SUSANNAH BALDWIN
Progress Report
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 13:51:22 EST
Interview with Mario Butzner, Program Director at the KNEW radio station: I didn't know what to expect walking into the Clear Channel offices. Mario was warm, casual and appropriate for the purpose of our interview. I was definitely aware of two things. First, Mario is at least 15 years younger than I am! Okay, I said to myself, I can get over this because he is clearly experienced both as a program director and a teacher (he has taught at two local state universities). Second, I had this overwhelming feeling that I had waited twenty five years to get here. I was so excited! I left feeling very positive.
Sessions 1-6 with Mario:
Well, there is something really humbling about starting something completely new at my age, particularly when you aren't very good at it! Mario is extremely diplomatic and sensitive with his feedback. In spite of all the public speaking experience I have, I was lousy at commercials. The good news? I'm beginning to get the hang of it. It is clicking in what the radio demands of your voice, inflection and energy. Although it can be painful sometimes, listening to myself in my sessions with Mario, it's worth it. I just keep moving forward week by week. I know I will get there, I just didn't expect it to look like this. I am pretty good at writing commercials because I have instructional design background. So, that keeps my ego whole while I muck around in the announcing arena.
I am going to start a journalism course and I have applied to a couple of bay area radio stations for internships, which would help round out the work I am doing with Mario. I feel really excited and energized by the whole endeavour.
That's it for now! Susannah
Well, it has taken me about 46 years, a 13-year marriage, 2 children, a career and some therapy to really “know myself”…but that’s what I love about getting older. The ongoing revelation of who I am is what has brought me to pursuing this mentor program.
I am the product of two people who are unique characters with distinct passions in life. My mother was an actress and a teacher, one who loved to find the god-given potential in each child she touched. She gave me my presence as a public speaker and taught me to appreciate everyone’s gifts, regardless of his or her station in life. My father was a researcher and spent his free time reading philosophy and physics. He gave me my curiosity and interest in the big questions while having a profound gratitude for the simple things, like a good tuna sandwich and a beer.
Unfortunately they were not well matched in marriage. As a consequence my three siblings and I were constantly involved in the chaos of their difficulties. Being that I was the youngest, and the most vulnerable, I took it upon myself to try and mediate all of the disputes in the house.
I was born with an interest in people that was enhanced moreso by my family experience. I love watching people. I love seeing who they are and what their unique composition and intricacies are. I love being in situations where people reveal their deepest and most vulnerable selves. All of this set me up for the path I took in my professional life.
Rather than finishing college, I got extremely interested in the human potential movement in the early 80’s. I worked for a company that ran seminars on personal effectiveness. Young (24), but talented as a speaker and a teacher, I worked my way into being an instructor. I taught workshops all over the West Coast with groups from 30 to 300 in evening, weekend and full week workshops. I have never worked so hard. However, I found it so satisfying to help people see that they had options in their lives and they could make more of their lives if they wanted to. I left after three years and went back to finish my bachelor’s degree and go onto a master’s and Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Somewhere in the middle of my doctorate I realized I did not want to be a clinical psychologist, although I loved the training. Having taken some organizational development courses I pursued a job (while finishing my doctorate) in a management consulting firm that emphasized “collaboration” as their niche. I got hired as a coordinator, just to get in the door, and spent eight great years there. I worked my way up to being a senior consultant, tripled my salary in the first five years and learned a lot. Much of what I did was work with groups to help them build consensus agreements on business issues like strategy and operational planning. Meaningful dialogue defined my reputation as a consultant. Much of what I did was help groups in conflict to talk to one another authentically. It was extremely satisfying work. I learned how to create a safe place for people to explore issues together and be productive with those conversations.
I went on my own as a consultant when my second daughter was born. I have found in the last few years that my interest in business has paled. It took me about 18 months of pounding my head against the wall to see that I wanted to do something really different. I wanted to do something that was media based, television or radio.
That’s when I started reflecting on my childhood dreams. David Frost was my first television model. I wanted to be a talk show host like him, intelligent, sensitive, witty and great with guests. I asked myself…. Who do I envy? Barbara Walters, Bill Moyers… interviewers. Because I love those interactions where you are working to draw out something that is new and has not yet come forward. I have those skills, I learned them in business and now I want to apply them in the public arena on subjects that are meaningful.
So, my work life provides me with great flexibility and the ability to pursue interests that don’t have to pay a lot or at all. I feel grateful to have this opportunity because I am exploding with the urge to do different things…art classes, documentary making, radio and television work, etc. I am prepared to start at the bottom. I have done it many times, and if the setting is the right place for me I know I will find a way to make a contribution. Luckily I have a very supportive and wonderful husband and two children. They very much, want to see me find my next direction.
Thanks,
Susannah Baldwin
