Given video will account for approximately 70% of all internet traffic by 2016, it seems Raine Grady is in the right business. Originally from Australia, Raine and her partner travelled to Asia and have never left. Her and her team produce travel and lifestyle video content.
What’s your story?
I began my life in the media business as a TV network journalist in Australia. After several years of chasing the news my partner and I decided we wanted to explore. Around 20 years ago we visited Bangkok and discovered that locally produced English language television was almost unheard of in Thailand. So we decided to go to the Land of Smiles for a year and dabble in television in a totally alien environment. We never left. After founding Capital TV and starting the first English-language business show in Thailand we grew to produce TV shows for CNBC Asia, Star World, Australian TV channels and various regional and local cable networks. We have focused on travel and lifestyle. Today our team is one of the best known producers of this type of content in Asia.
What excites you most about your industry?
What excites me most is the evolution that’s taking place in broadcast. I started in country TV and in those days, that offered real grassroots production for local audiences. Then the focus shifted to big networks and cable or satellite program productions. Now thanks to the growth in mobile and online audiences we’ve gone back to the values of those grassroots days when programming could be niche, targeted and more original. Today, we have the added benefit of being able to reach out to more and more people through many different means. The need for good, relevant and well-produced content will always be there but we now have audiences who can cherry pick through what they want to watch, when and where. Connecting with them is both challenging and exciting and the creative opportunities are endless.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I have lived and worked in Asia now for 22 years and it’s home for me, my partner (a cameraman and fellow producer) and our two sons who were born in Bangkok. As an Australian I also feel an affinity to Asia. My two brothers both have Asian wives and this part of the world represents a wonderfully diverse landscape in terms of both culture and business. Having hosted and produced travel-related TV programs and video content in this region for so long it feels like this is where I truly belong.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
For ease of doing day to day business most people would say Singapore and on many levels I’d agree. For raw edginess and keeping me on my toes I still love Bangkok. I have been here a long time and this is a city that’s all about networking, connections and relationships. As a journalist, producer and communicator that is the sort of environment I can appreciate even if I do get frustrated with the local challenges from time to time. It’s also a great place to live and as I don’t work 24 hours a day, that’s important.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
I actually have three:
Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours. (Author, Richard Bach)
If you want something done fast, ask a busy woman. (My mother)
Never be in awe of anyone, but God. (My grandfather)
Who inspires you?
People who have made their own destiny. Those who never give up, who are generous, clever and driven. People who can make us laugh, entertain us, challenge the way we think, open our minds, encourage us to ask questions and not be afraid. Off the top of my head: Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, Madonna, Christiane Amanpour, Malala Yousafzai, Diane von Furstenbuerg, JK Rowling, Haruki Murakami and
George Lucas, that last one because I’m a Star Wars fan!
I’ll also include my parents, who went through much tougher times than us but never complained and my children who keep me focused on the future.
Day to day I also meet ordinary people doing extraordinary work with charities, with business, within the media and in arts and education. Their work is truly inspirational.
What fact have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
I recently learned that video will account for almost 70% of all internet traffic by 2016. Wow.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
You know what, I can’t think of anything. My mistakes and experiences, good and bad, have made me who I am today. Maybe I’d buy those new media shares I thought about…. Or that house in..…….. No, not going there!
How do you unwind?
I head to the gym for a bootcamp session and sweat out the stress or head to the spa for a massage. I read whenever I can too.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
Khao Lak, Thailand. Love the resorts, the beaches, the food. Heaven.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Lean in: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. By Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Shameless plug for your business:
Anyone looking for innovative video or television production or creative web content, even if you are on a tight budget, talk to me. If we can produce what you need, great! If not, we’ll point you in the right direction. We love what we do and we are in this business because we are passionate about what we do. Hopefully that translates into something special, useful or memorable for you.
How can people connect with you?
You can reach me on email [email protected] or via Facebook or visit our website www.capitaltv.co.th
Twitter handle?
@GradyRaine
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This interview was part of the Callum Connect’s column found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
Callum Laing invests and buys small businesses in a range of industries around Asia. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is the founder & owner of Fitness-Buffet a company delivering employee wellness solutions in 12 countries. He is a Director of, amongst others, Key Person of Influence. A 40 week training program for business owners and executives.
Take the ‘Key Person of Influence’ scorecard <http://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/scorecard/>
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