Through Disruption: Innovation, Culture, and Staying True to the Mission

WENDY MCMAHON draws on her experience leading two of America’s largest broadcast organizations through digital revolutions to explore how leaders can innovate without losing sight of purpose. From launching new content platforms to reimagining local newsrooms, she offers lessons in building resilien ...

WENDY MCMAHON draws on her experience leading two of America’s largest broadcast organizations through digital revolutions to explore how leaders can innovate without losing sight of purpose. From launching new content platforms to reimagining local newsrooms, she offers lessons in building resilient, future-ready teams—while anchoring change in mission, values, and trust.

Takeaways:

  • How to align transformation with purpose
  • Navigating internal resistance to innovation
  • Cultivating cultures that can embrace change at speed

When Walking Away Is Leadership: Making Values-Based Decisions Under Pressure

In this insightful talk, WENDY MCMAHON recounts her decision to resign from CBS at the height of her career—choosing principle over position. She unpacks the internal process of leading with conscience, the risks of silence in moments of conflict, and how professionals at every level can find their ...

In this insightful talk, WENDY MCMAHON recounts her decision to resign from CBS at the height of her career—choosing principle over position. She unpacks the internal process of leading with conscience, the risks of silence in moments of conflict, and how professionals at every level can find their voice when it matters most.

Takeaways:

  • Defining your leadership boundaries
  • Ethical clarity during organizational tension
  • Empowering others to lead with integrity

The Fight for What’s Real: Journalism, Trust, and the Human Cost of a Broken Information World

In a time when it’s hard to know what—or who—to believe, WENDY MCMAHON offers a deeply human look at why journalism still matters. As President and CEO of CBS News and Stations, she’s not only led some of the nation’s most trusted newsrooms—she’s also fought to keep truth alive in communities where ...

In a time when it’s hard to know what—or who—to believe, WENDY MCMAHON offers a deeply human look at why journalism still matters. As President and CEO of CBS News and Stations, she’s not only led some of the nation’s most trusted newsrooms—she’s also fought to keep truth alive in communities where trust has frayed and connection feels out of reach. In this timely and powerful talk, McMahon reframes journalism not just as a civic institution, but as an emotional and cultural anchor—something that helps us stay grounded, informed, and connected to each other.

Through stories from the frontlines of news and community life, she reminds us that credible journalism isn’t just about holding power to account—it’s about giving people something real to hold onto. It’s about helping neighbors understand each other. And it’s about making sure we don't lose our grip on what’s true, what’s human, and what’s worth protecting.

Audiences will leave this talk feeling:

  • Reconnected to the value of truth in everyday life
  • Hopeful about the power of local and national journalism to rebuild trust
  • Inspired to be more thoughtful consumers—and protectors—of credible information

Key Takeaways:

  • Why journalism is essential not just to democracy, but to human connection
  • How misinformation chips away at our sense of community and belonging
  • What leaders and citizens can do to restore trust and rebuild the civic fabric—together

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Biography

Wendy McMahon: Transformational  Leader with a Vision for the Future

Wendy McMahon is a pioneering executive recognized for driving innovation, building high-performing teams, and transforming legacy institutions into modern, mission-driven organizations. As President & CEO of CBS News and Stations—and previously as President of ABC Owned Television Stations—McMahon led groundbreaking shifts in digital strategy, expanded local journalism, and built nationally recognized content brands. A champion of creativity, culture, and accountability, she brings a deep understanding of how to lead through complexity and inspire teams to thrive amid constant change. With decades of experience at the helm of some of the nation’s most trusted news platforms, McMahon speaks with clarity and credibility on what it takes to lead with vision, values, and results.

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