In a chance encounter at a Cable TV Pioneers dinner years ago, Marguerite Lenfest shared a simple but powerful observation with Diane Christman, President and CEO of Syndeo Institute: “You need to tell the stories of the women.” Those words, spoken by the wife of cable industry pioneer Jerry Lenfest, planted a seed that has now blossomed into one of Syndeo Institute’s most significant archival projects, the Syndeo Institute Women’s Archive.
“She was really speaking of the earlier women who were the wives,” recalls Christman. “We’re a partnership, and there are so many women who are behind the scenes, who are just as invested as the husbands, fathers, brothers, and others in the success of the business.’”
Fast forward, and that seed found fertile ground during an informal lunch at the Harvard Club, hosted by industry colleague Cathy Rasenberger. A group of women from the connectivity industry gathered to share stories. “These were stories of what it was like to be present during a really exciting time as the industry was being built, during a time of huge transformation,” Christman emphasizes.
Judi Allen, a veteran cable industry executive who has worked at companies from USA Network to Time Warner Cable to Nielsen, was at that pivotal lunch. “I truly believe that at the same time, Judi and I both said, ‘Oh, we need to capture this and put it on film,’” Christman recalls. “And it just kind of blew up from there.”
The timing felt particularly meaningful, coinciding with Syndeo Institute’s 2024 Hall of Fame celebration that inducted Yvette Kanouff, Bonnie Hammer, and Liz Claman (with Gerry Layborne receiving the Bresnan Ethics in Business Award). A common theme emerged from their acceptance speeches: that this industry provides incredible opportunities for leadership, creativity, and empowerment.
The Women’s Archive perfectly embodies Syndeo Institute’s two-fold mission of preparing future leaders while serving as stewards of the industry’s legacy. “We have probably the most comprehensive archives in the cable industry,” notes Christman, “and the oral history piece of that is vitally important, because you’re hearing firsthand from a primary source, their experience.”
Allen sees the project as filling a crucial gap in the historical record. “While the women have made a tremendous impact on this industry, I don’t know that perhaps, with maybe some exceptions, they’ve been as aggressive about making sure everybody knows the incredible impact that they’ve made,” she observes. “What we’re doing here is really just shining a light, opening a door, putting a microphone in front of the right people.”
The Women’s Archive is about more than preserving the past; it’s about equipping the future. Allen emphasizes the forward-looking nature of the project: “It isn’t just the stewardship of the legacy, but it’s how can that be used to prepare future leaders.”
The archive aims to capture not just the ‘what’ of women’s experiences, but the ‘how’ and ‘why.’ It’s about the lessons learned, the skills developed, and the insights gained. “What did you learn, gain, and how can you turn to somebody who’s 30 or 25 or 40 and say, this is what I wish I’d known?” Allen explains.
Christman frames these stories as “mini white papers”—documentation of history that also serves as tools and learnings to help younger people advance in the industry. The approach connects directly to feedback Syndeo Institute received from focus groups with younger industry professionals who asked to be taught “how to be entrepreneurial in the workplace,” what we all know as intrapreneurship.
What makes this project particularly meaningful is the unique culture of the connectivity industry itself. “This is a special and unique industry,” Christman reflects. “I really don’t know of another industry that has the special sauce that the cable connectivity industry has.”
That special sauce is built on relationships and trust—what industry veterans often call “the handshake” culture, where significant business was conducted on personal trust and relationship. The Women’s Archive, in Christman’s words, represents “our women’s handshake, a way of extending that relationship-based culture to ensure all voices are heard and preserved.”
The project’s success will be measured not just in stories collected, but in ongoing engagement and inspiration. Syndeo Institute’s oral history section has consistently been one of the most visited parts of their website, attracting industry professionals, job seekers, journalists, and enthusiasts wanting to understand the people and principles that built the connectivity world.
Allen hopes the archive will encourage ongoing mentorship and story-sharing: “I hope that it encourages women, if not leaders in general, to continue to tell their stories and want to pay it forward. And I mean that informally as well, leaders going forward, even if a camera’s not on them or a microphone’s not in front of them, continuing to share what they know, what they’ve learned, and how it can help others.”
The Women’s Archive initiative has been made possible through the generous support of Jim Duratz, whose charitable remainder trust enables both the Women’s Archive and other CX Archive projects. This philanthropy reflects another hallmark of our industry: leaders who remain committed to building the future even as they celebrate the past.
The Women’s Archive officially launches in December 2025, with the first panel discussions scheduled for filming in early December. The project represents an investment in the industry’s future leadership pipeline and a testament to the collaborative spirit that has always defined this sector. As the industry continues to evolve and face new challenges, the Women’s Archive will serve as both inspiration and instruction, ensuring that the voices, experiences, and wisdom of pioneering women continue to guide and empower the leaders of tomorrow. It’s a future we can’t wait to see unfold.
The Women’s Archive launch comes in tandem with Syndeo Institute’s 40th anniversary celebration, highlighting four decades of innovation, education, and leadership development in the connectivity industry. To learn more about Syndeo Institute’s programs and resources, including the Women’s Archive, email info@syndeoinstitute.org.
