WOMEN ELITE 2008: TRADE ASSOCIATIONS--Staying connected

Leading women executives from two industry trade groups fielded questions about the future of their respective organizations and how being a woman colors the way they do business.

When Carrie Dieterich came to the Entertainment Merchants Assn. (then called Video Software Dealers Assn.), she brought a rich background in film and TV production, as well as theatrical marketing and publicity, with her. In her time within the “trade world,” she says she has never found her gender to be an issue.

“I think it’s taken for granted that women will be in those positions,” she says.

As for EMA, Dieterich says the group has to stay connected to the needs of its membership.

“The biggest challenge is making sure we stay relevant for our members because of the economy,” she says. “We don’t want any of them to lose sight of the importance of people in the industry working together to address common goals and challenges.”

A veteran of the political world, Amy Jo Smith came to the Digital Entertainment Group with every expectation that the group would have “a life span of two, maybe three years.” Instead, the organization flourished, addressing new issues and trends and expanding its membership from 17 to 65 companies.

“We are always welcome to new suggestions from the membership to look at new directions that they want us to go in,” she says.

Smith looks forward to the day when women won’t be singled out for their excellence based in any way on their gender. She points to the executive team at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment as an example of a diverse team assembled because of their abilities, a number of whom happen to be women.

“I think these are things my daughter will never believe we talked about,” she says. “I hope that she thinks that.”