Digital Media Panel: Emerging Content Business Models

Michael J. Wolf - Panel Moderater

Co-Founder and Managing Director of ACTIVATE

Michael J. Wolf is Co-Founder and Managing Director of ACTIVATE, a strategy and technology consulting firm which helps leading media, technology and entertainment companies position their businesses for growth and build new digital businesses.  In addition, he and his partners work with tech innovators to develop their growth strategies. During his career, he has directed many innovations, strategic alignments and transactions in the content, technology and communications industries. 

Previously, Michael was President and COO of MTV Networks where he was responsible for leading the business, technology and production operations for the $7bn television and interactive media company. MTVN’s global brands include: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and Vh1. 

Before MTVN, Michael was global managing partner of the Media, Entertainment and Internet practice at McKinsey & Company.  He joined McKinsey from Booz Allen Hamilton where he was Senior Partner and Founder of the firm’s global Media, Entertainment & Internet Practice. He was a member of Booz Allen’s executive management team and board of directors. 

Most recently, he served as Guest Editor of Media Magazine’s “Digital Transformation Issue” and is the co-author of “Redefiners: Capturing Media Growth Dollars”. 

Lisa Hsia - Panelist

Executive Vice President, Digital Media, Bravo

Lisa Hsia is Executive Vice President of Bravo Digital Media overseeing Bravo’s digital businesses including Bravotv.com, as well as Bravo’s initiatives in emerging media – wireless, interactive TV, apps, gaming and multi-platform programming. During her tenure at Bravo, Hsia has built Digital Media into an interactive powerhouse with numerous initiatives that serve to enhance viewer engagement. Her innovations include the Infoframe, the first technology to make both on-air programming and commercials interactive, Bravo Talk Bubble, the first real-time viewing party and social TV event, and Bravo Now, the first tablet and smart phone application that allows fans to participate in a live viewing companion experience.

Bravo Digital has been recognized for numerous awards, including the Technology & Engineering Emmy, Webby, Advertising Age Media Vanguard Award, Mobile Excellence Award, Mobile Marketing Association Award and five Prime Time Emmy nominations for Interactive.  

Keith Kocho - Panelist

Director, Strategy and Business Development, Cisco

Service Provider Video Technology Group

Keith founded ExtendMedia (acquired by Cisco in 2010) and has 20+ years of networked video experience.  He has received such awards as the BDC’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.  Keith was named the “Emerging Executive of the Year” by the Mass Technology Leadership Council in 2007.  He has been an advisor to Apple Computer, consultant to leading telecommunications and technology companies such as Intel, IBM and Microsoft, and has served on the advisory boards of several Colleges and Universities.

In his current role with Cisco, Keith has responsibility for shaping the strategic direction of Cisco’s service provider video business.  In addition to the management of key external partnerships, he also drives UI/UX efforts and collaborates closely with Cisco’s corporate strategy group in identifying strategic opportunities for the company.  He is a graduate of Ryerson University with a degree in Radio and Television Arts and lives outside Boston with his wife Nadine and their four children.

Jennifer Wong - Panelist

EVP, Strategy, Operations, and Business Development, Sugar Inc.

Jennifer Wong recently joined the management team at Sugar, inc as the EVP, Strategy, Operations, and Business Development.  Sugar is a content and commerce startup focused on the women’s lifestyle space and is backed by Sequoia and IVP.  She joined from AOL, where she held several executive management roles. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Premium Network Display Products, where she led the development and go-to-market strategies for the company’s premium network display products. In a prior role, Wong served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of AOL Huffington Post Media Group’s lifestyle portfolio of brands, including StyleList, HuffPost Style, HuffPost Food, and HuffPost Travel. During her tenure at the company, Wong also helped oversee M&A efforts including acquisitions of TechCrunch, 5Min and The Huffington Post.

Before joining AOL, Wong was an Associate Partner in the Media, Entertainment and Information practice at McKinsey & Company. In her role, she worked with a broad range of digital media clients advising them on integrated print and digital advertising sales and editorial operations, online video distribution, advanced advertising in cable, and brand portfolio optimization.

Ayush Agarwal - Panelist

Product Manager, AdMob’s 

AdMob provides mobile app developers tools to promote, measure, and monetize their apps.  Prior to joining the AdMob team at Google, Ayush worked at ExactTarget, Madrona Venture Group, and McKinsey & Company.  He is also very active in the startup community, both as an advisor and an angel investor.

Ayush earned his BSE in Computer Science Engineering at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and he also attended the Summer Institute for General Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  In his free time Ayush enjoys triathlons, dancing salsa, and checking out art galleries.  He grew up in India, Nepal, and Singapore, and now lives in San Francisco.