Taran Swan at Nickelodeon

Latin America

Background
Nickelodeon is an American channel for kids 2-11 years old.
Highest rated basic cable network in USA.
In 1993 Fox Kids and Cartoon Network was already in the Latin
America market.
Taran Swan, was an MBA from HBS. Vice president of the
International Channel Development at NICKELODEON/MTV
networks, and former Director/Business Development. Also former
Senior Business Planner for Walt Disney Studios
By 1995 Taran Swan begins writing the Nickelodeon Latin America
bussines plan.
In 1996 Nickelodeon officially announces it expansion to Latin
America.
That year Nickelodeon Latin America launches on air

Nickelodeons Mission Statement: To

connect with kids and connect kids with
their world throught enterteiment
Promotes uniqueness and cultural
differences.
A kid-friendly attitude.

Open communications
A strong team mentality.
ORANGE BLOOD

An excellent recruiting process:

Hiring the right people for the
right position.
Swan knew he(Stephen Grieder)
was exactly who she wanted and
had been aggressively recruiting him
since May

The How-to Nickelodeon

workshops with MTV associates to
infect them of the orange blood.

Motivational Leader

Open lines of
communications

 Self-driven workers who hold

themselves responsible
Creative and strategic thinkers who
can find a solution to any problem
that is faced.
A comfortable work atmosphere
where people are not afraid to
throw out ideas and critique one
another.

Pregnancy complications
Preserving existing culture

Staying connected with employees

What actions should she take?

Should she assign an interim
director?
Not assign an interim director.
The teams are self-driven. They have a
good training and Swan picked them
individually
Swan still can have meetings through
conferences calls and emails

References
Arbaiza, L. (2013). La cultura organizacional. In Administracin y
organizacin: un enfoque contemporaneo. 1a. Ed. (pp. 2-38). Queretaro:
Cengage Learning.
Schein, E. (1992). How Leaders Create Organizational Cultures. In
Organizational Culture and Lidership. Second Edition (pp. 211-227). San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Hill, L., & Doughty, K. (2008). Taran Swan at Nickelodeon Latin America (A).
Harvard Business School.

Ng, E., & Wyrick, C. (2011). Motivational bases for managing diversity: A
model of leadership commitment. Human Resource Management Review
Volume 21, Issue 4, 368376.