Dertouzos Lecturer: Electrical Engineering and the World of Entertainment
Speaker: Andrea Wong , President, International Production, Sony Pictures Television & President, International, Sony Pictu
Date: March 1 2012
Time: 4:00PM to 5:00PM
Location: 32-123
Host: Anant Agarwal, CSAIL
Contact: Colleen Russell, 3-0145, crussell@csail.mit.edu
Relevant URL: Abstract:
Not sure what do with your degree after graduation? MIT alumna Andrea Wong will present a CSAIL Dertouzos Distinguished Lecture and discussion on the importance of fulfilling your passion through your professional pursuits, relaying her experience as an EECS graduate who made her way up the entertainment industry ladder to become President and CEO of Lifetime Networks and new head of Sony’s International Business. Learn about the challenges of working in the entertainment industry, how Wong’s experience at MIT helped prepare her for success, and how MIT students today can have a big impact in the entertainment field. Wong will also discuss her views on how the entertainment industry needs to adapt to an increasingly digital world. After describing her own professional experiences, Wong will open up the floor to discussion, and hold an in-depth question and answer session with attendees.
Bio:
Andrea Wong is the president of international production for Sony Pictures Television and the president of international for Sony Pictures Entertainment. In her SPT position, Wong will head the studio’s international television production business, overseeing the creative teams outside the U.S. as well as the fifteen owned and joint venture international production companies around the world.
Based in London, Wong also serves as international president for SPE and acts as the company’s commercial and governmental representative related to production abroad. Previously, Wong served as president and CEO of Lifetime Networks, where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, and Lifetime Digital, including programming, marketing, advertising sales, affiliate sales, public affairs, business and legal affairs, strategic planning, operations and research. During her time there she saw Army Wives become Lifetime's top-rated original series ever and spearheaded Lifetime's acquisition of Project Runway. These two shows remain the highest rated series on Lifetime.
Prior to that, Wong was executive vice president, alternative programming, specials and late night at ABC where she developed shows such as The Bachelor, the U.S version of Dancing With the Stars and the Emmy-award winning Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Wong graduated MIT with a degree in electrical engineering and received an MBA from Stanford University. She serves on the board of Liberty Media Corporation and the Visiting Committee of the MIT Media Lab and she is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute.
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