Women in CO : Amy Israel
I believe that women are phenomenal leaders. To generalize, we have a great sense of empathy, organizational and communication skills.
Women in CO is about the women I meet, know, love, and admire—those who inspire me daily with their wisdom and strengths but also their vulnerabilities, complexities and humanity. Their voices offer insight, encouragement, and the kind of quiet reassurance that reminds us: We are not alone.
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1.WHAT IS YOUR ROLE, AND HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK IN THIS FIELD?
I am currently President of Television at Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company, an independent television studio that produces premium television shows for a global market. I studied art history in college, but by the time I graduated I had grown disillusioned by the art world. A summer internship at New Line Cinema/Fine Line Features opened a path to working in film, a career I never knew existed. From that summer on, I never looked back. The internship led me directly to Miramax Films during the golden age of independent film: the ‘90s. The experience gave me an incredible education—my film school, business school and law school all rolled into one. After 20 years working in film, as both an executive and a producer, I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and made the decision to pivot from film to television. Staying nimble and having a willingness to jump into the deep end has always led me down the right path.
2. IN WHAT WAYS HAS YOUR WORK SHAPED YOUR IDENTITY AND PERSONAL GROWTH?
I honed my Brooklyn born-and-bred fighting spirit to survive in the Wild West of indie film in the 90’s. I learned to trust my gut and advocate fiercely for the shows and artists I believe in. I don't shy away from confrontation and have always been a straight shooter, but over time I’ve learned that sometimes it’s easier for people to digest candor when you make them laugh. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “if you’re going to tell people the truth, make them laugh, or they’ll kill you.”
3. HAS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS EVOLVED OVER TIME?
When I was first starting out, I focused intently on “moving up the ladder,” as if that was the only way to measure one’s achievement. Today, I’ve come to measure success in three ways—by the impact the shows and films I’ve worked on have had in leading or changing the cultural conversation; by my ability to maintain a true passion and curiosity for what I do every day; and finally, by the depth and longevity of my relationships, both personal and professional, built on loyalty and trust that comes from working in the trenches together, being consistent, compassionate and always showing up.
4. WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED TO KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
I am an endlessly curious person who is not afraid to take risks—the combination of which pushes me to take on new challenges, think outside of the box, and learn from things when they don’t work out. Storytelling in television and film is a powerful art form that lights up our brains, brings out our emotions and connects us. I still pinch myself that I get to do it for a living.
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5. DO YOU HAVE A ROLE MODEL, FEMALE OR OTHERWISE? WHAT LESSONS FROM THEM HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR PATH?
Despite having worked in a completely different field, my dad, Robert Israel, has been my biggest influence. He is a person with great taste, deep integrity, an incredible work ethic and wicked sense of humor. He built Kentshire Galleries, the renowned English Antique furniture store in New York. He brought exacting standards to the exquisite furniture they bought and sold---excellence of design, fine workmanship, and authenticity. Through him, I learned that how you do anything is how you do everything.
6. HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES/RESISTANCE THAT PERTAINED TO YOU BEING A WOMAN IN THE WORKPLACE? HOW HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOUR APPROACH TO WORK OR LEADERSHIP?
There have certainly been challenges. One that took me time to fully comprehend was the significant impact being the only woman in the room can have not only on the individual, but on the creative work as well. Understanding the burden on the individual & disadvantage to the work has made me fiercely advocate for women’s voices and focus on mentoring the next generation of exceptional female creatives.
7. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE WORKPLACE AND HOW DO YOU OVERCOME IT? COMMUNICATION? MANAGEMENT? TIME MANAGEMENT? MOTIVATION? WORK/LIFE BALANCE?
I came up in the film and television industry understanding that this culture was a 24/7 job. It’s made finding work/life balance difficult. As I’ve grown (& had kids), I’ve learned to delegate more and know when to call it quits for the day. Though, I’m still a work in progress.
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8. WHAT UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES OR QUALITIES DO YOU THINK WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORKPLACE, AND HOW DO THESE INFLUENCE TEAM DYNAMICS?
I believe that women are phenomenal leaders. To generalize, we have a great sense of empathy, organizational and communication skills. Not to mention, we work harder. I have worked at a few companies where there were an extraordinary number of women running departments. Each time, it helped create a healthy, collaborative work culture–with people who knew how to work hard, play hard and valued the importance of friends and family.
9. WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WISH SOMEONE HAD SHARED WITH YOU WHEN YOU WERE STARTING OUT?
Don’t waste time stressing about things you cannot control. It would have saved me a lot of sleepless nights.
10. WHAT’S ONE THING YOU HOPE YOUNGER WOMEN ENTERING YOUR FIELD FEEL EXCITED ABOUT?
I hope younger women see that there are a lot of opportunities available to them and that they feel supported by a community of powerful advocates who are engaged in helping mentor and guide them on their journey.