Women in Streaming – Interview with Shivani Kochhar

Intro: In the “Women in Streaming” series of articles, we talk to incredible women who have contributed a lot to the growth of the video streaming industry and share their stories. In this installment, we talk to Shivani Kochhar,  Senior Manager – Sales Systems, Technology and Operations, APAC, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Shivani Kochhar has rich experience in enterprise applications and has spent 20+ years in the Media and Broadcast Industry. Shivani’s professional achievements have garnered recognition from distinguished organizations, earning her several prestigious awards. Among them are the Pioneer Women in M&E 2023 by Digital Studio, ITP, the Wonder Women 2023 Super Achiever category by IndianTelevision.com, and a finalist position for the RISE 2022 award in Business Operations.

Thank you, Shivani, for agreeing to sit down with us for this interview. It is a pleasure to talk to you and hear about your experiences. 

Thank you so much, Abhi and OTTVerse. The honor is mine.

Q) Please tell our audience a little bit about your background, how you got started in the media and technology industry; and your journey so far.

Growing up, there were many careers and fields that grabbed my attention. Especially as a teen, the possibilities seemed endless. As for my career trajectory, I received my formal education at GNIIT (National Institute of Information Technology). My post-graduation degree was in Information Technology Management and I got certified in software coding, database management, and project management.

I started my career as a Desktop support engineer. From there I moved to Application support, then Business Analytics and project management, and finally I entered my present field of IT Management.

There are many different industries that I worked in before entering Media and Entertainment, such as Apparel, Cargo/ Courier, and Hospital Management.

I find Media to be this brilliant industry that has the power to impact and shape people’s minds, through the simple art of storytelling. It’s a place where creativity, technology, and business all come together. It is dynamic and ever-changing. And it has thus been my home for the past two decades.

Joining Discovery Inc. now Warner Bros. Discovery, gave me a conducive environment, exposure to various technologies, and the opportunity to work with the industry’s brightest minds. Ever since I have been here, I have seen the company expand with channel launches, acquisitions, and mergers. It has been a never-ending array of challenges and opportunities that really know how to keep me on my toes. 

Q) Can you give us an overview of your role as Senior Manager at Warner Bros. Discovery? 

My role here involves working with various business and functional leads to understand business strategy, growth plan, budget, resources, current technology stack, pain areas, and new needs. I conduct end-to-end reviews of business technology and operations, offering recommendations for improvements, developing software solutions, integration, and suggesting changes to workflows.

I have traveled the world, immersing myself in the intricacies of the media industry, and gaining expertise in business, operations, and technology. My knowledge spans various facets, including rights management, language customization, scheduling, media planning, commercial inventory sales, deals execution, rating monitoring, monetization, distribution to affiliate sales, and broadcast airing across on-premises and cloud platforms, as well as digital.

Working collaboratively with a diverse, cross-cultural team, I have implemented applications and integration projects in regions such as Singapore, Taiwan, India, New Zealand, Australia, and Latin America. Additionally, I have closely collaborated with markets in Italy, London, and the United States.

The ever-evolving landscape of the media industry keeps me engaged, particularly with the introduction of FAST Channels, Connected TV, and Digital platforms. My Interest also extends to exploring emerging technologies.

Q) As an award-winning mentor and spokesperson for RISE, could you please share some insights about the RISE mentorship program? What are the key benefits of enrolling as a mentor in the RISE program?

It has been a very interesting journey with RISE so far. I applied as a mentee in 2021 with high hopes and was very fortunate to get Ashish Mukerji, the COO of Benchmark Solutions as my mentor. He was everything one could wish for a mentor to be. He mentored me virtually for 5 months and helped me get from following a pre-defined path to making my own. Unfortunately, he passed away due to health issues in Dec 2022. It was a very big loss to me and so many others.

I then decided to give back to the community and applied as a Mentor in 2023. To spread awareness about this life-changing programme, I attended Broadcast Asia and Broadcast India/Mumbai as a speaker. I got to be a part of a panel of accomplished and passionate women, who all had the common goal of helping other women grow in various fields.

It was delightful to see how well received the message was, and the amount of interest people showed in the programme. That ignited this desire in me to bring the benefits of this programme home by starting an India Chapter. We are currently working towards materializing this.

RISE is an award-winning global non-profit organisation that aims to support women in the Media and Tech Sector and promotes gender diversity. It has chapters in the UK, North America, ASIA, and ANZ (New Zealand/ Australia). 

It runs many programs like Mentoring, trade events, panel discussions, career development master classes, networking events, and has an educational RISE Up Academy summer school to teach young kids about Media Technology. It also conducts industry-wide surveys for gender diversity and inclusion in the Broadcast and Streaming Industry. 

Under the Mentor/ Mentee program, one can register themselves as a Mentee. It is free of charge, and if selected, the person will be paired with a seasoned industry professional, for a period of 6 months. During this period, RISE also provides sessions and classes on self-development, branding, networking, etc. This opens up a support structure and helps one build their professional network.

Q) Could you provide more information about your role as an advisor to the India Blockchain Alliance? What exactly is the India Blockchain Alliance, and what does it entail?

By becoming an advisor to the Indian Blockchain Alliance I aim to encourage and support more women to join emerging technologies like Web3, Blockchain, and Crypto. In this advisory role, my focus is on providing guidance and mentorship to women aspiring to enter these dynamic sectors, and to help them make a lasting impact and carve out their distinctive presence.

Q) As someone deeply involved in the industry, what excites you the most about the potential developments in video streaming and OTT services?

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, the demand for accessible Over-The-Top (OTT) content via the Internet on various devices has become the norm. The ease of access on smart TVs, PCs, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, apps, and gaming consoles has led to its widespread popularity. It has provided consumers with a myriad of content choices on their fingertips. Both national and international cinemas are increasingly opting to release their movies, series, and shows on OTT platforms first.

What I find incredibly exciting is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this domain, and how it has basically revolutionised the user experience. AI can now define users’ content preferences, offer tailored recommendations, facilitate easy searches, and craft comprehensive program guides.

They also elevate engagement levels by allowing users to vote or share opinions, which makes the whole experience more immersive and participatory. While I expect traditional TV viewing to persist, the prevailing trend unmistakably favours the convenience offered by OTT streaming services.

* What’s one lesson your career has taught you that you think everyone should learn at some point in their life?

I had always been told that I am too polite, calm, non-aggressive, and non-political to command leadership positions. But instead of internalising this, I decided to flip the script, and make these my strengths. I realised that in an environment that already has more than enough aggression and toxicity, my leadership style will be one of empathy, genuine respect for all, and a laser-sharp focus on our goals.

Practicing this has made me realize that leadership isn’t supposed to be a one-size-fits-all thing. I have managed to create deep relations with all my senior stakeholders, a strong team who trusts me, and with whom I can deliver great results. 

So my suggestion is to not lose who you are due to criticism. Find those strengths and run with them. Make sure you show up every single day, keep your ego in check, and soak up wisdom from all those around you. At the end of the day, it’s all about keeping things simple and getting the job done. 

Q) Last but not least, we come to our rapid-fire section – a list of fun questions about you.

• Favorite way to relax: Nothing beats a silent stroll through the greens.
• Favorite cuisine: I have tried cuisines from all around the globe, but simple home-cooked goodness is by far the best. If I were to go beyond my kitchen, I would put Thai cuisine as my second choice.
• Favorite travel destination: I travelled to Pondicherry last year and decided to go scuba diving, despite not even knowing how to swim. It felt truly amazing to overcome that initial fear and witness the beauty of aquatic life 44 feet below the sea. I feel I’m ready to dive into another sea adventure.
• Favorite sport: I’m not really an outdoor sports buff. So let’s go with a cozy blanket and a good board game. 
• One thing on your bucket list: Oh, the list is endless. Cherry Blossoms in Japan, soaking in the vibrant Carnival of Brazil, chasing waterfalls at Kunchikal in Karnataka, and maybe even skydiving, to name a few. 
• Hidden talent: I have inherited some artsy genes from my father, which helped me be a crafty wizard for my daughter on various art projects. I dipped my toes in learning Kathak dance with my daughter, something that was pure fun. I’m also considering some formal mentor courses to improve my mentor skills. I want the learning to never stop.

 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the individual interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the organization they represent. The interviewee’s comments should be understood as personal perspectives and not as official statements from their affiliated company.