HSN’s CEO on Fixing the Shopping Network’s Culture

by Mindy Grossman

Mindy Grossman is the CEO of HSN, Inc.

The Idea

When Mindy Grossman became HSN’s eighth CEO in 10 years, she encountered dirty offices and downtrodden employees. Her solution? White paint, new chairs, and a strategy to reinvent the brand and re-engage the workforce.

In 2006 I’d been working at Nike for six years, and I loved it. I worshipped that brand. Nike’s CEO, Phil Knight, was an inspiration. But I’d been commuting between my family in New York and my job in Portland, Oregon. I was traveling outside the U.S. 25% of the time. I was in my late forties, I wanted to be a CEO someday, and Nike had recently appointed a 50-year-old CEO and a 49-year-old president. They deserved ...

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