Never Burn a Bridge: Interview with Entrepreneur Shari Cedar
I recently went one on one with Shari Cedar. Shari is the co-owner of AK Building Services and previously held senior leadership roles producing programming for Bravo, History Channel, NBC, MTV, E!, HGTV, TLC, National Geographic, and Discovery. Shari served as executive producer of Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your journey advice. First things first, though, what is something about you that even the most passionate fans of the Housewives franchise don’t know?
Shari: What most people don’t know is that a few different production companies produce the series. That’s why New York feels different from Atlanta which feels different from Beverly Hills. It’s not just the physical location that makes the shows unique. Of course, the franchise is under the Bravo leadership, but each city has its own “special spice” so to speak.
Adam: What is something you witnessed up close from your time as an executive producer on the series that would shock people?
Shari: Everyone thinks it’s fake, but it’s not! All the women in the series are as funny, powerful, and accomplished as they appear to be, and I think many find that shocking.
Adam: How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks, or challenges have been most instrumental to your development and success?
Shari: The scariest moments. The experiences that make your heart stop and your stomach turn. These are the moments that push me to be better, stronger, wiser, and ultimately more successful. I’ve made some major blunders on my journey, but thankfully nothing that derailed my career. I’m thankful for these moments because they allowed me to grow and shaped me into the person I am today, both personally and professionally.
One significant experience that I believe was instrumental to my development and success was producing Worlds Apart, a series for National Geographic Channel. The premise of the series was to “learn who you are, by leaving where you are.” In each episode, we took a “typical” American family to live with a “typical” family from a remote village, and for the pilot that was a village in Africa. I traveled to remote parts of Kenya and Ghana on my own, naïve about the world around me and the impact of what was then the political landscape. Despite a severe case of dysentery, a car bursting into flames, being extorted for all my cash, and a terrifying drive through bandit country with AK-47s next to me, I did it. I found the perfect family in Korr, Kenya. Failure was not an option, but in hindsight, I may have used one of my nine lives and I could have been more prepared.
The series was a success and a major network wanted it for themselves. Of course, that meant a new pilot, a new scout, etc. One evening as I was leaving the office, my boss asked me to email the network a description of our shoot location. I was in such a rush because I was working on another deadline that I asked an intern to send the email on my behalf. Because I was in such a rush, I failed to ask the intern to remove some sensitive information that was not intended to be forwarded to our client, the network. It caused an unnecessary domino effect and resulted in the need for some serious damage control. It was 100% my fault and I accepted total responsibility for it. Ultimately, the show did go on and I still had a job, but to this day I do not send an email without reading it multiple times.
Everyone makes mistakes and suffers setbacks, it’s how we deal with them that makes people successful. We can let that failure define us, or we can face the consequences and become stronger from our defeat. After enough of these experiences, I’ve learned to always look forward, each time stronger and wiser.
Adam: What advice do you have on how and when to pivot? What are the best lessons you learned from your career pivot?
Shari: Embrace change with open arms and do what makes you feel most comfortable. Of course, that also depends on the circumstances. Some people prefer to jump all in, while others prefer to first stick a toe in to feel it out.
When I pivoted to join my husband Mark in co-owning AK Building Services, a commercial cleaning company, from television production, I unexpectedly learned just how applicable and transferable my skillset was. Who knew that the basic tenets of TV production could be so valuable in growing a business! And, once I recognized that there is creativity in growing a company and experienced the incredible feeling of owning a business that provides a livelihood for so many people, I never looked back.
Adam: In your experience, what are the common qualities among those who have been able to enjoy success in the entertainment industry? What advice do you have for those either trying to break in or advance?
Shari: Grit immediately comes to mind. Be ready to go all in, there is no part-time TV. Other qualities include the ability to work well under pressure. go with the flow, and easily pivot, as well as being a good team player and communicator, accepting of a challenge and thriving on new experiences.
Adam: Who are the best leaders you have been around and what have you learned from them? What do you believe makes an effective leader?
Shari: One of my running partners was the CEO of a commercial airline. Our training runs were also a great time to connect about all that we had going on, especially in business, and I would soak up as much as I could about leadership. He taught me that communication is key, but so is passion and a genuine care for people. At AK Building Services we always put our team members’ best interests at heart. We want to promote a company culture where we recognize the importance of taking a moment to say thank you, celebrating the wins, and inspiring one other to be the best we can be. To me, that is what makes an effective leader.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives, and civic leaders?
Shari: I had to go with four on this one!
Ultimately every business is a people business, always remember that. Your team and your customers are always the most important.
Don’t be impulsive. Carefully map out the direction you want to go. One wrong turn can throw you off course.
Failure can be good, because it teaches us what does not work and provides a learning experience to become better and stronger.
There are so many reasons why you should not do something. If you truly believe in yourself and your business block out the noise and forge ahead.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Shari: Two pieces of advice stand out: Treat everyone with respect and never burn a bridge. Someday your intern may become your boss. Core values are at the root of everything I do. Always be truthful and transparent even if it is a difficult conversation or situation. When you are guided by integrity you are a better person and will ultimately achieve better results.
Adam: Is there is anything else you would like to share?
Shari: Make sure to find time to do “you” regardless of how busy you get. For me, it’s so important to disconnect and fully immerse myself in activities that I enjoy, such as running and yoga. It also means putting down the phone and devices for stretches of time. Having “me” time is essential to helping me become the best mother, wife, leader, and friend I can be.
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally-recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
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