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How to leverage two seemingly opposing personal skills to succeed in business.

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Wonya's Bio

Wonya Lucas is the former President and CEO of Hallmark Media. While at Hallmark, Lucas oversaw the company’s portfolio of entertainment brands, including linear networks Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama; subscription video on demand service Hallmark Movies Now; and publishing division Hallmark Publishing.

Prior to joining Hallmark Media in August of 2020, Lucas was President and CEO of Public Broadcasting Atlanta, where she oversaw Atlanta’s NPR (WABE) and PBS stations. Previously, Lucas was President and CEO for TV One where she was the second African-American woman to be President and CEO of a cable television company.

Prior to joining TV One, Lucas held several positions at Discovery Communications including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Discovery Channel and Science Channel and Global Chief Marketing Officer with responsibility for marketing in 210 countries and over 130 networks.

Prior to joining Discovery Communications in 2008, Lucas served as General Manager and Executive Vice President of The Weather Channel Networks, where she was responsible for corporate strategy and development, strategic marketing for The Weather Channel, Weather Channel radio and weather.com.

Before joining The Weather Channel in 2002 as Executive Vice President of Marketing, Lucas held several positions at Turner Broadcasting System, including Senior Vice President of Strategic Marketing for cnn.com, CNN radio and CNN Networks Worldwide, Vice President of Business Operations and Network Development for Turner Entertainment and Vice President of Entertainment Marketing for TNT. Her other experience includes brand management roles for The Coca-Cola Company and The Clorox Company. Lucas began her career as a Product Engineer for Westinghouse.

Lucas currently serves on the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors and the Sundance Institute Board of Trustees. She also serves as a corporate board member for Hallmark Media, The Atlanta Braves Holding Company, Inspire Brands and previously EW Scripps and JC Penney.

Lucas received an MBA in Finance and Marketing from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and BS Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is the proud mother of two adult daughters, Alexis Kirton and Sydney Kirton.