Shae Hopkins is absolutely clear about the requirements of leadership. "It's very important that leaders be continuous learners and that they listen, " she said. "Decisions can be so complex these days, and the pressure is on. You need to get all the relevant information you can before making the tough decisions."
She should know. Her job requires juggling many different tasks and setting priorities for the state's educational television network. She's responsible for leading the statewide broadcast and multimedia network, connecting with the commonwealth and 3.5 million households in eight states. More than one million adults and children access KET services each week. KET broadcasts three channels 24/7, provides online multimedia educational resources and operates a production and distribution infrastructure with 16 transmitters statewide. In addition to her strategic management responsibilities, she's responsible for branding and promotion, governmental relations, fiscal performance, and compliance with all federal, state and FCC regulations.
She enjoys the diverse aspects of her job, noting also that it is "gratifying to work somewhere that means so much to so many people." What she doesn't like is the fact that there's never enough time to get everything accomplished.
"I have to try to keep my energy level high and get the information I need. It's impossible to get everything on the list done each day, but I do my best," Hopkins said.
The biggest challenge she sees for the industry today is the rapidly changing technologies and shifting consumer expectations. "It's a challenge for media to remain relevant and valued today," she said.
About 20 years ago, Hopkins, married with two young daughters and living just a few blocks from KET, responded to an advertisement in the paper and was hired to work for three months on the TeleFund. Her enthusiasm for the job showed, and then-director Len Press asked her to stay on.
"Little did I know it would be a life-changing experience. I had dropped out of UK earlier, not having a clue what to major in, but I knew I had diverse skills and interests that could be utilized at KET," Hopkins said. "I took the initiative, took full advantage of every opportunity and worked hard."
She credits former CEOs Press and Ginny Fox - and an incredibly talented staff - as great mentors.
"I've been fortunate to be challenged every day and gratified by personal, team and agency accomplishments. Len and Ginny always encouraged me to apply for positions that included additional responsibility and they were so supportive, even when I made mistakes along the way. They saw in me what I didn't know I had," she said.
Hopkins admits her guilty pleasure is shoes. "I can't walk past a shoe store, and I have more high heels than I can count. In fact, I may be the only person you know who's had a broken ankle and still bought shoes that I couldn't even try on."