Although many of my friends and colleagues thought I was crazy at the time, I took on my current role with a baby in tow. Starting late on the ‘baby bandwagon,’ my husband and I agreed that the opportunity to help create value for a number of business constituents would actually provide a supportive environment for our non-traditional family.

As with all expectations, we’ve had to revise these along the way. Despite the exhaustion of now having a toddler (remember? I am honest), she’s a trooper as she attends:
Business meetings—she does “whiteboards” already at two-years-old Trade shows—we had to fight to get her out of Victor Vision, the electric car VCI Solutions gave away at NAB09, and Client Conferences—she works a crowd beautifully sharing breakfast pastries and sitting with strangers!

More than anything, though, I realize that I’m seeing media in a different light than most of my peers. While many of you started at a normal time in life—by waiting, I am now in a position to help shape the future with a view of how different media should be.

Why do I say that?
My two-year-old can operate an iPhone and navigate to her Sesame Street® episodes downloaded to it. (NOTE: It helps to have an industry veteran/former engineer who can transcode for this functionality!)
On the iPhone, she can actually request segments in the shows and use the editing tools to get to these.
She can watch her adored “Street” on the computer or any mobile device, including playing with the online Street games.
She has no concept of a scheduled program. Everything is on when she wants it to be on—and on whatever device we are near.

Now before you think she is always watching TV…she’s not. In fact, she has very little interest in it unless it is exactly when, where, and how she wants it to be. As my husband has commented many a time, she could care less about screen size. She wants a particular episode—or segment—and fully expects that the tools to get there to exactly that show—or segment—are available to her at any time.

You might say, “Well, that’s because these tools are now available. So, duh!” You’re right. But, how does this change media? In every way possible! And yet, we’re not thinking enough about how to cater to HER—the consumer that cares about content—not device, not schedule, not quality.

I see her and realize, we have a long ways to go. Yet, what an exciting opportunity we have! To deliver content to the newer consumers will take creativity and innovation. That said the loyalty to content / brand is extensive. That’s what I’ve learned from my two-year-old.