Home Login RADIO ONLINE RSS Facebook
Advertisement

Maddox-Dorsey Named to 2025 Power 50 Women of Influence


Chesley Maddox-Dorsey
Chesley Maddox-Dorsey

Chesley Maddox-Dorsey, CEO of the largest Black- and woman-owned radio network in the U.S., has been honored as one of the 2025 U.S. Black Chambers Power 50 Women of Influence. Joining Maddox-Dorsey in this class are entertainment luminaries like Tracee Ellis-Ross and Tia Mowry, as well as corporate leaders such as Lela Coffey from Procter & Gamble and Brianne Bowles-Marshal of General Motors.

As CEO of A Wonder Media Company, Maddox-Dorsey oversees over 8,000 radio affiliates through its entities, American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) and Superadio. Her inclusion in the list coincides with Women's History Month, during which she shared insights from her trailblazing career in media and finance.

"I'm very pleased to be among this distinguished group of visionary leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers who drive impactful change across industries and communities. However, before getting here, I had to learn my own definition of success," Maddox-Dorsey remarked. Her media career began in banking, focusing on lending to media companies, which laid the groundwork for her future endeavors.

Maddox-Dorsey's journey through the media landscape includes significant milestones like leading the syndicate to finance the acquisition of KJOI-FM in Los Angeles and her role at Blackstar Communications. Her move into media was solidified when recruited by Sydney Small in 2000 to transform Unity Broadcasting Company, eventually leading to her current leadership role at A Wonder Media Company, which she founded in 2018.

"The chance to lead a buyout of two well-known but neglected B2B brands was irresistible," Maddox-Dorsey explained. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, her leadership has seen significant growth in the company's reach and influence, particularly among the African American community.

USBC President & CEO Ron Busby Sr. praised the 2025 class, saying, "We are thrilled to celebrate their extraordinary achievements and invite the public to join us in honoring these dynamic women." The U.S. Black Chambers will officially celebrate its honorees on March 27, 2025. Further details and a full line-up of the 2025 honorees can be found at www.usbcwomenofpower.com.

Outside of her professional achievements, Maddox-Dorsey is actively involved in various causes, supporting children's initiatives, women-focused organizations, and serving on the board of trustees at Oberlin College. Her advice to young leaders is clear: "Be a collector of talent as you build your team and village," emphasizing the importance of intentional leadership and alignment of personal values with professional goals.

Advertisement

Latest Radio Stories

FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington to Step Down
Nathan Simington
Nathan Simington
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Nathan A. Simington announced he will conclude his tenure at the end of this week, bringing to a close a nearly five-year term marked by his focus on free speech, national security, and telecommunications infrastructure. Appointed by President Donald More

Podcast Ads Lead U.S. Media in Ad Recall and Trust
Sounds Profitable
Sounds Profitable
Podcast advertising outperforms all other media platforms when it comes to ad recall and consumer trust, according to a new study released by Sounds Profitable, the podcasting trade association. Entitled The Advertising Landscape: Trust and Attention, the study is the largest public analysis of podcast More

iHM/SC-GA Region Names Bobby Tatum as Area President
Bobby Tatum
Bobby Tatum
iHeartMedia promotes veteran executive Bobby Tatum to Area President of its newly consolidated South Carolina-Georgia region, expanding his oversight to 67 stations across markets including Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Florence, Savannah, and Augusta. Tatum began his radio career in 2007 as an Account More
Advertisement

Ferrari Simmons Named Assistant PD at WRDG in Atlanta
Ferrari Simmons
Ferrari Simmons
iHeartMedia Atlanta's WRDG-FM (96.1 The Beat) promotes Ferrari Simmons to Assistant Program Director, effective immediately. In his new role, Simmons will focus on coaching and developing air talent, as well as overseeing the station's imaging and production. He will report directly to Vladimir Scott, More

Report: Top 32 Podcasts Reach Half of Weekly Listeners
Edison Research
Edison Research
Podcast advertising just got more strategic, thanks to new data from Edison Research. In its latest analysis, the company revealed that the top 32 podcasts in the U.S. now reach half of all weekly podcast listeners -- an audience of 50 million Americans. The findings come from Edison's "Infinite Dial" More

Rob Dawson Named ND for iHM's Rocky Mountain Region
Rob Dawson
Rob Dawson
iHeartMedia elevates Rob Dawson to News Director of the Rocky Mountain Region for its 24/7 News service, following the semi-retirement of longtime news leader Kathy Walker. Walker, who has been with iHeartMedia for 35 years, will remain with the company in a part-time role within the Denver newsroom. "We More

Return to Menu

Advertisement

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Radio news and headlines delivered right to your e-mail box -- and it's free.

Advertisement

Advertisement