Interview with Nina Tassler
By Emily Mims
It’s not every day someone gets the pleasure of picking the brain of television executive, author, feminist, mother, and Boston University Alum, Nina Tassler. Tassler has had an extremely impressive and empowering journey throughout her career in the entertainment industry, as she has worked in high positions for both Warner Brothers and CBS. Her hard work does not go unrecognized, as she has been awarded and nominated for her incredible achievements. Her inspiring book “What I Told My Daughter: Lessons From Leaders on Raising the Next Generation of Empowered Women”, is available online or in stores.
Q:How are you doing today?
A:Today, I am doing well. My general state of mind fluctuates day to day depending on the news cycle and the COVID reports.
Q: What does a day in your life look like normally? And also in quarantine?
A: My daily routine used to consist of arriving at my office around 10 and organizing my day. I usually return calls early. Some days we have staff or project meetings. Often we have creative meetings with writers, talent, or other producers. We also attend pitch meetings at the various networks or sit on notes call for projects we’ve already sold.
In quarantine - days are basically the same - except all work conducted on zoom.
Q: Could you run me through a timeline of your work career history?
A: I moved to Los Angeles in 1985, worked at Triad Artists (Talent agency) until 1989. Lorimar Studios as Director of Development and then Warner Brothers TV, worked my way up to Senior Vice President. I joined CBS Studios as SVP in Drama Development. I worked my way up to Executive Vice President, President and then Chairman of the Entertainment Division.
Q: How has your time at Boston University helped with your journey in your career? Or how has Boston University helped shape you into the incredibly accomplished woman you are today?
A: I graduated BU with a BFA in Acting. How would a degree in acting prepare me to run a network? My training at the College of Fine Arts instilled in me respect for process and analysis, with an emphasis on synthesizing different points of view to help reach consensus and develop policy. While at BU, I was exposed to a diverse and broad range of communication styles.
I took all of these acquired skills into my work in television.
Q: What made you wanna move out to LA from NYC?
A: In 1984 I married my BU boyfriend, Jerry Levine. After college we moved to NYC, where I would have stayed forever (I am originally from NY) but Jerry had a job opportunity in CA, so we moved! My Dad had passed away in February 1985, so I guess I was ready for a change.
Q: Could you elaborate on your personal experience with transitioning from Warner Brothers to CBS?
A: My move from WB to CBS was interesting. At WB, I was a seller - I bought and developed television shows to SELL to the networks. I was in on the ground level, working with writers, directors, actors - honing the ‘pitch’ for a show, then taking the show out to market. At CBS, I was for the first time a BUYER. I had to think about audience, ratings, marketing - focus the shows I was buying to serve the established CBS viewers. I was also charged with building, expanding our audience - with a specific target of bringing in younger viewers - 18-49. The main part of my job when I first arrived at CBS - buy a hit! Challenging for sure. Fortunately one of the first shows I bought when I arrived at CBS - CSI.
Q: In your book, “What I Told My Daughter” you say how you’d sometimes walk into meetings where you were the only female in the room - Was it hard being a woman in a more male-dominated industry and if so how did you motivate yourself to keep pushing forward in your career whenever you felt discouraged?
A: Oftentimes I was the only woman in the room, but my training in theatre at BU instilled in me a sense of confidence, gave me permission to own the space my body physically occupied - having been an actor, that is what is required when you work on stage. I never felt threatened or diminished - I would say I actually felt I deserved to be present in any meeting I attended.
Q: What are some words of encouragement you’d give to young women entering the workforce, especially more male-dominated careers, to not be deterred and to keep focus on their goals?
A: I would say this is one of the most transformative times for women in recent memory. No doubt there is systemic sexism and misogyny. But we have community now, we have cohorts, we are building alliances with other women in our own and related fields. We have robust and evolving opportunities - especially in entertainment. Women’s stories, created by women, starring women and especially BIPOC women. Women are being hired in executive ranks, in front of and behind the camera and below the line. No doubt the pandemic has hit our industry extremely hard - nothing in the US in production, but behind the scenes work is still on-going.
Q: In “What I Told My Daughter” you talk about feminism and how you have raised your children to be feminists - What does feminism and being a feminist mean to you?
A: FEMINISM = equity in every aspect of my life. Plain and simple.
Q: Lastly, do you have any tips you have for women who are trying to build a career for themselves after University? Also, any tips for college students trying to make work connections during quarantine?
A: My advice for women post University (this is not my quote but a dear friend shared, I love it), “you can’t make mistakes in your 20’s.” So don’t be afraid to take chances, perhaps work in an adjacent field to your area of interest but explore different work paradigms to gain experience. And I would suggest - whatever job you find (unless there is some unhealthy reason) stay at least 2 years. While in quarantine, I would suggest immersing yourself in social justice work. There is a very important election coming up - and getting out the vote is the single most important thing you can do. You will meet like-minded people and may actually develop new and important relationships.