Only a handful of people in corporate America can call their jobs “cool.” Judy McGrath, however, is not your average chief executive officer.

The $7.2 billion portfolio that is MTV Networks, along with BET Networks, accounts for 60% of Media conglomerate Viacom’s revenues. Ever since its historical launch, the first ever cable music network has become every bit an internationally recognized American brand as Coke and McDonald’s. But MTV would be nowhere near what it is now if it weren’t for the brilliant executive team that pioneered it in 1981. Judy McGrath has been one of the key creative forces behind the network through the years. At present she is the giant network’s Chairman and CEO.

Coming to New York City was part of the dream of then 26-year old Judy McGrath. Leaving her blue-collar Irish neighborhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she ventured into the real world with her goal of writing for Rolling Stone. It didn’t work out that way for her, though, and she found herself writing articles for Mademoiselle. She then became the “Dos and Don’ts” advice columnist for Glamour after three years. Then finally, her life’s purpose made itself known. Robert Pittman hired her to write on-air promotions for this revolutionary invention called music television. After 25 years, it has grown from a single channel to an entire global network with 145 channels, more than 300 websites that reach more than 505 million households worldwide in more than 160 countries and in 32 languages.

Over the years, Judy McGrath has been leading MTV through active social involvement. MTV promotions such as “Rock the Vote” and “Choose or Lose” for voter registration and awareness were successful especially in its target audience: the youth.

Judy McGrath’s corporate strategy is driven by knowing her company’s niche very well. “We’re more inside the heads of our audience than anybody else,” she points out. Now she is leveraging the network by seeking more acquisitions and tactical partnerships. Recent investments include short-film Web site IFILM Corp., children’s website Neopets and movie units such as Hustle & Flow.

For her business prowess and non-stop creative innovations, Judy McGrath was recognized as one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women.