The CW's MJ Pijanowski on Getting Ahead in a More Complex World

quotIt has been challenging at times but it is something everyone has had to adapt to and beyond that there is no commute which has been greatquot she tells MediaVillage during a Zoom chat Pijanowski lives just across the Hudson River from her NYC office amp160when she worked in one amp160and was also raised in New Jersey There she became a swimmer and in college was captain of a Division I swim team at Loyola University Maryland That experience as a team player and a leader helps guide herquotIt provides a strong foundation for your work ethic and it39s made me a more wellrounded and accountable personquot Pijanowski pictured with family dogamp160Stanleyamp160explains quotIt introduces the need to make sure you are always working hard improving and exemplifying those qualities At the end of the day you have to care about what you are doing I don39t want to have a job just to have a job I want to make a difference and do well for the company and the people I work withquotPijanowski began in advertising with NBC where she worked at Bravo then moved over to The Weather Channel The CW was a significant change going from cable to broadcast from more niche programming to a broader array of scripted shows Without knocking more traditional broadcast networks Pijanowski notes quotThe CW is unique because while it39s a broadcast network our content and audiences are very different from the other broadcasters which can be a valuable thing when talking to clients By being in the broadcast market we have scale to reach a wide variety of consumers with unique content that makes us stand out from our competitors We are always looking to provide programs that make people feel good and want to come back to the network and become fans at the end of the dayquotThe CW was built to be different and smartly positioned itself to younger adults with shows like returning hits All American Riverdale and The Flash Its longestrunning success Supernatural just ended a 15year run Still even when plotlines tackle profound subjects The CW tends to be quota little bit lighter I think that is appreciated especially at this moment in timequot Pijanowski notesAs this moment commands constant screen time that translates into her work meetings taking on even greater importance quotI work to make sure that I am asking pointed questions that can sometimes be a little uncomfortablequot she says quotBut I also want to be sure I understand the client39s strategy and that I am using their time efficientlyquotEnsuring her meetings are productive is critical because at its essence Pijanowski describes her quotmain role at The CW is just that of a salesperson I am in place to help the network communicate the strengths and unique attributes that we identify with across all of our platforms I am communicating those strengths and attributes to clients and advertisers alike to ultimately prove to them that our audience and viewers align with their target consumersquotquotWhat is also really special about representing this network is that many of our talent is really sought afterquot Pijanowski adds quotThey are big names in the entertainment industry names that people recognize and people who our consumers can relate toquotOne of her biggest clients is Procter ampamp Gamble Its portfolio including Bounty paper towels and Cascade dishwashing detergent enjoyed a boom as the pandemic kept people home and they cookedquotI was recently involved in a partnership where we used Cascade and CW talent from a few of our different shows Batwoman All American Nancy Drew they were showcasing Cascade through video and talking about it which was really coolquot Pijanowski says quotSome of our partnerships lend themselves to extensions beyond just our typical platforms where we can weave in a social aspect by working with Instagram and Facebook Sometimes those things can get a little more complicated because there are so many legal terms involved and contractual agreements that we have to abide by but I think it just makes the partnerships that utilize all of those things really unique because not everyone has the bandwidth to do thatquotLike everyone the pandemic compelled her to reassess life and Pijanowski presents a sensible approachquotMy goals today at this moment in time are to continue evolving and adapting to the industryquot she says quotThere are so many rapid changes happening around us as individuals and as a company that it39s important to keep up with them on a daily basis and in the longterm Professionally speaking you can39t get comfortable anymore especially in the media industry So many companies are consolidating and technology is changing and if you don39t keep up it39s difficult to continue moving forward and progress in your career so I strive to work hard at thatquotThat is a big goal of minequot Pijanowski continues quotIt would be great to lead a team of my own one day but at the same time if the past nine months have taught me anything it39s that now more than ever the importance of establishing a worklife balance is crucial A balance that truly benefits me and making sure that I can incorporate that in some way is so important At the end of the day I only have one life and I want to make sure it is a happy one that I am proud of I try not to put too much pressure on myself whereas in the beginning of my career I probably would have done so morequotClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet

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The CW's MJ Pijanowski on Getting Ahead in a More Complex World

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Jacqueline Cutler

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The CW's MJ Pijanowski on Getting Ahead in a More Complex World

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