Negotiate Anything The Skill AI Can’t Replace — Reading the Room (Bonnie Hammer)
Aug 21, 2025
Bonnie Hammer, former chairman of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, shares her insights on reading the room — an irreplaceable skill in leadership and negotiation. She discusses the pitfalls of 'fake it till you make it' and introduces 'face it till you make it' as a new approach. Highlighting the importance of humility in hiring, Bonnie explores how media shapes culture amidst industry changes and emphasizes the need for human storytelling in the age of AI. Her experiences illustrate how presence and mentorship can drive success and empower women in the workplace.
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Humble Origins Built Team Focus
- Bonnie Hammer credits early summer-camp and entry-level TV jobs for teaching collaboration and humility.
- She built team loyalty by celebrating collective success rather than claiming sole credit.
Hire For Humility And Questions
- Hire for curiosity: prefer candidates who ask questions and credit past teammates over self-promotion.
- Prioritize humility and collaboration above resume buzzwords when building culture.
Branding Against Cultural Cynicism
- Hammer created the "Blue Skies" brand to offer likable, resolved stories amid darker cultural trends.
- That brand proved TV can counteract negativity while still delivering compelling characters.
