PMDLI
The Public Media Diversity Leaders Initiative (PMDLI) is a highly interactive virtual program designed with the unique needs of public media in mind. The curriculum incorporates collaborative problem solving, scenario exercises, case studies and audio/video analyses to introduce leadership frameworks and tools to build engaged, high performing teams. Participants will explore selected best practices already in place within public media and new content tailored to examine challenges, themes, and topics identified by the group. Cohorts convene virtually in five workshop days over five months.
"PMDLI provided a safe and open forum for public media leaders to share concerns and thoughts impacting their station and community. Juan Johnson was an excellent moderator and session leader, who expertly provided time for participant experiences and thoughts as well as strategies and tactics to move stations forward."
- Emil Mara, APTS
About PMDLI
Public media professionals across all disciplines and experience levels will benefit from participating in a PMDLI cohort. In addition to management and leadership, journalists, content creators, HR teams, innovators, and more will benefit from the program in their daily work.
We encourage you to nominate others at your station and your colleagues throughout the system. When you nominate someone, we will reach out to them with more information to see if they’re interested in participating. Nominating others is free and can be done by filling out this brief form.
Participants are selected from applicants across the country to reflect the public media ecosystem—region served, audience, station licensee type, affiliate organizations—as well as various functional and vocational roles, levels, and responsibilities.
Public media leaders across the country are grappling with the systems changes necessary to build workplaces, boards, content, and audiences in a new and shifting national landscape. Today’s heightened levels of division in American institutions have increased the importance of these organizations fulfilling their mission and reaching broader audiences.
This transformative program has graduated more than 220 leaders from over 100 radio and television stations, and 17 national organizations. With capacity for up to 70 additional participants each year, the program has become an important element of the professional development pathway that supports public media leadership.
Visit the PMDLI website for program curriculum, PMDLI graduate rosters, and more.
Each cohort has access to the course on Public Media Learns. All alumni have access to an ongoing PMDLI space on Public Media Learns to continue the collaboration and discourse.
The Riley Institute empowers emerging and established leaders—across sectors and throughout society—with the knowledge and tools to advance equity and drive social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond. They work to strengthen public education; promote the power of diversity to help teams, organizations, and communities thrive; and elevate informed, evidence-based approaches to critical public issues.
Spring 2025 – Cohort 9
Each class is from 11 AM to 5 PM ET
- Thursday, February 6
- Thursday, March 13
- Thursday, April 10
- Thursday, May 1
- Thursday, May 29
January 9, 2025
$2,000
PMDLI is facilitated by Juan Johnson, president of DLA, a management consulting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Juan has been in this role since 2006, after an extraordinary management career with The Coca-Cola Company, including roles in finance, communication and human resources. Juan achieved certifications as both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
"Juan Johnson is an incredibly effective teacher/facilitator. Rather than following a set roadmap, he lets the group questions and interaction guide the content. I very much appreciated that. And one of the high points was spending time with colleagues who are dedicated to this work. Our conversations were stimulating and interesting. Would highly recommend it."
- Steve Bass, Oregon Public Broadcasting (retired)
"It has been an exquisite, honorable and indelible experience to be included with this cohort – a true high point for me professionally and personally. THANK YOU ALL!"
- Steven A. Williams, WBGO
For additional information, please contact
Tinia Milhouse-Lazenby
Director of Culture & Learning
NETA
Megan Dodgens
Director, Center for Diversity Strategies
Riley Institute at Furman
