181. Rob Stoddard - The Value of Mentorship

R.O.G. Return on Generosity

“...anytime one of those honorees, awardees stands up to accept an award, the first things they do is to thank their mentors…what that means is better entertainment for all of us, better product for all of us, better customer service and customer care…There is no better return on the generosity of mentoring than the success that people ultimately have in the business world.”

Rob Stoddard is a former corporate communications executive who served in the industry for more than 35 years with an impressive array of professional societies, associations, and organizations. He worked in senior positions in corporate communications, public relations, and public affairs serving the cable telecommunications industry.

Stoddard's professional career commenced as a news assistant at the Washington, DC, bureau of ABC Radio, followed by stints as a news director and correspondent for radio stations in Keene, NH and Springfield, MA. He went on to work as a desk editor and regional executive for United Press International in Boston, before joining the staff of U.S. Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-KS) as Press Secretary in Washington, DC.

Stoddard represented NCTA as a member of the industry Customer Care Committee (C5) for nearly 20 years, from its inception at NCTA through the stewardship of the Cable Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) and finally its permanent home at The Cable Center. He is a member of the Cable Television Pioneers as well as the Virginia Cable Hall of Fame. Stoddard has been recognized with major diversity awards from the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) and the Washington, DC / Baltimore Chapter of The WICT Network.

Stoddard's career was capped by a 20-year run with the then-National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) as Senior Vice President for Communications & Public Affairs. After the association changed its name to NCTA - The Internet & Television Association, Stoddard became Senior Vice President for Industry & Association Affairs. He retired from NCTA in January 2022.

R.O.G. Takeaway Tips:

• Play to your strengths.
• Be generous with information.
• Respect and appreciate our history. (i.e., analog to digital)
• Seek mentoring.
• Mentor someone. It matters.
• Acknowledge and appreciate the ways you witness generosity at work.
• Behave with civility.

Resources:

• NCTA - The Internet & Television Association
• Cable Center Customer Centric Consortium (C5)
• National Press Club Journalism Institute
• Civility at Work by Christine Porath

Where to find R.O.G. Podcast:

R.O.G on YouTube

R.O.G on Apple Podcasts

R.O.G on Spotify

How diverse is your network?
N.D.I. Network Diversity Index

What is your Generosity Style?
Generosity Quiz

Credits:

Rob Stoddard, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

Coming Next: Please join us next week, Episode 182, with Shannon Cassidy for a Generous Leadership Coaching Tip.