This is the third in a series of interviews exploring the career and life journey, highlights, pauses and key decision points leading to change for women in the media industry.

The aim of this series is to reflect on wisdom gained through formal and informal education, significant supporters, detractors, inner voice and the impact this has had driving forward or shaping their career. We cover women in all stages of their career and try to discover information that will be useful to others as they progress through their careers.

Each participant was also asked to share their story as mentors and give key takeaways to others in the industry.

So far we have a cross section of women in different roles and career stages, with profiles on Lauren Joyce, recently appointed to the top programming position in ARN and Laura Bouchet who changed from a EP role in one network to a programming role at SCA.

This profile is on Cathy O’Connor, CEO of oOh!media, who has held CEO roles for almost twenty years and is now looking to her next career challenge.

1 . Describe your current professional life and your stage of life.

I’m the CEO of oOh!media, steering a large Out‑of‑Home business through a period of rapid growth and digital change. Career‑wise, knowing that our business now has real momentum, I recently signalled my intention to transition out of the role over the course of the next year, after a 17-year stint as a media CEO.

I’m at my best when tackling new things and excited by what comes next.

2. How did you come to be in this industry?

A total accident that turned into a passion. I started in radio promotions in my early 20s, fell hard for the pace and possibility of media, and never looked back. From there it was a mix pushing myself when opportunities appeared and being willing to jump before I felt completely “ready”.

3. What are your core beliefs? How are your values evident in the work you do or the life you lead?

• Integrity first – people decide every day whether to trust you.
• Curiosity – always ask the extra question.
• Back the team, not just the idea – culture and talent drive results. You’ll see those values in how I run meetings (lots of questions), how we hire (stay across where the talent is), and how I show up when things get messy (transparency over spin).
• Be generous– with your time and your knowledge. Pay it back and forward. Reputations are more important than resumes.

4. How did your education, formal and informal, enrich your career/ life journey? (Include mentors, detractors here)

A Communications degree gave me theory and the pathway into media, but the real education came from mentors who let me sit in, speak up, and occasionally fall flat. I learned as much from tough detractors as from supporters. In any career, you’ll have both and both sharpen your thinking if you stay open.

5. What are some of your key decision change points and how did they shape your career/ life journey?

• Saying yes to my first GM role at 29 – terrifying, but it rewired my confidence.
• Becoming CEO of NOVA Entertainment – taught me how to steer strategy and culture.

• Jumping to oOh!media in 2020 – a pivot from audio to Out‑of‑Home that reminded me reinvention keeps you sharp.
• My latest decision – to jump again to the next career phase,  with pride in my confidence to push into the unknown and go for new experiences and new learnings.

Hall of Fame winner Cathy O’Connor at the ACRA Awards 2016

Series compiled by Serena Ahern for radioinfo.

If you have a suggestion for someone to be considered for this series, please send a note to [email protected]

Previous reports:

Wisdom of Women in Media: Lauren Joyce, Chief Audience & Content Officer ARN

Wisdom of Women in Media: Laura Bouchet, Content Director Triple M