Tell us about your background.
Where did you grow up and anything
you would like to share about your family.

I was born and raised in Houston, TX. I love being from the south because I feel like it gives me a certain "spirit" that is unique to the south. Even though I haven't lived in the south in over 10 years, I try to stay true to my home roots and try to be welcoming and friendly to everyone.
I am the middle child and only girl. My parents are my biggest role models and I am very close to my brothers as well. My family has always been very supportive and encouraging of me.

Maegan with her father

It is great that your family has always been
very supportive.
Would you give us some examples?

When I started my job at Sony I was a little nervous because it was a new role and something different from my previous jobs. As a display of their support, my family would call and check on me and send me encouraging text messages and remind me that I can do anything I put my mind to. Also, when I founded the multicultural professionals ERG (Employees Resource Group) at my last company, my parents and my brother came to my launch event and it was so great having them there. Simply put, they're my biggest cheerleaders.

Maegan at the launch of the multicultural ERG
that she founded at her previous company

What do you do in your current role, and what do you like about what you do?

I am a media manager for the SCA Content Marketing team. In my role, one of my main responsibilities is to manage and coordinate the content and programming for the Sony Times Square billboard. I also work on some cross channel projects with the various Sony owned channel leads. In addition, I work on select Sony corporate media campaigns.

The things I like about my job is getting to work in a space that is one of the most recognizable in the world and that very few people have worked in. I even got a chance to go see the New Year's Eve Ball on top of One Times Square, which was one of the highlights so far. I also like that I get to work with so many of the different Sony business units, which gives me exposure to multiple campaigns that are going on across Sony.

How are your previous experiences utilized
in your current job?

Based on my professional experience, the most beneficial skills have been my strength in project management and client service. I have worked with many large brands in my career in a media/client services capacity and have had to manage various cross-functional projects. This experience has been useful in my role in regards to managing the activity of the various business units on the billboard along with my other media projects. My client service skills are utilized in my current role because even though I work at Sony, I see the different divisions as my "clients" when they are running content for their products on the Times Square billboard. In addition, I have the opportunity to utilize my knowledge of the media landscape when executing campaigns on the billboard or when working on global corporate media campaigns.

Sony Times Square billboard

Maegan with her colleagues

What was your first "Diversity and Inclusion"
moment or a time when you felt "different"?

My first job out of college I was involved in an African American affinity group. It was a great way to meet more of my peers, especially being new to the company. The main thing I gained from being a member was a sense of community within a large company. Additionally, there was still a sense of diversity within the group, even though it was based on one similarity. There was a fiber amongst us where we all wanted to see each other succeed and were willing to help and provide resources for members to do just that. Some of the people I met in that affinity group are still close friends today.

One experience that stuck with me was the diversity training at a previous company. This was a mandatory training for all employees based on some racially insensitive claims that were made about the company from various people of color. Although it was beneficial for them to address the bigger picture with the trainings, my main learning from that experience was that more companies should make D&I a consistent priority, so that they don't have to be in reactive/problem-solving mode if diversity issues arise.

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is a business imperative for Sony. What does
D&I mean to you, and how do you relate to this on your day-to-day job?

Recognition, acceptance, and engagement are what D&I mean to me. Coupled with that, it also means not just recognizing the differences of employee groups, but also the similarities. I believe that some companies have the idea that D&I is only about building diversity, but for companies that are already diverse, D&I should also be used to engage and celebrate the various communities of the organization.

I relate this to my job because I work with people of multiple backgrounds/ethnicities/interests and I definitely see this as a benefit. If I am working on a project that is targeting a certain audience, it is helpful to have someone who can give a perspective that I may not have. A diverse group participating in a brainstorm or ideation can be extremely valuable to the overall success of the project.