and determination have served her well while working for one of the biggest music
networks on television. As senior director of communication for VH1, Herron
helps make the public aware when a hot, new show hits the air.
“I’m responsible for the programming slate of VH1 and Vh1
Soul. … I am responsible for creating
and executing publicity program campaigns to support the programming,” she
explains. … I’m responsible for the staff and the execution of all of that.”
Herron’s success hinged on her ability to make connections:
“[A] woman I met under the hair dryer called me in to
interview for a publicist position here at VH1. I got the job and, years later;
I’m still here and the senior director of the department. She was my boss and mentor and was another
African American woman. I consider myself very blessed to have had the kind of
leadership.”
And her ability to be an effective leader herself:
“You can be a leader and still be familiar [with] your
subordinates. I think it’s empowering and very important that your staff
respects you as a leader, but also knows that you respect them as people. [And]
it’s important to be honest. Anything that a leader can do to empower their
staff is definitely a good thing.”
Herron has thrived throughout changing times at the network:
“[Initially] the network was very music-centric. We were
John Mellencamp [and] Bon Jovi, [but] we didn’t play rap music. Then we hit a
bit of a slump. We were really struggling to get on the map. That was when we
segued to where we are now. We still do the music, [but] major franchises like
“Storytellers” and “Behind the Music” [are] back. … We’ve always prided
ourselves on telling a very good story. And now VH1 is more pop culture than it
used to be. We get criticized for not doing a lot of music, but I think we look
at music [in] a different way. We’re just telling the story a different way.”
–todd williams
