Each month, XBIZ World spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of women in the online adult entertainment industry. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry’s most influential female executives.
For April, the WIA Woman of the Month is Samantha Ryder of MindGeek. Ryder is manager of the adult entertainment’s marketing, public relations and social media department. She works at the company’s Montreal Office.
But, when I’m away from my desk I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie with a love for adventure.
How did you get into the business?
A friend of mine worked at MindGeek and had nothing but great things about the company. When a marketing position opened, he encouraged me to apply. Looking for a new and exciting challenge at the time, I jumped at the opportunity and haven’t looked back since.
What in your background prepared you for what you are doing now?
I ran an event services company before joining MindGeek’s marketing team. Organizing events and executing campaigns from concept to completion has always been a passion of mine. My client base has changed ever so slightly but my overall task and goals have remained the same.
How do you answer the question of whether women lead differently than men?
From my experience in the industry, I think women leaders exhibit similar leadership behavior as their male counterparts. There is a modern leadership trend that focuses on the importance of responsiveness, communication and collaboration. I’ve noticed very few differences in how men and women lead. This is not to say that there aren’t different leadership styles but I think that’s more of a difference in personality rather than gender.
Who inspires you in this industry?
Inspiration is everywhere. This industry is home to so many passionate and talented people that it would be impossible to choose just one. However, my team is truly an inspiration on a daily basis. They are dedicated and enthusiastic and never turn down a challenge. They are constantly pushing to better themselves which encourages me to do the same.
What’s a typical work day like?
The marketing department is arguably the most fun in the company. A typical workday for me begins with walking into our open-concept section to a bunch of smiling faces. Once emails are checked and we’re caught up to speed on the industry’s latest news and trending topics, we meet as a team to discuss the status of current and upcoming projects. I have a wonderfully creative team who makes brainstorming meetings high-energy and completely entertaining. Our wheels are constantly turning, there is never a dull moment.
When not thinking about the biz, what do you like to do?
I’m always thinking about the biz. Leading our paysites PR, marketing and social media means I’m tuned in at all times. But, when I’m away from my desk I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie with a love for adventure. Off-roading in the Rockies, bungee jumping off a canyon in the Swiss Alps and skydiving in Cuba have been some of my favorites. When I’m not jumping out of planes, I love learning about things both within and outside my scope of knowledge. I have a newly discovered addiction to podcasts which ranges in topics from entrepreneurialism to philosophy. Perhaps an even worse addiction is my love for Nutella …. I’d put that on everything if I could.
