Postcards

Gerry Laybourne reemerges, wisdom intact

Where in the world is Gerry Laybourne? Last we heard, she sold Oxygen Media for almost $1 billion to General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal. The media-industry icon, who had built Viacom's (VIAB) Nickelodeon before creating Oxygen, has been notably quiet since her mega-sale in the fall of 2007.

In fact, I didn't know what Laybourne was up to until last week, when I ended up at her apartment on the Upper MORE

Power Point: Make sure others get heard

"Make sure the people closest to the problem do the talking."

-- Geraldine Laybourne, founder of Oxygen Media, which she sold to NBC Universal (GE) for close to $1 billion in 2007. On Wednesday Laybourne hosted mentees from the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership at her home in Manhattan for a lively discussion about a range of topics -- from why there is so little international news MORE

Defying the downturn: Bravo and beyond

Defining a brand and sticking to it is always difficult. Particularly in a downturn.

Which is why the success of Bravo - the NBC Universal cable network that serves up food, fashion, beauty, design and pop culture to upscale audiences - is all the more impressive.

This morning, I went to Bravo's "upfront" presentation, where NBCU's Lauren Zalaznick, who built the network, and her team pitched their new season and their growth MORE

Power Point: Media bosses call a truce

"I want to personally congratulate Jeff Zucker and NBCU on their success in the litigation and thank Jeff for resolving this in a professional manner."

-- Producer Harvey Weinstein in a statement Wednesday, ending a six-month battle over Project Runway. Weinstein admits he erred in moving the show from Bravo--owned by General Electric's (GE) NBC Universal--to Lifetime without giving NBCU a shot to keep it. Lifetime reportedly paid $150 million for MORE

Powerful Women: the final photo gallery

I've shared pictures and videos and stories of Warren Buffett in action at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit--his idea of "heaven," he told the 350 women who gathered in California in early October. But there was much ado beyond Buffett at our 10th Summit, which drew, despite the market mayhem, a lineup of leaders that reflected our theme, "Extraordinary Talent." Here are a few glimpses of the talent on MORE

How I discovered the Internet

I've gotten to know Gina Bianchini. She's the CEO of Ning, the Silicon Valley startup that supplies the infrastructure to help you build your own social networking Web site. Think Home Depot for the social-network set. The other day, she "introduced" me via e-mail to her chairman and financial backer, Marc Andreessen. I had to laugh and tell both of them that Marc and I actually had met before, though MORE

Power Point: Don't use PowerPoint!

"PowerPoint certainly has its place in business, but if I'm enthusiastic about an idea, I much prefer to rely on my gut and my passion and pitch the hell out of it in person. Decks may give you the facts and figures, but nothing can replace passion and energy to get a 'yes' from the room."

- Bonnie Hammer, President, NBCU Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios. Already in charge of USA MORE