profile

WIA Profile: Katie Smith

What is your role and responsibility at Playboy.com?

For the last six months, I have directed and worked closely with the most amazing team of professionals for Playboy's online subscription business. We have a growing network of premium sites. If you go to Playboy.com and click just about anywhere you'll see an upsell to our flagship site, Cyber Club or TV Jukebox, which is our video-only broadband site mirroring TV. My main task is to drive customer acquisition and retention across multiple internal vehicles such as magazine, TV, email and more. Some projects include a new promotional campaign called Not Shy, which is our best converting campaign to date. We have all new episodic tours and promotional pieces. We built an all-new TV Jukebox with corresponding content strategy and an all-new loyalty program that our customers are fanatically using. And we continue to test every single touch point for the best possible optimization of every possible traffic source. Let's just say we're busy, having fun and moving quickly forward to substantially increase revenue one month at a time.

For the last six months, I have directed and worked closely with the most amazing team of professionals for Playboy's online subscription business.

Give us a typical Monday at your desk?

Most of my time is spent working closely with our marketing creative, technology and operational group in the Chicago office (to which I travel to each month). I mostly eat lunch at my desk but occasionally take a business meeting. I go through waves of being creative and planning and then dive into dirty details and execution. I'm on the phone half the day collaborating with key teams on various projects for or affecting the subscription business. I'm constantly looking at stats and analytic reports. Data (and my boss) are my best friends at Playboy and together help me make everything happen. I consume and research media of all kinds to stay cutting edge. I'm a marketer and that is my focus. The question is, what will make us more money today? It's my obligation to find out and do it.

What do you think is your greatest challenge or asset being a woman in the adult industry?

The biggest asset we have is the ability to collaborate effectively with others. I feel that many women have the capacity to work really well with different teams to get things done as planned and on the money. It takes a tribe and a common goal, and no one knows that more than women.

What strategies do you use to maintain balance in your life?

Working out is the absolute best way for me to keep life balanced. I try to do yoga a few times a week, spinning maybe once a week, hiking maybe once a month — anything physical to help burn energy. And I like to be with people who share common interests such as music, watching bands, dancing at clubs, going to art openings, cocktail parties, all with great political debates and silly conversations.

What advice would you give other women who want to enter your field?

Have a passion for what you do, set goals, train and educate yourself, look for good mentors, help others and don't give up. Where do you want to be in 10 years? Have a yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily plan of action. The idea that you can do anything you put your mind to is true. Also, if you act like a professional, you'll be treated like one.

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.

Copyright © 2025 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

profile

WIA Profile: Salima

When Salima first entered the adult space in her mid-20s, becoming a power player wasn’t even on her radar. She was simply looking to learn. Over the years, however, her instinct for strategy, trust in her teams and commitment to creator-first innovation led her from the trade show floor to the executive suite.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

How the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act Could Impact Adult Businesses

Congress is considering a bill that would change the well-settled definition of obscenity and create extensive new risks for the adult industry. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, makes a mockery of the First Amendment and should be roundly rejected.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

What US Sites Need to Know About UK's Online Safety Act

In a high-risk space like the adult industry, overlooking or ignoring ever-changing rules and regulations can cost you dearly. In the United Kingdom, significant change has now arrived in the form of the Online Safety Act — and failure to comply with its requirements could cost merchants millions of dollars in fines.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Understanding the MATCH List and How to Avoid Getting Blacklisted

Business is booming, sales are steady and your customer base is growing. Everything seems to be running smoothly — until suddenly, Stripe pulls the plug. With one cold, automated email, your payment processing is shut down. No warning, no explanation.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
Show More