Margaret Marion ’95 Directs Human Resources for CBS Radio and Mentors Students

By Lori H. Burke

As director of human resources for CBS Radio, Margaret Marion ’95 manages the entertainment conglomerate’s greatest asset—talent.

Margaret Marion ’95 (second from left) talks with Margaux LeBuffe ’12 (L-R), Samantha Sangenito ’12, Suzanne Rossi ’12, and Emily Homan ’15.

From CBS Radio’s offices in New York City, Marion’s primary role as a human resources generalist is employee relations, working with employees and key managers as a strategic business partner and counseling on company policies and procedures. She also recruits for the corporate offices and the six stations in the New York market and is a key collaborator on various projects and policy initiatives that support CBS Radio’s 128 stations in the U.S.

Among the largest owners of radio stations in the United States, CBS Radio has more than 6,000 employees nationally.

A psychology graduate, Marion was drawn to the field of human resources because she has “always had a curiosity about people.” She knew that she wanted to work in the business world in some capacity. “HR just felt very natural to me,” she says.

A course with Helena Silverstein, professor and head of government and law, inspired her continuing interest in law.

“Today, that’s a big part of my job,” says Marion, of Red Bank, N.J. “Lafayette professors really engage their students. You aren’t just a number to them. And because of that, you graduate confident and well-rounded—having been forced to face your insecurities.”

Marion came to campus in February to speak with students about the media career field. Although undecided about her major, Emily Homan ’15 attended the lecture because she was curious abut the kind of jobs available in the radio business.

“I learned that there are many more opportunities than just being an on-air DJ. I also learned that it is a very competitive field, and it is important to get involved early,” she says.

Marion joined CBS’s benefits department in 1997, after a short tenure as account manager with Prudential’s group insurance division. She rose quickly in the ranks at CBS, with mentorship and career challenges offered by her supervisors.

Marion’s own good fortune inspires her to give back to her alma mater.

“Because I believe in the quality of Lafayette’s graduates, I want to share the knowledge I have with current students,” she says. “I’m in a position in which I can provide students with insight on how to present themselves in the best light during an interview and potentially gain exposure within the very, very competitive arena of media and entertainment.”

Marion has spoken at the College on several occasions and has recruited Lafayette students for internships at CBS Radio. She also serves on the Career Services Employer Advisory Board, which provides advice to the College on best practices in the field.