Chantilly, VA - Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) announced that applications for the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute's (BMLI) Classes XXIV & XXV will be accepted starting today, April 4, 2011, through May 13, 2011. For more information or to apply online, please visit www.wictbmli.org.
 
Named in honor of Betsy Magness, who played an instrumental role in building TCI into one of the most prominent and influential telecommunications companies in the industry, BMLI serves as the gold standard in leadership development programs geared specifically toward training senior-level women in the cable telecommunications industry. Accepted participants are immersed in an educational program emphasizing core leadership skills which include honing negotiation tactics, driving and implementing change, communication effectiveness and organizational influence, creating engagement, driving results, and executing organizational vision among other key competencies.

Since it was created by WICT in 1993, more than 580 women have graduated from BMLI and continue to be actively involved in transforming their companies and the industry at the executive level. Collegially referring to themselves as "Betsys," these grads comprise the upper echelon of female leaders in the cable telecommunication industry. The Betsy Magness Leadership Institute has been presented by WE tv since 2002.

"Through eighteen years of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, WICT has prepared hundreds of the most senior women in the cable telecommunications industry for greater roles and responsibilities. This training has enabled them to lead their teams and their companies to even higher levels of success," said Christina Vergara, WICT's vice president, education and program development. "The Betsy Magness Leadership Institute is WICT's flagship professional development opportunity for senior-level women and is one of the industry's most sought-after seats," Vergara concluded. Added WICT's President & CEO, Maria E. Brennan, CAE, "We are proud to once again partner with one of the world's leading providers of executive leadership training programs, the Center For Creative Leadership, to bring this program to the industry, and equally proud to welcome back WE tv as the BMLI Premier Sponsor in 2011."

The Institute's Founding
Established by WICT in 1993 with a generous grant from TCI's Bob Magness and J.C. Sparkman, the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute is named in honor of one of the industry's most charismatic leaders, a cable pioneer who combined business acumen with compassion. Betsy Magness was instrumental in transforming TCI, later AT&T Broadband and Internet Services, and now Comcast, into one of the nation's most prominent and influential cable and telecommunications companies.

About WICT
For over thirty years, Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) has partnered with cable and telecommunications leaders to provide professional development programs, research and services that help advance women in cable media. With over 8,100 members, WICT is the oldest and largest professional association serving women in the cable and telecommunications industry. Comcast, Rainbow Media/WE tv, Time Warner Cable and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. are WICT's Strategic Touchstone Partners. Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICT on Twitter for more information.

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