SHOCEO® Reading for Success: 7 (Seven) Minutes.
For this edition of the She’s Her Own CEO® Interview Series, we are excited to introduce you to FOX 5 Atlanta’s Christine Sperow!
Christine Sperow joined Fox 5 News in March 2020. She anchors the newly launched FOX 5 News at 4:30pm and co-anchors FOX 5 News Edge at 11. Christine comes to Atlanta after spending 11 years as morning anchor at WBTV in Charlotte, NC. While there she won numerous awards including three Emmy Awards. Christine has anchored coverage of many breaking news events and, over the course of her almost 20-year career, she interviewed the likes of President Donald Trump, former First Lady Laura Bush and then-Senator Barack Obama during his first presidential campaign. Christine takes pride in keeping the public informed with accurate information about what’s going on in their community. Being rooted in the community she lives in is also important. While in Charlotte, Christine led the station’s campaign for seven years raising millions of dollars for children fighting pediatric cancer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Christine is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Christine is a proud University of Georgia graduate, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She was also a student-athlete playing on UGA’s women’s volleyball team. Christine is married to William and they have two children, Camryn and William, and pet Yorkie, Georgia II. As a family they play and watch lots of sports, and love rooting for the Dawgs during college football season!
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Hi Christine, it is such a pleasure to speak with you today and welcome back to Atlanta! Please share some of your early career experiences that have contributed to your professional success.
Christine Sperow, FOX 5: I put tremendous value in my college experience. Not only did I have to manage my academics, I also had the demands of being a student-athlete which involved practices, workouts and traveling. That’s a lot to juggle but you quickly learn time management, perseverance, and how to manage priorities (all very important qualities of a CEO, right?). I love telling the story about my career experience. It was a rude awakening when I graduated from college and couldn’t land a single job as a television reporter. In need of money, I took a job as a sales assistant at a local radio station here in Atlanta and worked my way up to a management position. I never lost my desire to want to be a reporter though. So after three years, I made the attempt to find a television gig by recording myself reading the news on a CD (I’m dating myself), making copies of the CD, taping a photo of myself on top of each one so they would know what I look like, and mailing them to news directors across the country. This time I got a call back, and the rest is history! That’s the kind of self-motivation (and creativity!) that has shaped my career, to now be working in the 10th largest news market in the country.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: That is a fantastic story of diligence and creativity, Christine! On ShesHerOwnCEO.com, we often talk about how one can best Lead, Provide, and Create™. Each of us, in our respective world, has opportunities to Lead Ourselves, to Provide for Others, and Create for the Larger World.
Please share with me your favorite example of how you Lead, Provide, and Create™ in your professional and/or personal world!
Christine Sperow, FOX 5: Lea
d, Provide, Create are probably the best words to describe what we do! On a day-to-day basis we’re challenged with knowing what the pulse of the community is and finding the most effective and creative ways to tell people’s stories. That requires building relationships in the community, knowing the decisions elected officials are making on behalf of their constituents, and advocating for what’s important to our viewers.
We as journalists have the opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless and open one’s eyes to important causes. One cause I’m most proud of that intersected into my professional world was a campaign I was a part of to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Creatively I had the honor of telling the stories of families whose children were fighting cancer at St. Jude. These stories not only shed light on this terrible disease, but also inspired the community to donate. The money raised is for families so they wouldn’t have to pay for the cancer treatment and other expenses. I was part of helping raise millions of dollars for the cause and it’s something I’m very proud of knowing children’s lives were potentially being saved.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Being the CEO of your world can take many forms (for example, volunteering in your community, holding a formal corporate position, engaging in creative pursuits, or being a reliable mom/sister/daughter).
Christine, in your opinion, what is the best way to achieve success and to become the boss of your world?
Christine Sperow, FOX 5: I think it’s establishing from the jump that you can’t do it all – and guess what – that’s okay! Being a professional in a demanding career, being a wife, being a mom… there is a lot to juggle in those roles. Being honest with myself about what can and can’t get accomplished on a daily basis almost takes the weight off. I have a clearer, realistic approach to tackling the day and can prioritize what needs to be done more effectively.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Any additional advice you can share with motivated, aspirational professionals?
Christine Sperow, FOX 5: Find someone who is in the same field you’re in and see what they’re doing successfully. Take it a step further and reach out to that individual for advice or mentorship. With social media and the internet, people are so much more accessible now. And If you make mistakes along the way to finding success, I always like to say, it’s how you bounce back from the mistake that really matters.
Kathryn Brooks, She’s Her Own CEO®: Thank you for sharing your career story, perspectives, and advice, Christine. Congratulations on all of your professional and personal success!
Looking for even more #CEO inspiration? Check out my other #CEO interviews and be sure you’re subscribed below.
Kathryn
One Response
Wade Ethredge
I thought is was a good overview of christine’s Take on being a success! I wasn’t sure how I felt about her at first because we’ve insured so many changes at Fox 5 . But she has grown on me and I respect her professionalism! I was born and raised in this state and have three grown daughters. I am glad she has become part of our family ! Sincerely Wade