Who was Mattel’s 1st woman CEO?

Jill Barad was the CEO of Mattel from 1997 to 2000. Jill Barad (née Elikann) grew up with a Hollywood background and career in the entertainment industry as the daughter of Larry Elikann, a television director who earned Emmy, Peabody, Golden Globe, Humanitas and Christopher awards for his television dramatizations of true stories. The Barbie product line was important to the success of Mattel in the 1990s.

How Chance Encounters Can Shape Your Career

Life is full of unexpected encounters and opportunities to connect with various individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life. Being kind and gracious in these interactions is not only a fundamental aspect of being a decent human being but also a powerful way to leave a positive impression and foster meaningful connections.

The Power of Networking

I recently had the pleasure of watching the “Barbie” movie, and to say it was an enchanting experience would be an understatement. Not only did it showcase the beloved Barbie and Ken characters in all their glamour and charm, but it also cleverly delved into the complexities of late stage capitalism. The film also depicts the dichotomy of how the patriarchy affects all of us, regardless of gender. While some may argue that mass entertainment shouldn’t be the place for “reputation washing,” only time will tell if toy known as Barbie sees a bump in sales.

The audience is given a reference to the first woman CEO of Mattel.

I worked for Jill Barad’s producer husband, Thomas Barad; Jill as a businesswoman would become the first woman CEO at MATTEL.

How Working as Tom Barad’s Office Assistant Helped My Career

In 1989, Jill Barad’s husband, Thomas Barad, was hired as the new senior vice president-production for the motion picture group of Paramount Picture. He was responsible for overseeing the development of animation movies, putting him into a significant role in the entertainment industry at the time. He was the credited producer of Crazy People, a 1990 American black comedy film starring Dudley Moore and Daryl Hannah, directed by Tony Bill, and music by Cliff Eidelman.

Within a few months of his appointment I had the opportunity to work in his office as a temp assistant, to his primary secretary, Phyllis Smith. My responsibilities revolved around everything computer-related in Tom’s office. I took care of managing emails, documents, and other tasks related to technology, ensuring the smooth operation of his workspace.

I would later be able to turn that experience of being on the studio lot into another assistant position of working for Director Bruce Robinson during the development phase of his movie script, Jennifer Eight. That lead to the personal encounter with producer Scott Rudin.

The Value of Listening in on Phone Calls

One interesting aspect of my role was that I got to schedule appointments, connect phone calls, including between Tom’s wife, Jill Barad, and him during their drive times. This aspect of listening in on mobile calls was part of the job training in those days. By participating in such training, one would likely gained essential skills in active listening, effective communication, and professional conduct over the phone.

Fast forward about seven years later, in the 1997, I had made significant progress in my career, and I became a newly hired producer for Mattel , a prestigious toy company known worldwide. My Hollywood expertise and producer skills brought me to collaborate with Intel in Portland, an exciting opportunity given Intel’s prominence in the technology industry.

Jill Barad’s Visionary Leadership: Transforming Mattel’s Success from 1997 to 2000

During that time, Jill Barad had risen to the position of CEO of Mattel, a testament to her exceptional achievements as a businesswoman with leadership and vision. She would drive Mattel forward and solidified its position as a major player in the toy industry during her CEO tenure from 1997 to 2000.

As part of her vision, she supported this new collaboration between Intel and Mattel. Jill Barad visited the co-lab skunk work offices in Portland at Intel PLAY. The Intel Play product line, developed and jointly marketed by Intel and Mattel, was a product line of consumer “toy” electronic devices. The other toys were the Digital Movie Creator, the Computer Sound Morpher, and the Me2Cam.

Intel Play Digital Movie Creator

During her visit, I had the chance to greet Jill Barad warmly, and it was a humbling experience to be recognized by her still after seven years. The encounter in front of the assembled representatives of both INTEL and MATTEL, helped my own professional reputation with the work that I would do over the next three years as the program manager of the Digital Movie Creator.

Intel Play Digital Movie Creator was featured as an easy-to-use digital video camera and movie-making software package that allows children to use the PC to script and star in their own feature movies. At the time of development and release in 2001, the goal of the Intel Play products is to extend the value and utility of powerful PCs, like ones based on the Intel® Pentium® 4 processor.

A Journey of Dedication and Growth

Overall, the journey from being an office assistant to Tom Barad to becoming a producer collaborating with Mattel and Intel showcased my dedication and professional growth. That early encounter with both Tom and Jill Barad, added an inspiring chapter to my career, emphasizing the value of meaningful connections and the potential for advancement in the corporate world.

You never know how a chance meeting or encounter with someone may impact your life or theirs. It could lead to a new friendship, a valuable business partnership, or simply a moment of joy and inspiration for both parties involved. Treating others with kindness and showing genuine interest in their perspectives and experiences can create a positive ripple effect and contribute to a more compassionate and understanding society.

Although Jill Barad, one of the highest-profile women in corporate America at the time, resigned as chairman and chief executive of Mattel Inc., ending a turbulent three-year tenure marked by a disastrous acquisition and a stream of earnings disappointments.

It’s important to acknowledge the contributions of legacy leaders like Jill Barad, left a lasting cultural impact on the industries they were part of, including get a reference to their contribution in movies like Barbie.