Follow your passions, work hard and the rest will fall into place: That's the message of two Charlotte business executives recently honored as leaders by their alma mater, UNC Chapel Hill.

Bill Goodwyn and David Oakley received the Next Generation Business Leaders award for their business savvy last month. The pair of Tar Heels spoke recently with the Observer about their careers and their advice for college seniors as graduation season rolls around.

Goodwyn, 50, is president of global distribution for Discovery Communications and CEO of Discovery Education, the fastest-growing division of the cable television network company. Based in Charlotte, the Tarboro native spends much of his time traveling to oversee content distribution for the networks.

Oakley, one of the founding partners of BooneOakley advertising agency in Charlotte, started his career at Young & Rubicam in New York. The Creedmoor native, 49, has done work for clients including the Charlotte Hornets, Bojangles' and Ruby Tuesday at his ad agency on Mint Street. Questions and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

David Oakley, president, BooneOakley ad agency

Q: How did you realize you were meant to be in advertising?

I really was about to graduate and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I was fortunate enough to meet a professor, John Sweeney, who became my mentor. I was at a friend's house, and this friend was drawing little stick figures for what turned out to be the Pillsbury Doughboy (for Sweeney's advertising class). I was like, "You actually get college credit for that? I could do that."

I saw he was teaching a class in summer school. (Sweeney) was like, "Didn't you graduate?" I was like, "Yeah, I still want to take your class." He said, "Look, my class is full. There are 70 seats, and I have 15 people on the waiting list. You won't get in."

I don't know what came over me. I said, "I know you're really popular, I know you won Teacher of the Year, but I guarantee at least one seat will be open, and I'll be in that seat." I don't know whether he thought I would be the next David Ogilvy (often called "The Father of Advertising") or the next David Berkowitz (often called "The Son of Sam").

By the midterm exam, he walked by, put the exam on my desk, and said, "OK, you're in." I had passed my first test in advertising.

Q: How did you get your first professional gig?

John Sweeney had some people he knew in the agency world. At the time, the late '80s, the agencies hired kids out of school more than they do now. We were called copy cubs. I was fortunate enough to get hired. They flew in 12 people. I think I was the only guy from North Carolina and the only guy they'd met with a Southern accent.

Q: What are some of your favorite campaigns you've done?

I think we've done some great work for the "It's Bo-time" campaign. For Bloom supermarkets, we had a billboard (in Mooresville) that had a muffin tin on it. One of the muffins "mysteriously" had fallen off in the middle of the night and crushed a car. We had bought the car. Local TV was all over it (thinking it had been an accident).

Q: What advice would you give this year's graduating college seniors?

I'll say what my father said - "Do what you love, and the money will come." I know a lot of 45-year-olds who don't know what to do. Network, even if there's not a job. Go in for an informational interview. You'd be surprised how many people want to talk with you. It wasn't that long ago that people like me were really trying hard to get a job.

Q: Do you like "Mad Men," and is your job at all like that?

Oh man, "Mad Men" is my favorite show. When I started at Y&R in New York, it felt a bit like "Mad Men." It was a big agency, the creative directors were wearing suits and people were going to three-martini lunches. It wasn't the '60s, but it definitely wasn't whatever we're in now. I wish I was as good as Don Draper.

Bill Goodwyn, president of global distribution, CEO of Discovery Education

Q: How did you first get into the cable television business?

I was a journalism major. I wanted to be in the media business in some form or fashion. When I got out of college, with some of the jobs in media, I couldn't afford to eat. So I took a job with Xerox in 1982, cold-calling companies. One of the companies was an executive recruiter. I was 21 years old. I didn't know what an executive recruiter was; I wanted to sell a copier.

She called back to tell me about an opportunity, calling companies to sell an electronic guide to cable channels. (Later, in 1987), when I flew up to Washington, D.C., to meet with (Discover Channel founder John Hendricks), I fell in love with what he wanted to accomplish.

Q: How do you see the digital revolution affecting your business?

The premise of the company is to make great content. It used to be just through the TV. Now you have all these new technologies, you have PCs, tablets. The challenge is, how do you extend your content across all those different platforms and really monetize that?

Q: What do you think the dominant content-distribution models will be?

I think you're going to have to make sure your content is easily accessible on different devices in the home and outside the home. Consumers want the ability to find individual programs on demand. You're seeing that happen with DVR, with Netflix. You see it on iTunes. You have to keep your brand healthy, and at the same time provide access on a very convenient basis.

Q: As head of Discovery Education, you promote using more digital products in education. What are the advantages of this?

It's current and it's updated. Whether it's H1N1 (bird flu), earthquakes in Japan or Pluto no longer being classified as a planet, teachers and students are going to have more up-to-date information than in textbooks. (Students) are using technology and digital content in their day-to-day lives. When they go to the classroom, that's how they want to engage with material.

Digital is less expensive than some of the traditional products - for example, a textbook. When you have a budget crisis like now, there's so much focus on cost cutting. You have to figure out, how are we going to be more effective and spend less?

Q: What advice would you give seniors graduating this year?

I would say your first job is never going to be your last one, but whatever job you do have, do it with incredible passion, energy and enthusiasm and doors will open up. It's maybe not the most innovative advice, but it's always worked for me.