NBC’s Tom Llamas climbed from 15-year-old intern to the top anchor chair—and still isn’t satisfied: ‘If you’re not growing, you’re dying’

As the face of NBC Nightly News, Tom Llamas has reached a milestone many journalists spend their entire careers pursuing: the anchor chair of one of America’s flagship evening newscasts.

At 46, he’s following in the footsteps of the greats like Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, and Lester Holt—the latter whom he succeeded last year. The role looks very different today from how it did during their eras, as traditional television news competes for relevance in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. Yet for Llamas, the career high has felt less like a finish line—and more like just another challenge to tackle.

“I think as soon as you get comfortable—game over,” Llamas told Fortune. “I’m also just not wired that way. If you could interview 50 people that know me, and they will tell you that I’m never going to be satisfied.”

That mindset has defined his first year leading one of television’s most recognizable news brands. Llamas has taken the broadcast far beyond its New York headquarters, reporting from Beijing, Jerusalem, and his hometown of Miami. He has interviewed President Donald Trump and soccer star Lionel Messi—all while competing in an ever-changing ratings battle. Nightly News typically draws just over 6 million viewers, compared with ABC’s roughly 7 million and CBS’s around 3.8 million.

Even after the cameras stop rolling, however, Llamas remains focused on what comes next. Rather than dwelling on a successful broadcast, he spends his time dissecting what could have been done better—searching for ways to sharpen the journalism and better connect with audiences whose attention is increasingly divided across platforms.

“I’m a firm believer that if you’re not growing, you’re dying,” Llamas said, adding that every single day, he’s thinking about improvement: “Did I watch the show yesterday? How could I get better? How could the show get better? How can I help the stories get better?”

The secret to career success isn’t being the smartest person in the room, says NBC’s Tom Llamas—it’s hustle

Llamas, the son of Cuban refugees, has spent decades building toward this moment. 

Growing up in Miami, he was surrounded by newspapers and television news. His family regularly read The Miami Herald, and at age 15 he landed an unpaid internship at a local Telemundo station. It didn’t take long for him to realize the newsroom was where he belonged.

“I worked for free, but it was so great,” Llamas said. “My summers working in newsrooms—I learned that I loved it, that it was a great job, that every day was new.” 

What hooked him was the unpredictability—and the responsibility. Journalism often means meeting people on the worst days of their lives, whether it’s covering shootings, natural disasters, or war. For Llamas, the challenge became balancing sensitivity with storytelling: helping viewers understand difficult moments without losing sight of the people at the center of them.

After graduating from Loyola University New Orleans in 2001 with a degree in broadcast journalism, drama, and speech, Llamas steadily climbed the ranks in local television news in Miami. By 2009, he was ready for the biggest leagues—moving to New York to join NBC’s local affiliate. Five years later, he made the switch to ABC News, where he became a correspondent, and a year later, weekend anchor of World News Tonight. In 2021, he returned to NBC, and by 2025, he had ascended to the anchor chair of NBC Nightly News.

Looking back, Llamas credits his rise not to exceptional talent but to persistence, preparation, and a willingness to advocate for himself. It’s a lesson he frequently shares with younger workers trying to navigate their careers. That means understanding how colleagues view you, building relationships with mentors, collaborating with coworkers, and speaking up for opportunities instead of waiting for them to arrive.

“If you don’t ask, you don’t get. If you want something, ask for it,” Llamas said. “The worst thing that you’re gonna be told is no.”

For Gen Z intimidated by working alongside people who seem smarter or more experienced, Llamas believes success often comes down to something far simpler: effort.

“You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room,” Llamas said. “But if you work the hardest, you will succeed.”

Even with a nonstop news cycle, Tom Llamas focuses on intention between his work and life

Unlike previous generations of nightly news anchors, Llamas’ workday doesn’t end when the 30-minute broadcast signs off. Instead, he immediately pivots to another hour of coverage for NBC News Now, the company’s streaming channel—a reflection of how journalism has expanded beyond traditional television and become a nearly around-the-clock enterprise.

“I love doing this, but I always tell people I’m 100% busier than I was a year ago,” Llamas said.

The ramped-up pace has required adjustments—not only for him, but for his family. Llamas and his wife are raising three young children, making the balance between work and home an increasingly conscious priority.

“One thing I’ve learned is that when you’re at work, you’re at work—when you’re at home, you’re at home,” he said. “You can’t really try to do both.”

For someone tasked with staying ahead of breaking events around the globe, the philosophy may seem surprising. But Llamas says family ultimately matters more than ratings wins or beating competitors to a story. His personal definition of success remains remarkably simple: “Was I a good dad, and was I a good husband?”

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com