In 2015, I had the honor of being named an Eisenhower Fellow. Once my fellowship was announced, I received a series of inquiries about the program’s benefits. Some colleagues were concerned it sounded too altruistic to be part of a fellowship designed to “create a world that is more peaceful, prosperous and just.” They asked as Chief Brand Officer for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and daughter of Chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon, did I really need the fellowship to network with other leaders? Would I be able to bring real strategic value back to WWE? And was the fellowship a valuable use of my time? The answer to all these questions is unequivocally, yes.
Not only did I make invaluable connections across multiple sectors of business, government, and community; I immersed myself in different cultures, trying foods I would have never sampled like soup made with bird saliva (a delicacy in Singapore), and visited places that captured my soul like the Great Wall of China. And throughout the entire journey, I never felt alone. One of the most important facets of the fellowship is the sense of a true global family thanks to the large network of fellows around the world.
And from all those cultures and conversations I took away a unique perspective. I look back and remember discussing best business practices over Sakae green tea with Douglas Foo, Founder and Chairman of Sakae Holdings and insights into business models unique to China with Solomon Cai, CEO of Globelink China Investment, Ltd. at one of the homes of the historic Chinese dynasty. I even learned Samba at a local Carioca club in Rio de Janeiro with scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Mauro Rebelo and his beautiful wife, while better understanding the potential impact science can make on all business. What an incredible experience.
Stephanie McMahon with staff at Shijitan Hospital in Beijing
My fellowship goals were to learn more about successful media and entertainment business practices, the importance of partnership across business and government sectors, the best ways to give back to the local community, and how to support women’s leadership. In Brazil, China and Singapore I met with government and industry leaders across multiple lines of business, including government bodies charged with media, sports and tourism as well as news organizations, universities, corporations and non-profits.
The key takeaways for success across media and entertainment were not dissimilar in each country. There is a need for long term strategic planning, especially in Singapore and China, highlighting a thorough five to ten-year plan in the market. A need for local presence, local partners and localized content are crucial for making your brand relatable. Digital and social media are the fastest growing media platforms presenting significant opportunities for content distribution and audience engagement. And finally, local and national government support for your local business goals is crucial.
Partnership seemed to be imperative in each country. In Singapore, the government indicated a willingness to subsidize businesses that commit to certain growth and training for Singaporeans. In China, the need for multinational businesses to introduce local companies tailored to serve the Chinese market was reinforced at almost every meeting. Examples cited were: NBA China and Disney China, the latter which just opened and has invested heavily to incorporate local content and culture in its theme park offer. In Brazil, localization was also considered important for economic efficiency.
Stephanie McMahon visits the Singapore Sports Council
Observing levels of women in leadership and opportunities to lead was part of my Eisenhower journey. During the course of my fellowship, I took part in the Global Networks Following, organized by Eisenhower Fellowships, where more than 200 women leaders representing 45 countries gathered to boost gender equity and empowerment for women across all sectors. While there are leadership opportunities for women in many countries across business, government or in their communities, there are many more countries where there are none. The gathering last fall was an eye-opening experience for me, as I listened to global leaders discuss much needed reform for women’s rights domestically and abroad. The stories of hardships are still ringing in my ears; cases of women systematically deprived of their basic human rights and dignity. When women are equal to men, communities and economies flourish. Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, who addressed us, summed it up best when she said, “If women reach parity, everyone benefits.” What I recognized is that it is going to take all of us, men and women, to ensure this parity is reached.
The Eisenhower Journey is different for each one of us, but the element that all of us Fellows share is the treasure of being exposed to a combination of people with deep knowledge across so many different lines of government, business, education and community. Thanks to my experience with the Eisenhower Fellowship, I was able to help inform WWE’s business strategy and had the personal opportunity to delve into such enriching cultural experiences.
But by far my greatest takeaway was the affirmation of the human spirit and that no matter where we’re from or how we’re raised; we are all the same on some level. We all have the same basic needs, just different circumstances. And we all have something incredible to offer. When you bring an immensely diverse group of people together with different experiences and approaches to similar problems, you find the best solutions. That is how the Eisenhower Fellowship works, and why we all need to join forces to “create a world that is more peaceful, prosperous and just.”
Stephanie McMahon is Chief Brand Officer at WWE. She is a 2015 Eisenhower Fellow, a global network of leaders committed to creating a world more peaceful, prosperous and just.