profile

WIA Profile: Fiona Patten

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives. Women like Fiona Patten, Executive Officer, Eros.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BUSINESS?

Getting governments to recognise that this is a valid industry with a large consumer base is still a major challenge.

I came to this industry via politics which I guess is not the normal path. After running as an independent in a small election on a civil liberty platform I was approached by the adult industry to establish a national organisation that lobbied state and federal politicians on their behalf. That was a lifetime ago when the adult industry was simpler!

WHAT IN YOUR BACKGROUND PREPARED YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW?

After 20 years lobbying for the adult industry I feel ready to run for the Senate. As a lobbyist for adult businesses you develop a very keen sense of when people are being straight with you and when they are not. Sex is the universal truth serum on Capitol Hill! I know how politics works now but I know better how it doesn’t work! As a politician with a background in porn, you will give everyone a go. There’s no casting couch in the porn industry and I wouldn’t have one in my Senate office either.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING IN THE ADULT ONLINE BUSINESS?

Getting governments to recognise that this is a valid industry with a large consumer base is still a major challenge. Many of our younger customers have never known a world without the internet. We need to be able to convince our customers to change their vote on the basis of these personal freedom issues and to politicise censorship and prohibition issues. Child protectionists and feminists who call for increasing censorship without proof or evidence of harm are still gaining traction in political circles and there is an enormous challenge there for adult industry advocates to get adult companies to put more of their profits into this crucial area.

DOES YOUR WORK LIFE AFFECT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE?

My work is now 24/7 and personal and professional seem to blur. This has made it hard to stay in close touch with friends and family although fortunately so many of my friends are my colleagues. And like so many of us we have found a family in the adult industry. I try and swim every second day and I now get up at 5:30 every morning to deal with the enormous amount of email and Facebook correspondence that I get. That affects my ability to have a big night out but at 48 I feel like I’m entering the power decade of my life, so I’m OK about leaving behind some (only some) of the party culture that I have embraced for the last few decades!

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

To Cloud or Not to Cloud, That Is the Question

Let’s be honest. It just sounds way cooler to say your business is “in the cloud,” right? Buzzwords make everything sound chic and relevant. In fact, someone uninformed might even assume that any hosting that is not in the cloud is inferior. So what’s the truth?

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Upcoming Visa Price Changes to Registration, Transaction Fees

Visa is updating its fee structure. Effective April 1, both the card brand’s initial nonrefundable application fee and annual renewal fee will increase from $500 to $950. Visa is also introducing a fee of 10 cents for each transaction, and 10 basis points — 0.1% — on the payment volume of certain merchant accounts.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Unpacking the New Digital Services Act

Do you hear the word “regulation” and get nervous? When it comes to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), you shouldn’t worry. If you’re complying with the most up-to-date card brand regulations, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

The Perils of Relying on ChatGPT for Legal Advice

It surprised me how many people admitted that they had used ChatGPT or similar services either to draft legal documents or to provide legal advice. “Surprised” is probably an understatement of my reaction to learning about this, as “horrified” more accurately describes my emotional response.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
profile

WIA Profile: Holly Randall

If you’re one of the many regular listeners to Holly Randall’s celebrated podcast, you are already familiar with her charming intro spiel: “Hi, I’m Holly Randall and welcome to my podcast, ‘Holly Randall Unfiltered.’ This is the show about sex, the adult industry and the people in it.

Women In Adult ·
trends

What's Hot Now: Leading Content Players on Trending Genres, Monetization Strategies

The juggernaut creator economy hurtles along, fueled by ever-ascendant demand for personality-based authenticity and intimacy — yet any reports of the demise of the traditional paysite are greatly exaggerated.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

An Ethical Approach to Global Tech Staffing

One thing my 24-year career as a technologist working to support the online adult entertainment industry has taught me about is the power of global staffing. Without a doubt, I have achieved significantly more business success as a direct result of hiring abroad.

Brad Mitchell ·
opinion

Finding the Right Payment Partner

Whenever I am talking with businesses that are just getting started, one particular question comes up a lot: “How do I get a merchant account?” It’s a simple question, but it has a complicated answer.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

The Taxman Cometh for Every Business

February may be the month of romance, but it is also a time when we need to think about something that inspires very little love: taxes. April is not far away, and the taxman is always waiting. This year, federal and most state income taxes are due Monday, April 15.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

The Continuous Journey of Legal Compliance in Adult

The adult entertainment industry is teeming with opportunity but is also fraught with challenges, from anticipating consumer behavior to keeping up with technological innovation. The most labyrinthine of all challenges, however, is the world of legal compliance.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
Show More