Techno Powered

Rhonda Holt Inspires the Teams Building Turner’s Vast Web Operations

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 1/30/2012 12:01:00 AM

Rhonda Holt’s lifelong fascination with computing began with bugs. Not the software kind: As a high-school junior, she spent a summer in the early ’80s in Florida entering fi eld data about parasites attacking crops into a mainframe for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “It was not a good summer job,” Holt recalls. “I would have to queue up to get on the computer, and sit there for two hours in the afternoon waiting to go on.”

But the exposure to the power of information systems convinced Holt, who excelled at math and science, to pursue a computer-science degree from the University of Florida. Her first job out of school was as a programmer with IBM, the “Holy Grail” for computer grads at the time, Holt says. That led to positions with Sun Microsystems and Dell Computer, where she oversaw development of the highscale storage and server arrays in the middle of Silicon Valley’s dot-com boom.

Today, Holt is responsible for the technology behind CNN.com — one of the biggest news sites on the Internet, with an average of nearly 73 million unique monthly visitors in 2011 — as well as the online engines that power Turner’s entertainment properties and Turner Sports, which includes the NCAA March Madness on Demand video-streaming product. She’s also tasked with enabling the programmer’s strategic TV Everywhere initiatives.

“Almost everything I’ve done technically in my career is applicable now,” Holt says. “The media and entertainment space is transitioning into a very high-tech kind of business. The fundamental technology components that drive this business are the traditional [information technology] components that I grew up learning.”

But just as important as her deep knowledge of technology, according to colleagues and others, is her intuitive sense of how to inspire and motivate her team.

“I think the hallmark of Rhonda’s strength is her fi erce commitment to her people and their growth and development,” Turner chief emerging technologies officer Trish Jones says. “She’s really good at positive reinforcement — applauding progress along the way. Oftentimes in these jobs, you get so busy you forget to celebrate successes.”

‘MILLION MOVING PARTS’

Jones, who is Holt’s boss, also called out her ability to manage the “million moving parts” involved in technology projects with a steadfast, long-range vision: “The thing she brings that makes her so effective in her job and her role is this calm in the middle of a storm.”

Holt’s leadership engenders intense loyalty and admiration from co-workers. Scott Boyarsky, vice president of technology for Turner Sports, moved his family from New York to Atlanta in May 2011, citing in large part the opportunity to work on her team.

“She’s not only one of the best technologists that I’ve worked with but as far as a broad, strategic anchor, there are few in this space at her level that really get it the way she does,” Boyarsky says.

Adds Women in Cable Telecommunications president and CEO Maria Brennan, “Rhonda combines tech savvy and leadership. Th e industry benefi ts greatly from women like her and we are delighted, but not at all surprised, that she is being recognized.”

Holt grew up in Gainesville, Fla., “a military brat” whose parents supported her drive into the computer sector. Originally, she had dreams of being an aerospace engineer for NASA.

As a young computer-science professional, Holt at times felt intimidated in the predominantly male field. Sometimes her competence was questioned, albeit in indirect and subtle ways, she says.

“The biggest generic challenge that probably spans my entire career — and probably any female in the technology space — is that you have to be more assertive in getting your point of view out on the table,” she says. “You have to prove yourself a lot more.”

Holt credits her parents with instilling the high selfesteem and confidence she needed to succeed. “My parents are in that generation when the struggle for civil rights was going on,” Holt says. “It applies to women as well as minorities in this space: Be bold, be proud of what you can do. Don’t cower from the challenge at hand.”

As part of giving back to the community, Holt has established a scholarship fund at the University of Florida College of Engineering targeted at women and people of color. “I have a personal interest in enabling more people who look like me to participate and excel in the engineering field,” she says.

GADGET NUT

Holt’s passion for technology extends to her home life: She loves trying out new gadgets and media devices.

Her latest acquisition is the touchscreen Nook Tablet, which she bought over the holidays. As an avid reader with a fondness for bookstores and the physical feel of books, Holt never expected to get hooked on an e-reader. But she rapidly discovered how quickly the technology could feed her habit. “That’s a big hook for me,” she says.

She’s also a movie buff (“I’m a huge Turner Classic Movies fan”) and enjoys a variety of TV shows, including HBO’s Game of Thrones.

For Holt, new devices are also important for Turner to closely monitor as the way people consume media shifts. She identifies the intersection of TV Everywhere and social media as a major trend in the year ahead — and beyond.

“Consumers don’t want to passively consume the content,” she says. “They want to actively interact with it, so integration with social media is going to be key.”

RHONDA HOLT

Hometown: Gainesville, Fla.

Age: 47

Current job: SVP, Audience and Multiplatform Technologies, Turner Broadcasting System

First job: Programmer, IBM Storage Systems Division

Favorite TV shows: Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad

High praise: “The thing she brings that makes her so effective in her job and her role is this calm in the middle of a storm.” — Turner chief emerging technologies offi cer Trish Jones