Celebrating Women’s History Month with Nancy Barre, Local Sales Manager at 11Alive 

At TEGNA, we are fortunate to find good, smart female leaders at all levels of our organization. For Women’s History Month, we are celebrating some of our most fabulous female leaders, and this week we’re highlighting Nancy Barre, Local Sales Manager at 11Alive in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Then: Talk about your career path, how you got to where you are today at TEGNA.   

In college, I was given the opportunity to create an underwriting program for our college radio station, WMLN-FM. I learned early the critical importance of bringing in revenue to grow the effort. Over a college semester, I taught myself the rules of underwriting and how to sell. I was hooked. What I learned in that semester led me to a sales internship at a Boston commercial radio station.  

I graduated, to work as a radio and television negotiator for some forward-thinking advertising agencies in New York City. My job was to meet with salespeople daily and this gave me a chance to see them in action. Much of what I learned from the best sales professionals in New York stays with me today. It was only a matter of time before I moved from buying into selling radio advertising and within a few years I took on my first sales manager role. That opportunity to co-manage a team of 22 seasoned sellers, who prior to my promotion had been my peers, was humbling but provided a quick ramp-up in the learning curve of leadership skills.    

During the subsequent years, I held sales leadership positions with various companies as a National,  Local, and  General Sales Manager/Director of Sales. I developed a passion for selling and leading teams with client-centric, creative marketing solutions. Seven years ago a client of mine introduced me to my current Director of Sales at WXIA-TV in Atlanta, and the move to TEGNA’s robust set of marketing tools made complete sense for me, then and now.     

Now: What is your current role at TEGNA?  

I am the Local Sales Manager at 11ALIVE, The TEGNA Television Station in Atlanta. I feel fortunate every day to work with a sales team of uniquely talented individuals who I admire and together we learn and grow every day. This became incredibly important over the last two years where we had to be nimble and creative to be successful in the most challenging business conditions. The best part of my job is that my role allows me the opportunity to speak directly to client owners, principles, and key decision-makers about how they run their businesses. These conversations represent volumes of experience and provide for new learning every day.  

Good Company: What does being in good company mean to you?    

I find the statement “Be In Good Company” empowering. It is both an inclusive invitation as well as a daily challenge to do our best work to “prove up” the statement. It encompasses not just our local and nationwide team of talent and resources but the clients who choose to work with us as well.     

Note to Self: What advice would you give yourself looking back on earlier days in your career?   

The thing I wish I understood earlier would be to not feel the pressure of creating the “perfect” work/life balance as defined by others. The real, true and authentic balance is simply what works best for you. I learned it was important to be very intentional on how and where I wanted to raise my family as well as choosing how and where I wanted to grow my career. That intentionality gave me support and direction while still allowing me the freedom to open the door and welcome change, challenges, and chance.    

Tangible & Emotional Intelligence: What advice would you give to someone looking to work in media/sales/marketing?   

Stay open to change and commit to being a constant learner. Embrace mentors, they will be your North Star for the rest of your career, and don’t be surprised when your mentors emerge in unlikely places. That is the universe giving you what you need when you need it. The people who succeed in this business keep themselves poised to stretch beyond their comfort zone. It’s never about being lucky. It’s about recognizing when opportunity meets YOUR preparation.    

Why is Women’s History Month important to you?   

I recognize how fortunate I am to be a woman with a voice and the freedom to make choices for myself. The cracks in the glass ceiling are real and I’ve watched some amazing women forge pathways to allow themselves and all who come behind to continue in their footsteps.  Women’s History Month is a time to reflect, to share our personal stories into the collective female history, and to mentor young women (and men) to keep creating those paths.