The panel, moderated by the day’s keynote speaker, Cathie Black, former chairwoman and president of Hearst Magazines andNew York Times best-selling author of “Basic Black: The Essential Guide to Getting Ahead at Work (And in Life),” included Sandra Benedetto , director of Field Engineering for THX Media Director technology at THX Ltd.; Karen Chupka , senior VP of Events and Conferences at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA); Andrea Smith , channel editor, Mashable Lifestyle; and Kristine Welker , VP, chief revenue officer for Hearst Digital Media.

Black directed career questions to the panel, beginning with the topic of risk-taking, specifically asking is taking risks scary? Stupid?

Andrea Smith was the obvious first respondent, having recently left a 25-year career at ABC to join Mashable. “It’s scary, stupid, smart, challenging—all of it! No matter how fulfilling and challenging your current position may be, when something comes along that pokes at your passion, you have to take the risk. There may not be another opportunity.”

Hearst’s Welker also jumped ship from print to digital media at the company. “It was a scary decision,” she admitted. “There were people who told me I was crazy, but there were people who said that I could build my career and the company’s brands.

“It took me six months to realize that I didn’t know digital at all, but I am learning every day.”

When asked what being in the CE industry had taught her, THX’s Benedetto responded that she had found supportive men, even though as a woman she felt the need to prove herself.

“It does help to cultivate alliances with men and women in the CE industry,” Benedetto said.

“Women may stand out in this industry,” added CEA’s Chupka, “but that’s a good thing.”

Is it exciting to be in the CE industry? Would you recommend it to a young college grad?

“I would absolutely encourage a young woman to join,” said Benedetto. “It is an exciting time; we have a lot to offer the industry. We offer purchasing power but also what we need—our perspective is vital to this industry.”

“I have fallen in love with tech,” added Welker. “There is great opportunity for women. We are online more, we are the consumers, we have the ability to come up with new perspectives. We have become comfortable with being uncomfortable—to be ok with being the only woman. We are the early adopters of blogs, social media, mobile—a ton of opportunities there.”

One of the most resonating themes that pervaded the day came from Smith when asked about the most important lesson she’s learned. “Proceed until apprehended,” she said, meaning that she opened many doors for herself ABC by doing things she was interested in until someone told her to stop, which they never did. Smith admits it was her husband who gave her the advice, foreshadowing a topic that would come up later in the day’s program—how thinking like a man in your career can be beneficial.