2025 MENTORS Filter by Industry ART FILM/TV MARKETING MUSIC PUBLISHING ADAM NEUHAUS Founder | Neuhaus Ideas AMELIA HANIBELSZ Former Exec Dir of Development | Founder | ABC News Studios CELIA AU Actress | Filmmaker FRANCIE CALFO Producer HELEN CHO Director | Producer | Showrunner JOSEPH PATEL Producer | Director | Writer | "Summer Of Soul" LINDA G. KNOWLTON Emmy-Nominated Producer & Director MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation SHARLA SUMPTER BRIDGETT SVP Film & TV | Chernin Ent. ALEX KIM VP of Development | Monkeypaw BECCA RODRIGUEZ Manager | Grandview CHELSEY LORA Screenwriter GABE WHALEY CEO | Founder | MSCHF IJEOMA OLUO Writer | Speaker | Internet Yeller JUST BLAZE Director of Music & Culture | Hip Hop Producer MARCELLE KARP Editorial/Creative Director | Brand Strategist | Marketing Magnet NICOLE HARJO SVP Development | Paramount SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room ALEX TSE Screenwriter | Xen Diagram Media BETH OSISEK VP of Content Development | Hulu CHRISTINA VOROS Cinematographer | Director | Producer | Screenwriter GBENGA AKINNAGBE Activist | Actor | Entrepreneur ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Roc Nation KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR SVP Original Programming | Starz MAUREEN POLO Head of Direct-To-Consumer | Hello Sunshine ROBERT KESSEL Former EVP of Narrative Film | Participant VANESSA ANGIULI Sr Director A&R | Interscope ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty CRISTINA CHAVEZ VP of A&R | Universal Music Publishing Group GIGI CAUSEY VP of Production | FX Entertainment JACQUE COFER Executive Producer KIM WILLIAMS Casting Executive | Casting Director | Producer MELINDA HSU Writer | Producer | Showrunner SAMANTHA MILITANTE Director | FX W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Instagram + Facebook CABRINA QUESADA VP TV | Heyday DEMANE DAVIS Television Director | Producer | Filmmaker GRACE TRAN Director of Global Series | Universal International Studios JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist | Pro Era Records, Badmind Records LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director MELISSA ROSENFIELD Founder | IFP Communications SARAH HARDEN CEO | Hello Sunshine YOUNG GURU Record Producer | Executive | Engineer

2026 MENTORS APPLY NOW FREE MARKETING APPLICATION Filter by Industry FILM/TV MARKETING MUSIC SOCIAL MEDIA ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer DEMANE DAVIS Television Director | Producer | Filmmaker KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR Former SVP Original Programming | Starz MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room YOUNG GURU Record Producer | Executive | Engineer ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Instagram + Facebook ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Creative Marketing KELLY GOODE Senior TV Programming Executive NAHNATCHKA KHAN Showrunner | Writer | Director SUNYA GANBOLD Head of Delivery, EVP | Razorfish BAO NGUYEN Director | Producer | EAST Films JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist | Pro Era Records, Badmind Records LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director OMAR FAJARDO VP, Creative Director | Razorfish THEO JONES VP, Brand Creative + Social Strategy | Razorfish BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty JOHN MENEILLY Manager MARCELLE KARP Editorial/Creative Director | Brand Strategist | Marketing Magnet RACHEL RAIMIST Director TROY CARTER Founder & CEO | Q&A CRISTINA CHAVEZ VP of A&R | Universal Music Publishing Group JUST BLAZE Director of Music & Culture | Hip Hop Producer MELANIE GEE GVP, Client Partner | Razorfish RICARDO LATORRE VP, Group Experience Design Director | Razorfish W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer

SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE DR. JORDAN KASSALOW Founder VisionSpring "I can help you turn your dream into reality. The art of the start, is all about strategy. I can help you hone your strategy to start your organization or business. While I won't make introductions, once the strategy is created, I can help you figure out how to attract seed capital, and start testing your idea in the marketplace." Jordan Kassalow is the Founder of VisionSpring, a high-impact social enterprise that accelerates the use of eyeglasses in emerging and frontier markets. Why eyeglasses? Because they are a powerful tool for social and economic development, enabling low-income consumers to earn a living, achieve in school, drive safely, and enjoy life’s beautiful details. As of 2023, VisionSpring has corrected the vision of more than 10 million people living on less than $4 per day, unlocking more than $2 billion in income earning potential. In addition to founding VisionSpring, Jordan co-founded EYElliance, a multi-stakeholder coalition driving global strategy to increase access to eyeglasses at scale, and he launched the Global Health Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. Jordan is a fellow at Draper Richards Kaplan, Skoll, Ashoka, and the Aspen Institute. Previously, Jordan served as director of the River Blindness Division at Helen Keller International and has been named to Forbes’ Impact 30 list, won the inaugural John P. McNulty Prize, and is a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneurship awardee. Outside of the social entrepreneurship field, Jordan is a partner at Drs. Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick & Associates, an ophthalmology practice in New York City, and co-author of the book “Dare to Matter: Your Path to Making a Difference Now.” Jordan earned his Doctor of Optometry from the New England College of Optometry and a Fellowship in Preventive Ophthalmology and Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins. VIEW ALL MENTORS

ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer "I can help you hone and focus your ideas, find your artistic voice, help guide you to on your projects from conception to finishing, build pitches." Alice Gu is an award-winning director and director of photography. A Los Angeles native, Alice began her career as a director of photography, working with renowned directors Werner Herzog, Stacy Peralta, and Rory Kennedy, among others. Her commercial clients for print and live action include TBWA/ Chiat Day, Media Arts Lab, Deutsche, Edelman, Berlin Cameron, Cole & Weber, Pereira & O’Dell, Doremus, Publicis, Beats by Dre, Laird Hamilton, ESPN, FIFA, NFL, NHL, NBA, the WSL, and Apple. Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017, a documentary film directed by Academy Award-nominated director, Rory Kennedy, and lensed by Alice Gu. THE DONUT KING is Alice’s feature directorial debut and was slated to premiere in the canceled 2020 SXSW film festival. Despite the cancellation, the film won the Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Documentary Storytelling, as well as the Best Documentary awards from the Sun Valley Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, Urbanworld Film Festival and Best Emerging Director at the 43rd Asian American International Film Festival. A feature-length documentary about the rise and fall of a Cambodian refugee turned donut tycoon, “The Donut King” is executive produced by Academy Award-winners Ridley Scott and Freida Lee Mock. Alice’s follow-up feature, REALLY GOOD REJECTS, premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival. The film was produced by Academy-Award winning producers David Dinerstein and Robert Fyvolent. A loving look inside the magic of music, the film features prominent musicians such as Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Aaron Dessner of The National, and Phoebe Bridgers, among others. Alice was recently selected as a 2022 fellow of the prestigious Concordia Studios Fellowship, which was founded by Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim. While developing several documentaries, Alice is also transitioning into the narrative space, developing a feature project with Scott Free Productions. WEBSITE LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM "My mentoring experience with Alice has been amazing this year. Alice has introduced me to books, funding opportunities, and educational resources in our time together, as well as personal growth resources which also pour back into my career. I am honored to be able to work with her, especially considering I am a fan of her work, and I’m so grateful to the UP community and her as a person for the ways in which I have grown during this 2023 session." — Allyson FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist Instagram + Facebook “What can I do to stay inspired and brainstorm more effectively? How can I create a personal brand that will propel my career forward? How do you stand in front of a room full of people with confidence? And does a Creative Director actually get to be creative??” These are just some of the questions I can help you unpack. My process is a combination of inspiration and tangible, go-to tips and tricks. I’ll show you how to exercise your creative muscle, help you “own the room” when you present, and together we’ll hone in on your goals and build strategies to help set you on the path to success!" Alix Tyler is an award-winning Creative Director and Creative Strategist at Instagram + Facebook, where she is seated at the table with CMOs, VPs and ECDs for some of the biggest fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands in the world—including Gap, Sephora, Vans and Kate Spade. Alix and her team live at the intersection of creativity and technology where she partners with brands to inspire, educate and guide as they build creative campaigns that connect with the over 2 billion monthly active users on the platform. Before Instagram, Alix spent over a decade in advertising as a Creative Director/copywriter where she created campaigns for Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Fergie…and some very sexy chips and salsa for Frito-Lay. With nearly 20 years of industry experience under her belt, Alix specializes in creative problem solving and is known for creating work that is both strategic and visually inspiring. Alix is also a skilled and engaging public speaker—something which has helped her throughout her career. She has co-hosted a Facebook Watch show with Queer Eye's Tan France, spoke at notable design conference C2 Montréal, hosted a fireside chat with celebrity photographer Alexi Lubomirski, shared Instagram best practices with fashion legends Inez + Vinood and Mario Testino, guest lectured at Stanford University, and even ran an Instagram Story School for the entire Vans Pro Skateboard Team. A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in anthropology, Alix is also a vintage lover, music video director, photographer and confirmed maximalist. She is a big believer that you should move through life with confidence but never take yourself too seriously. She is not afraid to admit she is a self-proclaimed Instagram addict. And no, she can’t get you verified. ALEXANDRATYLER.COM LINKEDIN MARKETING VIEW ALL MENTORS

CABRINA QUESADA Vice President of TV Heyday "As a mentor, I will help you establish a foundation for development, networking and honing your brand, particularly for those with creative executive or producing aspirations." Cabrina Quesada is the Vice President of TV at Heyday, David Heyman’s Oscar-winning production company (HARRY POTTER, GRAVITY, MARRIAGE STORY, CLICKBAIT). Previously, she was the Director of Development at Anonymous Content, where she oversaw TV & Film for the Producer Joy Gorman Wettels (13 REASONS WHY) and covered Dana Fox’s Overall Deal with AC Studio and Paramount TV (HOME BEFORE DARK). Prior to AC, she worked at Netflix, starting in International Series & Film. On the creative team, she helped launch their first original slates in India and the Middle East (SACRED GAMES, DELHI CRIME, BARD OF BLOOD, LITTLE THINGS) and traveled to Mumbai to grow their regional office. Later on the U.S. Original Series Team, she worked in the Drama department on titles such as Molly Smith Metzler’s award-winning limited series MAID, as well as Overall and First Look deals, such as Obama's Higher Ground Productions and Regina’s King’s Royal Ties. Prior to the streamer, she worked for Director Ruben Fleischer’s and Producer Dave Bernad at The District (THE BOLD TYPE, SUPERSTORE, WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS, WHITE LOTUS), Brian Grazer at Imagine Entertainment, Barry Josephson’s Entertainment and Freeform. Additionally, she worked for Rob Lowe on-set of multiple scripted and unscripted series (CODE BLACK, ORVILLE, THE LOWE FILES), helped him adapt his memoir to the stage, STORIES I ONLY TELL MY FRIENDS, and co-ran the show on tour. As the daughter of a Naval Submarine Officer and a Military Therapist, she attributes her passion for telling universal stories that transcend borders to her family’s time stationed across the U.S. and Abroad. She is also an UCLA’s school of Theater, Film and Television Alum where she majored in Directing. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

EVENTS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW JOIN US COMING SOON In order to qualify for the program, you must be a woman of color, 18 years or older, residing in the US (including Puerto Rico) and have an active LinkedIn profile. Read More PAST EVENTS 03 - 25 - 2023 In our first large scale convening, Unlock Her Potential is partnered with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Clive Davis Institute in downtown Brooklyn four our first ever sUPosium. The event will be an all-day affair featuring keynote addresses, panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Breakfast, lunch, coffee and tea will was provided. Join us in our mission is to build COMMUNITY, COALITION, and CITIZENRY. Thanks to the generous sUPport of the NYC Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment, we're pleased to have given out a limited quantity of FREE sponsored passes to those for whom the price of entry is cost-prohibitive. FPO IMAGE GALLERY FUNDRAISER 07.28.22 Lorem ipsum dolor seta mit FPO IMAGE GALLERY LA - NY MEET & GREETS Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi lacinia purus ac turpis tristique, eu ornare magna varius. Sed sit amet lorem leo. FPO IMAGE GALLERY

Check out our Music mentors for Unlock Her Potential MUSIC APPLY NOW CRISTINA CHAVEZ VP of A&R | Universal Music Publishing Group TROY CARTER Founder & CEO | Q&A ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Creative Marketing YOUNG GURU Record Producer | Executive | Engineer JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist | Pro Era Records, Badmind Records JOHN MENEILLY Manager JUST BLAZE Director of Music & Culture | Hip Hop Producer VIEW ALL MENTORS

STEM, C-SUITE GORDON WILLOUGHBY Former CEO WeTransfer "I can help you: develop plan for scaling your business, navigate company “politics” and build your personal brand." Gordon has just stepped down after over five years as CEO at WeTransfer, the company that builds workflow tools for creatives. Since he joined in 2017, the business has expanded rapidly: monthly users growing from 30M to 90M, revenues up over 5 times and growing more than 60% in 2021 to over €100m. In 2020 WeTransfer became a certified B Corp, in 2021 announced it was committing to donate 1% of its revenues to the WeTransfer charitable Foundation and in ’22 won an Oscar in collaboration with Riz Ahmed. Prior to WeTransfer Gordon spent over 8 years at Amazon overseeing the launch of the Kindle business across Europe, then leading the European advertising business with his final role scaling the UK grocery business. Prior to Amazon Gordon held senior executive positions at eBay, the FT and Diageo. Gordon is based in the UK. VIEW ALL MENTORS

SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY DIANA RHOTEN Managing Director Purpose Venture Group Diana Rhoten is a design and innovation strategist specializing in human-centered design and systems-level change. Over her 20-year career, Rhoten has designed organizations for change across business, government, and philanthropy. Diana is currently the Managing Director of Purpose Venture group, which is a full-service strategy consulting firm that exclusively advises ventures advancing the health of our climate and our social compact. Before joining PVG, Diana was Managing Director at IDEO, where she led the NY studio and Purposeful Brands portfolio. Prior to consulting, Diana was CSO at Amplify, a subsidiary of News Corp Inc., where she focused on the venture’s post-acquisition integration and expansion. In addition to her “edtech” executive experience, Diana has extensive entrepreneurial expertise as co-founder of Startl, the first start-up accelerator for digital learning innovation. Earlier in her career, Diana also designed and advised different commercial and non-commercial R&D entities on the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to generate breakthroughs in climate science / tech. As a side hustle, Diana is (still) developing her first illustrated book series called Gangsters of Love. Diana graduated from Brown, Harvard, and Stanford Universities as well as the Freestyle Love Supreme Academy. "I feel perfectly matched with my mentor, Diana Rhoten. We have overlaps in perspective about life and the world that make strategizing about work and longterm goals easy and exciting! She's incredibly honest and transparent about her experience and reflects back to me what she sees in me." — Grace VIEW ALL MENTORS

MUSIC TROY CARTER Founder & CEO | Q&A Troy Carter is the founder and CEO of Q&A, a technology and media company focused on powering the business of music via distribution, services, and data analytics. Formerly, Troy was the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, where he rose to prominence, nurturing the careers of global superstars, including Lady Gaga and John Legend. He most recently served at Spotify as its Global Head of Creator Services, overseeing the company’s growth strategy for artists and record labels. In 2017, Troy was also named Entertainment Advisor to the Prince Estate. His interest in the intersection of technology and culture resulted in the formation of AF Square Investments. Early investments include Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Spotify, Warby Parker, theSkimm, Blavity, Gimlet Media, Thrive Market, PlayVs, and FazeClan. Troy currently serves as a trustee for The Aspen Institute, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and CalArts. VIEW ALL MENTORS

JACQUE COFER Executive Producer "I am happy to be a resource to you about all things scripted television. Script writing, the pilot process, series development, industry intelligence and career management." Jacque Edmonds Cofer attended Princeton University, graduating with an A.B. in Politics. She also earned an M.B.A. at the Harvard Business School. Cofer left corporate life to become a television writer and producer. After completing the Walt Disney Fellowship program, her first network television-writing job was on MARTIN. Within two years, she had risen to supervising producer. Cofer has been the co-executive producer of six network comedies, most recently THE UNICORN, starring Walton Goggins on CBS and “DAD, STOP EMBARRASSING ME, starring Jamie Foxx on Netflix. She has also been the showrunner of four series including LET’S STAY TOGETHER, BET’s first original scripted comedy. Since 2016 Cofer has been a faculty member of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she is also on the admissions committee. She is a lecturer and thesis advisor in the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television and teaches Advanced Half-Hour Comedy writing in the MFA program. Cofer has frequent speaking engagements and has won the following awards: NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Comedy Program, MARTIN PRISM Award, from the National Institutes of Health and the Entertainment Industries Council, for accurate depiction of drug, alcohol and tobacco use and addiction, MOESHA SHINE Award (2), from The Media Project and the Kaiser Foundation for accurate and honest portrayals of adolescent sexual health issues, MOESHA President’s Award, from the Alliance of Black Entertainment Technicians Founder’s Award, from the Black Women Film Preservation Project "Jacque’s guidance has been instrumental in shaping the writer I aspire to be. My background is in advertising, so her depth of knowledge and years of experience in the entertainment industry has been invaluable in helping me navigate a new field. Throughout our mentorship, I've learned so much about the intricacies of TV writing, from crafting compelling narratives to understanding the nuances of character development. Her willingness to share her insights has given me a solid foundation to build upon as I continue on this journey. I am so grateful for the lessons she’s provided, and look forward to learning more from her in the months to come." — Nannette E. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY ANURIMA BHARGAVA President Anthem of Us Anurima Bhargava serves as the President of Anthem of Us, which she founded to advise efforts to promote dignity and justice, and to center equity and belonging in workplaces, schools and communities. Anthem of Us emerged from the recognition of how much time we were spending litigating moments of violence, harassment, and hate, and how little time on what leads up to those moments and what comes after them. Anthem of Us clients currently include foundations, media and arts organizations, civil and immigrant rights organizations, schools and companies. In December 2018, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Bhargava to serve on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, where she served as Chair and Vice Chair until her term ended in May 2022. From 2010-16, Bhargava led federal civil rights enforcement in schools and institutions of higher education at the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration. She spearheaded groundbreaking cases and federal policy guidance to address segregation, school discipline, harassment and bullying, and the rights of English learners, students with disabilities, undocumented students and LGBTQ+ students. She served on several administration-wide and White House task forces to address racial and sexual violence, harassment and discrimination. Before joining the Justice Department, she directed the education practice at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where she litigated cases on diversity and segregation in schools and institutions of higher education, including in the federal appellate courts and U.S. Supreme Court. From 2016-2018, she served as a fellow at the Institute of Politics and the Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard, and as the inaugural Leadership in Government Fellow at Open Society Foundations, where her work focused on trauma experienced within communities after incidents of racial violence. Bhargava is deeply committed to advancing justice through narrative and storytelling. She advises and produces documentary films and projects and chairs the U.S. Board of Doc Society , a leading incubator and supporter of documentary film globally. She served as an Executive Producer of Writing With Fire, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2022. Her other projects include The Vow (HBO docuseries); [Untitled] Baltimore Documentary, and she serves as an advisor to the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. She co-chairs the National Advisory Board on Public Service at Harvard and has served on the boards of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund and the Poverty Race Research Action Council. She is a 2017 Presidential Leadership Scholar and has been a member of the Truman National Security Project and the Council on Foreign Relations. Lastly, Bhargava actively engages in and advises numerous political campaigns and was appointed to the 2020 DNC Platform Committee. She founded Take Back Tuesdays and Anthem of America to provide information and ways to take action around elections, and co-founded a multiracial PAC, American Anthem. Ms. Bhargava earned her law degree from Columbia Law School and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College. She was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and is a graduate of Kenwood Academy. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV LAUREN JANE HOLLAND Agent Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Lauren Jane Holland is a TV-Scripted Agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Holland is based in Los Angeles and represents many of the world’s leading writers, filmmakers, and producers, including Suzan-Lori Parks, Lee Daniels, Tomi Adeyemi, Blitz Bazawule, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Reggie Rock Bythewood. Prior to joining CAA in 2019, Holland worked in policy and government, notably as a staffer for Congresswoman Maxine Waters in her Capitol Hill office. Holland also worked with BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, where she was a film programmer and managed corporate partnerships. She also served as a programmer for Outfest. Holland graduated from Howard University with a degree in International Business and Marketing. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV NICOLE HARJO Senior Vice President Paramount Television Studios "I can help you understand the TV development process, whether it’s helping a writer shape their vision into a show or a creative executive wanting to learn more about development or producing and expanding their network." Nicole Harjo is Senior Vice President of Development for Paramount Television Studios, developing half-hour and one-hour TV series for premium cable and streaming. Nicole has creative oversight over Paramount+’s series adaption of the classic psychological thriller FATAL ATTRACTION which is currently in production, as well as Showtime’s upcoming drama AMERICAN GIGOLO, and other projects in development including adapting the movie LOVE STORY and adapting the memoir YELLOW BIRD about Lissa Yellow Bird’s courageous work finding missing indigenous women. Previously Harjo was the Vice President of Television at The Kennedy/Marshall Company. At Kennedy/Marshall she was a Producer on Netflix’s first original Polish series, ‘1983’. Prior to The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Harjo was a Creative Executive at Stars Road Entertainment where she worked on the Emmy nominated Netflix series HOUSE OF CARDS. Additionally, Harjo previously worked in Current Programming at CBS where she oversaw the CSI: franchise, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, and TWO AND A HALF MEN. "Nicole’s mentorship fosters a space for learning through openness and encouragement. She never hesitated to answer any questions about the nuances of working in the entertainment industry and has given me the the tools to help decipher this industry that feels impossible to break into. Not only is Nicole an amazing person and mentor but an inspiring entertainment executive that is dedicated to uplifting others on their career journeys and I am grateful that she is guiding me in the infancy of my career. " — Annaliese VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV DAVAH AVENA Screenwriter | Producer Davah Avena is the industry’s first and only Can-exican (Canadian-Mexican) television writer/producer. Not only can she break story and write kickass scripts, she can also tap her own maple tree and make a killer margarita. After graduating from USC Film School and the National Hispanic Television Writers’ program, Davah landed her first network gig writing for MEDIUM for NBC. Two years later, when she left MEDIUM (the politically correct way of saying she was fired) she went on to sell pilot scripts to ABC FAMILY and NICKELODEON. She also had a Blind Pilot Deal with SONY. Davah’s pilots most often reflect her youth growing up working in the family business and her love of magic realism. Davah’s mission is to write and produce television that explores the rich, fascinating and hilarious lives of women and people of color which is so rarely seen on television. While she loves to bring the drama, she can’t help but see the humorous side of life, so she thrives in the one-hour dramedy world. After several years of selling pilots, she staffed on the critically acclaimed EAST LOS HIGH for HULU. She then went on to solidify her career in one-hour dramedies by writing and producing such hits as DEVIOUS MAIDS for LIFETIME, GRAND HOTEL for ABC, ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST for NBC, and most recently NETFLIX’S breakout hit, FIREFLY LANE. VIEW ALL MENTORS

CRISTINA CHAVEZ Vice President of A&R Universal Music Publishing Group Transparency encourages creativity. As a respected music executive and trusted partner, Cristina Chavez has catalyzed the success and evolution of various GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum producers and songwriters, ranging from Needlz and Bongo to Drew “Chiller” Gavin. Guiding careers as VP, A&R at UMPG, she consistently empowers talent to flourish and thrive at the highest level by leading with confidence and clarity. “I’m always transparent with my clients, first and foremost,” she exclaims. “They definitely know what’s on my mind. I’m very dependable as well. If I say I’m going to do something, I always get it done—and I make sure it happens in a positive way.” Growing up in The Bay Area, she immediately gravitated towards music during her childhood. Studying favorite artists, she obsessed over Toni Braxton’s voice and Babyface’s lyricism. While attending California State University Chico, she also split her time between internships at 106 KMEL and BET, grinding towards an eventual career in music. She turned the internship at BET into her first formal job as Talent Coordinator at 106 & Park in New York. She powered BET’s influential Music Matters brand, booking the likes of Kendrick Lamar, H.E.R., J. Cole, Big Sean, Miguel, Jazmine Sullivan, and more for gigs, appearances, and interviews at gestational phases of their respective careers. Not to mention, she oversaw the Music Matters presence at SXSW, A3C, and MegaFest, working with superstars such as Pharrell, Meek Mill, and T.I. 2016 saw her accept an executive position at ASCAP where she orchestrated initiatives with Women Behind The Music and She Is The Music, hosted panels, and secured talent a la Tierra Whack, Rico Nasty and many more for high-profile activations. In 2020, she joined the team at Hallwood Media as Senior Vice President of A&R and Management at Hallwood Media. Under her watch, Chiller wrote The Game’s internet-breaking 2022 epic “Eazy” [feat. Kanye West], while she also shepherded and ignited projects for Needlz [Cardi B, Drake, Bruno Mars] and Dimitri McDowell [Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign]. Independently, she notably manages Bongo whose robust credits include Jazmine Sullivan’s “Girl Like Me” [feat. H.E.R.], Big Sean’s “Stay Down,” Cordae’s “Bad Idea” [feat. Chance the Rapper], G Herbo’s “Man Now,” Ty Dolla $ign’s “Ex” [feat. YG], and many more. At the same time, she sets an example for the next generation through her diligence and commitment. “I want to let young executives, especially girls, know you achieve every dream you have, if you put your mind to it,” she states. “It really is my life. I’m trying to contribute to the culture of music in some capacity. Whether it’s a song that speaks for the youth or putting a writer and producer together to make a connection around a great song, I want to add to this incredible world.” Beyond her role as a manager and executive, she has notably featured on panels for Joining Forces, a day-long summit hosted by Women In Music, ASCAP EXPO, and more. Thus far, her career has been chronicled by Variety and many more. MUSIC VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV BETH OSISEK Vice President of Content Development HULU Originals In full disclosure I will say I hold no key to success. My goal will be to help you be best positioned for opportunity. As a mentor I am happy to give you feedback on your pitch, film or visual project and clue you into the market place you will face as you try to finance. I can also help you hone the narrative you will bring to the project to sell it. I am obsessed with story elements, story structure and love playing with form. I consider it my goal to help you upend tropes and avoid formulas.. If you aspire to be a producer or creative executive I can help with development, networking and outline creative skills to hone. Beth Osisek is a VP of Content Development at HULU Originals focused on documentary and limited series. She brings her decades long experience as an award winning filmmaker to the position. Since joining the Hulu team she has worked on I Am Greta, Framing Britney Spears, Padma Lakshimi’s Taste The Nation, Hilary, Captive Audience and Victoria Secrets: Angels and Demons . She is driven by a belief in the power of story to entertain, inform and impact. Before joining Hulu, she executive produced the three part Netflix documentary series Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates which looks at Gates's past and present as he tackles some of the biggest problems facing the world today. Other work includes CNN Films "We Will Rise'' with Michelle Obama and the PBS documentary "MAKERS: Women Who Make History". "The reason I wanted to be mentored by Beth was because of her straightforward approach. From day one, she provided knowledge and insight in a clear and easy way for me to understand. Through our sessions, I ultimately decided what my path should be in the tv/film industry. She has shown a willingness to help me progress and connect with other major players in the industry." — Jazmine VIEW ALL MENTORS

Check out our Marketing mentors for Unlock Her Potential MARKETING ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Instagram + Facebook ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Roc Nation MARCELLE KARP Editorial/Creative Director | Brand Strategist | Marketing Magnet MELISSA ROSENFIELD Founder | IFP Communications VIEW ALL MENTORS

MUSIC, C-SUITE TY STIKLORIUS Founder & CEO Friends At Work I can help you: in fields of music, film, TV and entertainment, understand how better to build a team culture that lasts, stay healthy and whole as an entrepreneur, manage artists and make a positive social impact on the world. Ty Stiklorius is the Founder and CEO of Friends At Work, an entertainment and social-impact company that partners with leading creators, influencers and brands to elevate important voices and help their vision thrive. Founded in 2015, LA-based Friends At Work supports the careers of artists including John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, Lindsey Stirling, and Charlie Puth, among others. Friends At Work also advises organizations and individuals on social-impact strategy, business development, and creative storytelling and production. In 2019, Ty started managing impacters Neal Katyal and Erica Chidi Cohen recognizing the important need for infrastructure around changemakers. VIEW ALL MENTORS

If you're interested in joining the Unlock Her Potential team or want to get involved, send us a message. TEAM BRAINTRUST CARLA MILLER ELLA GUDWIN JESSICA TEUTONICO SARA SIDNER TREVA LINDSEY CREW BRANDI NEUWIRTH HR TEAM MICHELLE NAM CREATIVE DIRECTOR WEBSITE INSTAGRAM GRACE OLIVER COPYWRITER LINKEDIN ROSIE CHU GRAPHIC DESIGNER LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM JOLIA THADAL SOCIAL MEDIA - RESEARCH & INSIGHTS LINKEDIN SHWETA DASAI HR TEAM LINKEDIN KITKAT FISHER MENTOR LIAISON LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM TIKTOK STEPHANY ADAORA MOGHALU SOCIAL MEDIA LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM WEBSITE LANI WILLMAR HR TEAM LINKEDIN SYLVIA MUNGUIA PITTMAN HR LEAD LINKEDIN If you're interested in joining the Unlock Her Potential team or want to get involved, send us a message. MESSAGE US

FILM/TV AMELIA HANIBELSZ Former Executive Director of Development | Founder ABC News Studios Amelia Hanibelsz is the former Executive Director of Development for ABC News Studios. In this role and in life she uplifts communities of color, underrepresented voices and under estimated audiences. She is a Prime Time Emmy nominated Supervising Producer and Genesis Award Winning Producer. Most recently she worked as Executive Producer at the USC SHOAH Foundation - founded by Steven Spielberg- supporting the creation of immersive and educational content inspired by over 55,000 testimonials of Holocaust and Genocide survivors from around the world. In 2020 Amelia wrapped as a Senior Producer for VICE on an 8-part series about young global activists. Over the past 20+ years, Amelia has acquired extensive experience in discovering and cultivating new talent for content initiatives on leading media networks such as Discovery, A&E, National Geographic, Animal Planet, The Smithsonian Channel, MTV, and VICE. She worked as the VP of Development for the award-winning production company Pangolin Pictures in New York for seven years. In 2013, Amelia founded Tell2C Productions to continue to utilize her storytelling skills for good. Since then, she has collaborated with FilmAid and the talented filmmakers of Kakuma Refugee Camp and is now proudly a FilmAid Kenya Board Member. She has worked with UNICEF, ActionAid, The Sesame Street Workshop, and The Gates Foundation to create compelling advocacy films on women and empowerment all over Africa. In South Sudan, she produced and distributed multimedia content for the United Nations, featured in Vanity Fair, Discovery, and Global Citizens social media platforms. She was a judge for the Reel Impact and IOM Global Migration Film Festival, which was in 106 Countries with over 500 screenings, a judge for the 41st, 42nd News & Doc Emmys, 73rd LA Emmys, the Netflix "New Voices" competition @ "Sunny Side Of The Doc" and a judge for the International Documentary Awards. She is an active member of the Television Academy, Global Impact Producers Assembly, and last but not least, a proud member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia. "Thank you for choosing me as your 2022 - 2023 Unlock Her Potential mentee, Amelia Hanibelsz. You've been a friend, sister, mentor and much more. Thank you for reminding me of my worth and pushing me to dream bigger. If it weren't for you, I may have learned lessons the hard way. Thank you for sharing inspo videos and WOC career advice podcasts. Thank you for showing up to Disney as a mover and shaker. ABC News President Kim Goodwin noticed your light and love. You glow without trying to. I'm most grateful for your transparency as you navigate grief. Thank you for feeling it because you've given me permission to feel mine too. Like you always say, it's wild how similar our lives are (right now). Thanks for making sure I didn't navigate this thing on my own. Cheers to that and as Sophia Chang says, 'Being the baddest b**** in the room." — Aja VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation "As a mentor I can help you understand the perspective of both the producer and studio buyer, how to put a project together and move it forward and how to advocate for yourself and know your true worth." Michelle Raimo Kouyate is a producer with over two decades of experience producing and developing for film and TV. Formerly President of Production at Sony Pictures Animation, she has the rare distinction of success in the live action and animation spheres, both as a producer and top-level executive at companies such as Nickelodeon, and Miramax Films. The films she has been involved with, which range from CHOCOLAT and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK to PUSS IN BOOTS and HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 1 & 2, have grossed over $3 billion worldwide. Michelle currently has a deal with Sony Pictures Animation where she is producing a slate of movies and is running LENS: Sony Pictures Empowerment and Leadership for New Storytellers which seeks to develop filmmaking leadership from underrepresented communities in an effort to allow them to create the content that reflects their worlds and perspectives. She is deeply committed to creating space that includes more marginalized voices and viewpoints. She also serves on the board of A Place Called Home, which offers services to the youth of South Central Los Angeles. "My mentor's name is Michelle Raimo Kouyate and from our 1st call where I admitted to being nervous and she replied “don’t be” I instantly felt that I was in good hands. She is a role model for how to “wear” your success while creating a space for others to also be successful. When I explained to her that I wanted to move from being a “corporate creative” to a creative in my own right as a writer/producer I felt that she totally supported me and would be invaluable on my journey. On her advice I have taken classes which have already strengthened my ability to tell the stories that I want to tell with more clarity and confidence. It’s incredible what I have learned through her insights and our mutual passion for storytelling. I am amazed at how much I have grown in just 4 sessions and excited to meet myself at the end of this year. I am also grateful to her and Unlock Her Potential for giving me this awesome chance and opportunity." — Nicole VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV HILARY STRAW Vice President of People Hello Sunshine Hilary can help you plan what’s next in your career, how to navigate finding your dream job, preparing for those conversations or interviews. Additionally, she can delve deeper into executive coaching and support your communication plans. Hilary Straw is the VP of People at Hello Sunshine, a media brand anchored in storytelling, on a mission to change the narrative for women. Hilary supports Hello Sunshine’s Executives and their teams across the organization to engage, grow, develop, and retain, by creating programs that support the empowerment of the individual and streamline communications. In partnership with the Executive leadership team, Hilary fosters the culture and community around the growing organization. Being a People-First leader, Hilary embraces innovation to find new and creative ways to engage with her audience, the hello sunshine team. Understanding how important it is to show up for our team the way we show up for our audiences. Prior to joining Hello Sunshine, Straw led Human Resources for a number of venture-backed start-ups in food and tech. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV STACY TRAUB Executive Producer | Writer "I believe that everyone has an important and unique story to tell. I enjoy helping writers find their specific voice and share their story with the world." Stacy Traub created and executive produced NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY, with Warner Brothers Studios, which ran for two seasons on ABC. She has since developed numerous produced pilots while also writing/producing on GLEE (FOX) and TROPHY WIFE (ABC). She was an executive producer and showrunner on THE REAL O'NEALS and BLACKISH on ABC Network. After being a co-executive producer on DAISY JONES AND THE SIX for Amazon Network she wrote a pilot for Ben Affleck called HOME based on the British series of the same name. She just finished her first novel. She has also been a SHAPER for the Imagine Impact program several times. “For a long time I’ve wanted a mentor who was not only an experienced and accomplished tv writer and showrunner but a kind, funny human who cares about changing Hollywood for the better. As a creator I’ve been super hungry to be mentored by someone who has had the actual jobs I want to do! I’ve found this in Stacy. She’s been supportive and kind but doesn’t sugarcoat things, which I appreciate. She gives very helpful writing feedback and Stacy is FUNNY AS HELL and KNOWS HER STUFF. I’m so grateful we matched. She’s the real deal. Vamos. Onward." — Jen VIEW ALL MENTORS