By Sarah Jester
NGLCC Corporate Partners are dedicated to upholding the standard of diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) and ensuring that LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs have access to equal opportunities. This month, we’re proud to highlight AMC Networks as a new partner and strong advocate for supplier diversity across the globe! We spoke to Sheri Shafir (she/her/hers), Director of Supplier Diversity, to learn more about AMC Networks’ commitment to supporting diverse entrepreneurship and the LGBTQ+ business community. Read the full Q&A below!
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Tell us a bit about AMC Networks.
AMC Networks is the ultimate destination for mold breaking, genre defying, and premier storytelling. Operating in over 125 countries worldwide, we’re the global leader in targeted streaming behind some of the most celebrated and acclaimed original content in television and film history.
Our brands include targeted streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK, and the anime-focused HIDIVE streaming service, in addition to AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv and IFC Films. We also operate AMC Studios, our in-house studio, production and distribution operation, AMC Networks International, our international programming business, and 25/7 Media, our production services business.
We’re behind some of the most celebrated and acclaimed original content in television and film history, from pantheon-level TV series Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul to some of the biggest titles and brands known to a global audience, including The Walking Dead, the Anne Rice catalog, the Agatha Christie library, and so much more.
We have a long history of building loyal and engaged fan communities, creating new formats, delivering new experiences, generating buzz, and we work hard every day to bring new and innovative stories and ideas to life.
When did your supplier diversity program start and why was it important to your company to have one? To include LGTBEs?
Supplier diversity became more strategic in 2022 with the hiring of a Director of Supplier Diversity. This dedicated resource will further drive AMC Network’s efforts and is an extension of our overall Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts and is positioned within Procurement to maximize impact.
Can you tell us about your overall commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion? Do you have a stated commitment to DEI? If so, what is it?
At AMC Networks, being diverse, equitable, and inclusive is more than a business imperative that spurs creativity and drives innovation. It’s at the heart of who we are and what we believe. We think, operate, and create using DEI as a lever for positive change in three critical areas: Our Talent & Workplace, Our Content, and Our Greater Purpose. We believe that telling authentic stories starts from within – by forging a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce and culture that recognizes, celebrates, and empowers everyone. This means we work to increase our pipeline of underrepresented talent and create more equal pathways for development and advancement. It means we ensure equity in our pay and people practices. And it means we provide everyone with the resources they need to make a positive impact at our company and in society. We are proactively including diverse suppliers that offer value, innovation, engagement, and cost savings while supporting company-wide streaming goals & growing AMC Networks’ brand globally.
Please tell us about your employee resource groups (ERGs). What groups do they represent and support?
Globally, we have Business Employees Resource Groups that form communities through shared interests and experiences around nine core identities. Our BERG members are a vital part of everything we do, and create a culture of belonging for our employees. They facilitate networking and connections with peers; support the acquisition of diverse talent internally and externally; act as a valuable sounding board for content development and programming; provide an avenue to facilitate leadership and skill development; and increase the organization’s overall cultural competency.
The BERG’s that align well with our Supplier Diversity efforts include:
- PLUS: LGBTQIA+ Employees
- AACN: AAPI Employees
- VIBE: Vested Interest in Black Employees
- VOCES: Hispanic/Latinx Employees
- ELEVATE: Women Employees
- AVID: Advocates for Visible & Invisible Disabilities
- BREATHE: Sustainability focused group
Anything else you would like to share about your overall DEI practices or supplier diversity program specifically?
Ken Gottesman, Vice President of Procurement at AMC Networks, shared, “We are proud to partner with NGLCC and to support their mission to further the success of LGBTQ+ owned businesses. At AMC Networks, we are committed to supplier diversity and advancing the social and economic inclusion of businesses owned by historically excluded and underrepresented groups, under the leadership of our Director of Supplier Diversity, Sheri Shafir. As an organization, we believe that working with minority, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and veteran -owned businesses promotes opportunities for innovative solutions that strengthen our organization, the stories we tell, and the communities where we live and work. For us, being diverse, equitable and inclusive is more than just smart business, it’s at the heart of who we are and what we believe.”
We want to be a place that creates space for everyone to be true to themselves, where we use our platforms to help shape and better reflect the world we live in. We work together across the board, regardless of background, culture, age, or identity. We always try to disagree constructively, speak openly, and challenge one another, never letting our differences get in the way of moving forward. It’s each of our jobs to ensure that everyone feels like they are a part of the group, in the conversation, and contributing towards our collective success.
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