2026 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED - VIEW ALL MENTORS
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- SUPOSIUM | Unlock Her Potential
How to apply for Unlock Her Potential - review the questions and prepare your answers for the application. HOW TO APPLY GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATIONS APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED 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) for the duration of the program in 2024, and have an active LinkedIn profile. You may only apply for ONE MENTOR. If you submit more than one application, we will only accept the last one. There is $25 non-refundable administrative fee to apply for mentorship. This donation helps offset the cost of processing applications and makes a meaningful difference in sustaining the program. If this presents a financial hardship, you can make a smaller contribution or opt-out altogether with assurance that all applications are treated equally. Review the questions below and prepare your answers for the application. *This includes cis, trans, non-binary, femmes, gender non-conforming, gender-expansive, & gender-fluid people. PREPARE Up QUESTIONS For the first time, we are providing our UPlicants a preview of the questions! We strongly encourage you to take time to prepare your answers as they constitute the most critical part of the application. This will allow you to give more time and thought to this portion of the application. We recommend you keep a copy of your answers as we will not send them to you and in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with your submission. 1 At this stage in your career, what are your short-term and/or long-term professional goals? (750 characters or less) 2 Why is this mentor a good fit for you and vice versa? (750 characters or less) 3 List 3-5 topics and or questions you would cover with your mentor. (750 characters or less) TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS Once you have chosen your mentor, take the time to research them. This will be apparent in the answer to the question "Why this mentor is most suitable for you". Prepare your application early so that you do not miss the submission deadline. This is a highly competitive program, so we recommend you inject your personality into your responses so that you stand out. Mentors consider interpersonal dynamics in addition to professional alignment. FAQ FAQ Can I apply if I have previously applied and did not get a mentor? Yes, of course! Can I apply if I have been an UP mentee in the past? No Can I apply for more than one mentor? No. If you apply to more than one mentor, we will only accept the last submission. What if I make a mistake and accidentally submit early? Email support@unlockherpotential.com. Will I receive confirma tion of my application? If you do not receive a confirmation email within an hour, please email support@unlockherpotential.com . When will I hear if I have been chosen as a mentee? Everyone who applied will be notified mid-December, 2023 whether or not they were selected. Will you provide me with a copy of my answers? No. In case something goes wrong in the application process, we highly recommend you keep a copy of your answers for your records. If I don't get chosen, will I still get an email? Yes. May I contact the mentor to whom I'm applying directly? No. If you are chosen, we will put you in direct contact with your mentor. If you are not chosen, we discourage you from contacting the mentors directly. Will I be provided with the reasons why I wasn't chosen? Unfortunately, no. Does Founder Sophia Chang review the applications and make matches? No. Sophia only reviews her own UPlicants. The mentors review their UPlicants and make their own choices. What if I have to travel abroad in 2024? If you anticipate being out of the country for more than 3 months, you should note it in your application. Can I apply to the program if I am a white woman? No. But we welcome you to be a member of the broader UP community by signing up for our newsletter . Can I apply for the program if I do not live in the US but am a US citizen? No. You must reside in the US (including Puerto Rico) during the program in 2024. Do I need to be 18 years old to apply? You must be 18 year s old by January 1, 2024 when the program begins. When do applications close? The application deadline has been extended to 11:59 PM EST/ 8:59 PM PST. September 9 , 2023 .
- KEVIN BRUYNEEL
PUBLISHING KEVIN BRUYNEEL Professor of Politics Babson College "I can help you with: navigating the academic job market and academia generally, writing and presentations, relationship of one’s work and career plans to political activism and organizations." Kevin Bruyneel is Professor of Politics at Babson College. His latest book is Settler Memory: The Disavowal of Indigeneity in the Political Life of Race in the United States, published in the Critical Indigeneities Series of the University of North Carolina Press in 2021. His first book was The Third Space of Sovereignty: The Postcolonial Politics of U.S.-Indigenous Relations. He presently writes on race, colonialism, racial capitalism, masculinity, and abolitionism. He is treasurer and council member of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, and a board member of Political Research Associates, a social justice research and strategy center devoted to supporting organizations, civic leaders, journalists, and social sectors that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society in which supremacist, masculinist, and authoritarian forces no longer wield cultural or political power. He is a settler scholar, born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. At Babson College, Bruyneel teaches courses in Critical Race and Indigenous Studies, Political Theory, American Politics, and Radical Politics. TWITTER INSTAGRAM WEBSITE VIEW ALL MENTORS
- DJ SCRATCH
MUSIC DJ SCRATCH DJ | Producer ScratchVision DJ Scratch’s illustrious career spans over 3 Decades. From being the opening act for RUN DMC & the third member of EPMD in the 80’s. To producing 8 Platinum Albums along with 3 Grammy Nominations for Busta Rhymes in the 90’s. To becoming the tour DJ for Jay Z in the early 2000’s to becoming the opening act for Beyonce. This born & raised Brooklyn, NY Native is considered in the Hip Hop World as a 5 Star General. A 2 Time World Champion DJ, Grammy Winner, the first recipient of the Global Spin Awards “Turntablist Of The Year” Award (Grammy For DJ’s) & Scratch won this award 3 years in a row. In 2016, Scratch achieved the highest honor a DJ can receive by being knighted a Grandmaster by DJ Kool Herc (The Father Of Hip Hop). While his status in Hip Hop is undeniable, his talent & brand extends Far beyond the turntables. When Scratch isn't DeeJaying, he’s programming his Online Television Network (ScratchVision). ScratchVision (Launched in 2009) is a online TV & Radio Network dedicated to giving the public what was taken off of Music Television (The Music). With a lineup of fellow Iconic DJ’s, Scratch has been able to create a global musical balance by using the power of the internet. With his Website & Mobile App having the capability of video streaming live shows around the World, Scratch has silently become a internet Mogul. Scratch has also spread the ScratchVision gospel to SiriusXM & FM Radio with his shows “The DJ Scratch Show” on LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio via SiriusXM & “ScratchVision Radio” on New York’s 94.7 The Block. DJ Scratch has mastered the Art of reinventing himself while keeping his identity in the culture & Sub-Culture Of Music. While his music production is responsible for the sale of over 30 Million records, his first love is the turntables. So look forward to seeing DJ Scratch at an event near you. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- DR. AZRA RAZA
STEM DR. AZRA RAZA Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine & Director of the MDS Center at Columbia University Dr. Azra Raza is the Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine and Director of the MDS Center at Columbia University. A practicing oncologist seeing 30-40 cancer patients weekly, she also directs a cancer research lab receiving grants totaling >$50 million over the last 10 years. The recipient of three endowed chairs, Raza has collected >60,000 blood and marrow samples from thousands of her patients. She has delivered hundreds of lectures on science, medicine, poetry and literature, and serves as an Editor on the website 3QuarksDaily posting daily for the last 15 years. She met with Vice President Biden to plan the Cancer Moonshot and with President Bill Clinton for 3-day Breakthroughs in Science and Technology Retreat. Describing her groundbreaking ideas in the highly acclaimed bestselling book, THE FIRST CELL: And the human costs of pursuing cancer to the last, Raza is bent upon shifting the treatment focus from trying to kill every last cancer cell to finding the first and preventing cancer from developing altogether. Raza established cash awards at her alma-mater FG College, Islamabad, 30 years ago for the topmost students in Science, Urdu and Humanities. Raza started Urdu Mehfil in 1987 hosting writers, musicians, poets, politicians, and artists at home. The owner of ~10,000 books in Urdu and English, she co-authored GHALIB: Epistemologies of Elegance with Sara Suleri Goodyear. She jogs 3-5 km every day committing thousands of poetry verses to memory. Her daughter Sheherzad and Raza live in New York VIEW ALL MENTORS
- HOME | Unlock Her Potential
Mentorship for Women of Color - Unlock Her Potential's epic roster of mentors will share their expertise, experience, wisdom, insights, and guidance in order to help their mentees develop and advance professionally. Just 1 hour with any of these mentors could change the life of a woman. 2026 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED Follow @unlockherpotential for updates VIEW ALL MENTORS ABOUT THE PROGRAM LEARN MORE JOIN UP MEMBERSHIPS, BUILD UP SESSIONS, APPLICATIONS PREPARE HOW TO APPLY PREP QUESTIONS IMAGINE WHAT 12 HOURS COULD DO. SUPPORT OUR MISSION
- SOPHIA CHANG | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room "As a mentor, I will teach you to develop your negotiation skills, to have the hard conversations, to advocate for yourself, and find your true value. In short, I will set you on the path to becoming the Baddest Bitch In The Room." Sophia Chang is a screenwriter and author who is developing numerous TV properties, including a scripted series based on her Audible memoir “ The Baddest Bitch In The Room .” Her memoir will be released in print on 9/8/20. She was also the subject of an episode of the Hulu series “ Defining Moments .” Sophia created Unlock Her Potential, a program that provides mentorship for women of color. Sophia Chang is the music business matriarchitect who managed Ol’ Dirty Bastard (RIP), RZA, GZA, D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Q Tip, and A Tribe Called Quest as well as working with Paul Simon. She did marketing at Atlantic, A&R at Jive, A&R Admin at Universal, as well as serving as General Manager of RZA’s Razor Sharp Records, Cinematic Music Group, and Joey Bada$$’ Pro Era Records. She trained with and managed a Shaolin Monk, who became her partner and father of her children. She produced runway shows for Vivienne Tam and "Project Runway All Stars," was an account executive at a digital agency, and did business development at a cannabis company. AUDIBLE - Prologue of Memoir HUFFPOST - Opinion Piece on AAPI Hate "I learned tangible skills around contract negotiation and communicating with my management, but more than that, it was being around a force like Sophia that left its deepest impression. I had access and support from someone who is a model of advocacy, community, impact, and badassery — and because of that became more of who I want to be in this industry/world." — Nancy "My mentorship with Sophia changed not only my career, but the way I operate in this world. In our time together she not only helped me develop hard skill sets in personal branding, pitching, and team management but she also gave me tools to cultivate my confidence, advocate for myself, and to dream big as hell." — Kausar VIEW ALL MENTORS
- GIGI CAUSEY | Unlock Her Potential
GIGI CAUSEY VP of Production FX Entertainment "I’ve worked in many areas of production (Film/Scripted TV/Unscripted) both as a freelancer and in-house at both independent and major studios. While my expertise is in physical production (the details and realities that come into play once a script or show is green-lit), I work closely with creative teams and talent throughout all phases of a project from development through post production. This means I can offer perspective and practical insight as you’re working to find your passion and to hone or redirect your career path. WON’Ts: "I’m really looking to help someone navigate their overall objective and recognize their strengths and am not looking to give advice on a specific script or project. I will not read scripts or hear pitches." Gigi Causey joined FX Entertainment as Vice President, Production, in 2016. She is responsible for directly overseeing physical production on multiple series (Snowfall, Better Things, The Bear, Shogun) and projects in development for FX Productions. Prior to joining FX, Gigi worked as a freelance production manager, supervisor and line producer in New York and Los Angeles on independent films, unscripted TV, and major studio feature films (Queer Eye [the original], Safe House, Straight Outta Compton). She was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for Time Freak, a short film she produced and financed with her husband, who wrote and directed the film. Born in Costa Rica, Gigi immigrated to El Paso, Texas, with her mother at the age of six. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film. She began her career in entertainment in the art department of micro-budget independent feature films in Texas. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ALEX TSE | Unlock Her Potential
ALEX TSE Screenwriter | Executive Producer Xen Diagram Media "I'll share my experiences and pull back the curtain on both the process and profession of screenwriting." Alex Tse was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. After discovering his passion for film in college, he made the short pilgrimage to Los Angeles, bouncing around from temp jobs to gigs producing and promoting low budget music videos for such artists as Hieroglyphics, Living Legends and Del the Funky Homosapien, before breaking in as a screenwriter with his script ’87 Fleer. Besides co-writing the feature adaptation of Watchmen, Tse was also the writer and Co-Executive Producer of the Spike Lee directed Sucker Free City, an original movie for Showtime for which he won a PEN Award, and Superfly for Columbia Pictures. Over his career, Tse has also written projects for directors Michael Mann, Zack Snyder, James Mangold, Guy Ritchie and Justin Lin, and developed drafts of The Crow, The Phantom Tollbooth, Gran Turismo and Highlander. Currently, Tse and RZA are the creators, executive producers and showrunners of Wu-Tang: An American Saga for Hulu. "It has been an amazing experience to get time with Alex. He is super busy but to have an hour a month to be able to talk about the industry and give me tips on how to navigate has been a valuable experience. I’ve been able to meet him in person and attend a screening of one of his projects. He is generous, caring and wants to help me succeed by giving me honest feedback. I’ve gained so much confidence. He has reinvigorated my commitment to becoming a better writer." — Patricia FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JOEY BADA$$
MUSIC JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist Pro Era Records, Badmind Records Joey Bada$$ is a rapper and actor born and raised in Brooklyn. At 17 years old, he and his Pro Era crew took the rap world by storm with the release of his first mixtape, “1999,” which is now considered a classic. His two subsequent studio albums, “B4.DA.$$” and “All-Amerikkkan Badass,” helped elevate him to become one of the hottest names in music. His standout role in the hit TV show MR. ROBOT put his acting talents on display for the world for the first time and has led to multiple roles since. 2019 saw him expand his acting career with a role as Inspectah Deck in HULU’s WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA, as well as recurring appearances in BET sitcoms BOOMERANG and GROWN-ISH. He recently starred in the 2021 Academy Award-winning Netflix short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, where he played protagonist Carter James. He also appears as Unique in the upcoming STARZ original series POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN. WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TWITTER SOUNDCLOUD SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC VIEW ALL MENTORS
- FILM/TV | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Film & TV mentors for Unlock Her Potential FILM/TV CABRINA QUESADA VP TV | Heyday FRANCIE CALFO Producer JACQUE COFER Executive Producer LINDA G. KNOWLTON Emmy-Nominated Producer & Director SAMANTHA MILITANTE Director | FX BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty ALEX KIM VP of Development | Monkeypaw CELIA AU Actress | Filmmaker GBENGA AKINNAGBE Activist | Actor | Entrepreneur JOSEPH PATEL Producer | Director | Writer | "Summer Of Soul" MELINDA HSU Writer | Producer | Showrunner SARAH HARDEN CEO | Hello Sunshine BETH OSISEK VP of Content Development | Hulu ALEX TSE Screenwriter | Xen Diagram Media CHELSEY LORA Screenwriter GIGI CAUSEY VP of Production | FX Entertainment KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR SVP Original Programming | Starz MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation SHARLA SUMPTER BRIDGETT SVP Film & TV | Chernin Ent. BECCA RODRIGUEZ Manager | Grandview ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer CHRISTINA VOROS Cinematographer | Director | Producer | Screenwriter GRACE TRAN Director of Global Series | Universal International Studios KIM WILLIAMS Casting Executive | Casting Director | Producer NICOLE HARJO SVP Development | Paramount SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room AMELIA HANIBELSZ Former Exec Dir of Development | Founder | ABC News Studios DEMANE DAVIS Television Director | Producer | Filmmaker HELEN CHO Director | Producer | Showrunner LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director ROBERT KESSEL Former EVP of Narrative Film | Participant W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer ADAM NEUHAUS Founder | Neuhaus Ideas VIEW ALL MENTORS
- BAO NGUYEN | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV BAO NGUYEN Director | Producer | EAST Films "I’m honored to return as a mentor for Unlock Her Potential, a program that continues to address one of the most overlooked and urgent gaps in our industry: the lack of mentorship for women of color. This will be my fourth year mentoring with UHP, and each time I’m reminded of how powerful it is to build relationships rooted in guidance, solidarity, and belief. I’ve been fortunate in my career to have people open doors for me and I see it as both a responsibility and a privilege to hold that door open for others. As someone who works across cultures and continents, I know firsthand how essential it is to support voices that haven’t always been heard or valued. UHP creates space for those voices to thrive, and I’m proud to play a small part in that. I’m grateful to Sophia Chang and the entire UHP community for continuing this necessary work." Bao Nguyen is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated Vietnamese American filmmaker and founding partner of EAST Films, a transpacific media company developing content that bridges the Asia-Pacific and global markets. His work has been invited to screen at prestigious festivals including Sundance, Cannes, SXSW, Telluride, Tribeca, and Berlinale. He directed Be Water, a documentary on Bruce Lee that premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and became the most-watched ESPN 30 for 30 film on the platform. His Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, about the recording of “We Are the World,” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, launched globally as the #1 film on the platform, and received three Primetime Emmy nominations, four Critics Choice Documentary Award nominations, a Grammy nomination, and won both the PGA and Critics Choice Awards. His most recent film, The Stringer, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. He is a 2011 PBS/WGBH Producers Workshop Fellow, a Firelight Media Fellow, an alumnus of the 2012 and 2014 Berlinale Talent Campus, a 2022 BAFTA US Breakthrough recipient, and was recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He holds a BA from NYU and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. INSTAGRAM TWITTER HOLLYWOOD REPORTER - Who Really Took the Iconic “Napalm Girl” Photo? Director of New Doc Addresses the Controversy NY TIMES - How 'The Greatest Night in Pop' Got the '80s Right GQ - Bruce Lee Be Water Interview VIEW ALL MENTORS
- CHRISTINA VOROS | Unlock Her Potential
CHRISTINA VOROS Cinematographer | Director | Producer | Screenwriter Voros came to cinematography through directing and shooting her own award-winning documentaries, later pivoting to the narrative space on films lensed for Tate Taylor, Theresa Rebeck, James Franco and Tim Blake Nelson. In 2018, Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey tapped her to direct an episode of their series Queen Sugar, opening the door to narrative directing. She since helmed episodes for Tate Taylor (Filthy Rich) and David E Kelly (Big Sky), while primarily teaming with Taylor Sheridan with whom she collaborates on Yellowstone and 1883, serving as Director, DP and Executive Producer. She was recently nominated for an Emmy for Best Cinematography for a limited series on 1883 for her episode "Lightning Yellow Hair" She is currently in development on her feature film, Valentine, which she will write and direct, inspired by stories of the people and land of West Texas, where she resides. The only daughter of Hungarian refugees, Christina Voros was raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she later attended Harvard University. She was granted the Dean’s Fellowship at NYU’s Tisch School of the Art’s Graduate Department of Film and Television where she studied under Spike Lee and Sandi Sissel, receiving her MFA in directing and cinematography. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE | Unlock Her Potential
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 FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ART | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Art mentors for Unlock Her Potential ART GABE WHALEY CEO | Founder | MSCHF VIEW ALL MENTORS
- GUIDELINES | Unlock Her Potential
We are confident that this mutually enriching experience will be a powerful step towards achieving greater equity in the workplace. Please adhere to the following guidelines and rules GUIDELINES We are confident that this mutually enriching experience will be a powerful step towards achieving greater equity in the workplace. Please adhere to the following guidelines and rules Mentors should be engaged, encouraging, empowering. Mentors are expected to share expertise, wisdom, guidance, and constructive criticism to help their mentees develop and advance their careers. Mentees should be humble, disciplined, grateful. Mentees are expected to respect mentor’s time and do their best to follow their advice. The mentor/mentee relationship should be based in respect, trust, communication. This is a strictly professional relationship. Mentees should not discuss personal issues as mentors are not their therapists. Mentors are not expected to advocate in any way on behalf of their mentee e.g. make introductions, write recommendation letters help secure jobs, etc. If they choose to do so, it is at their sole discretion, not at the request of the mentee. Mentees can discuss projects, but must not pitch them to their mentors. If mentees asks their mentors to engage outside of a call e.g. listen/watch/read a sample, that is considered part of the monthly hour. Mentees should prepare questions for each session to maximize the time. Mentees should schedule the meetings and send calendar invites. Mentees understand their mentors may not reach the target 12 hours in the year due to unforeseen circumstances, but will try to make up the time, pending scheduling. Meetings should be virtual, unless the mentor suggests otherwise. If a mentor doesn’t hear from their mentee after two months, we will assume the mentee is no longer interested or able to participate. Should any issues arise, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@unlockherpotential.com. UNLOCK HER POTENTIAL is not an employer or employment agency and assumes no liability for any participant’s advice, action or inaction arising out of or related to participation in the program.
- MUSIC | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Music mentors for Unlock Her Potential MUSIC FEATURED DJ SCRATCH DJ & Producer | ScratchVision JANET BILLIG RICH Mus. Sup./Theater Prod./Mgr | "Rock Of Ages" JEREMY HOLGERSEN Senior Vice President of Concerts | Agency for the Performing Arts SCOTT HARDING Music Producer | Engineer | Musician | Underground Producers Alliance TY STIKLORIUS Founder and CEO | Friends At Work MUSIC ALYSSA CASTIGLIA Director of A&R | A&R Research | UnitedMasters EBONIE SMITH Music Producer | Audio Engineer | Songwriter MICHAEL OSTIN Manager | Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, D’Angelo SUZY RYOO Co-Founder & President | Q&A BEKA TISCHKER Manager | Publisher | Wide Eyed Entertainment JANET BILLIG RICH Mus. Sup./Theater Prod./Mgr | "Rock Of Ages" NIKI SHERROD Niki Sherrod | EVP Music | WB Pictures TROY CARTER Founder & CEO | Q&A BOB POWER Grammy and Multi-platinum Producer/Mixer JENNIFER KNOEPFLE EVP & Co-Head of US A&R | UMPG PAUL BROUCEK Paul Broucek | President Music | WB Pictures TY STIKLORIUS Founder and CEO | Friends At Work CRISTINA CHAVEZ VP of A&R | Universal Music Publishing Group JEREMY HOLGERSEN Senior Vice President of Concerts | Agency for the Performing Arts SCOTT HARDING Music Producer | Engineer | Musician | Underground Producers Alliance VANESSA ANGIULI Sr Director A&R | Interscope DJ SCRATCH DJ & Producer | ScratchVision JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist | Pro Era Records, Badmind Records SHIRIN NURY Music Agent | Creative Artists Agency (CAA) YOUNG GURU Record Producer | Executive | Engineer VIEW ALL MENTORS
- FILM/TV | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Film & TV mentors for Unlock Her Potential FILM/TV CASTING | CREATIVE EXECUTIVES | DIRECTORS | EDITORS & CINEMATOGRAPHERS | HR & LEGAL MANAGERS & AGENTS | PRODUCERS | PRODUCTION EXECUTIVES | SCREENWRITERS & SHOWRUNNERS | TALENT casting CASTING KIMBERLY WILLIAMS Casting Director LIZ PAULSON EVP of Casting and Talent | Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon, & Awesomeness creative executives CREATIVE EXECUTIVES ALEX KIM VP of Development | Monkeypaw DAVID LEVINE Chief Content Officer | Anonymous Content KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR SVP Original Programming | Starz NEAL SHAPIRO President & CEO | WNET SHARLA SUMPTER SVP Film & TV | Chernin Ent. ALLIE WASSERMAN VP Programming | HBO ERIC OBERLAND Development Exec | Amazon KATIE BARON VP Creative | Sony Pictures Animation NICOLE HARJO SVP Development | Paramount AMELIA HANIBELSZ Former Executive Director of Development | Founder | ABC News Studios JAIMIE LEE Development Exec | Amazon KELLY GOODE SVP | Warner Bros. TV ROBERT KESSEL EVP of Narrative Film | Participant BETH OSISEK VP of Content Development | Hulu JESSIE DICOVITSKY SVP Original Programming | Showtime MAL STARES SVP, Global Scripted | Blink49 Studios SAMANTHA MILITANTE Director | FX CABRINA QUESADA VP TV | Heyday JULIA ZAK Development Exec | Cinetic MARK R WRIGHT VP of Development & Production | The Obama’s Higher Ground SARAH HARDEN CEO | Hello Sunshine directors DIRECTORS ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer ONE9 Director | "Nas: Time Is Illmatic" ALLEN HUGHES Executive Producer | Director BAO NGUYEN Director | Producer | Be Water JOSEPH PATEL Producer | Director | Writer | "Summer Of Soul" LINDA GOLDSTEIN KNOWLTON Emmy-Nominated Producer & Director editors cinematographers EDITORS & CINEMATOGRAPHERS CHRISTINA VOROS Cinematographer | Director | Producer | Screenwriter JEREMIAH SMITH Cinematographer JERRY HENRY Cinematographer | Director LISA CHURGIN Oscar-Nominated Editor hr legal HR & LEGAL HILARY STRAW VP of People | Hello Sunshine MARCIE CLEARY Partner | Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Sel MANAGERS & AGENTS managers agents ANNE WOODWARD Manager | Authentic Talent & Literary JON RUBINSTEIN Founder | Authentic KIMBERLY CARVER Talent Manager | Producer | Anonymous Content LAUREN JANE HOLLAND Agent | Creative Artists Agency (CAA) MITCH SOLOMON TV Screenwriter | Director Literary Manager | Authentic PRODUCERS producers ADAM NEUHAUS Founder | Neuhaus Ideas MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation BECKY CLEMENTS President | Tomorrow Studios MICHELLE SY Producer | Symmetry BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty RAKHEE JETHWA Producer/Director | "Taste The Nation" FRANCIE CALFO Producer LORI TILKIN Producer for Legendary Director John Woo PRODUCTION EXECUTIVES production executives GIGI CAUSEY VP of Production | FX Entertainment SCREENWRITERS & SHOWRUNNERS screenwriters showrunners ALEX TSE Screenwriter | Xen Diagram Media ILANA PEÑA Showrunner SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room BRIAN YORKEY Showrunner | 13 Reasons Why JACQUE COFER Executive Producer STACY TRAUB Executive Producer & Writer CHARLES YU Author | Screenwriter KEITH ANTONE Screenwriter | "Gentified" Netflix TAZBAH CHAVEZ Co-Executive Producer | Episodic Director | FX’s Reservation Dogs CHELSEY LORA Screenwriter KELVIN YU Actor, Exec Producer, Screenwriter DAVAH AVENA Screenwriter | Producer PATRICIA RESNICK Screenwriter, Playwright, TV Writer TALENT talent ALYSIA REINER Actress, Activist, & Producer RUSSELL PETERS Comedian CELIA AU Actress | Filmmaker SARAH PODEMSKI Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi Multidisciplinary Artist GBENGA AKINNAGBE Activist | Actor | Entrepreneur W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer KELVIN HARRISON JR. Actor YUL VÁZQUEZ Actor LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director VIEW ALL MENTORS
- Unlock Her Potential | Mentorship for Women of Color
Mentorship for Women of Color - Unlock Her Potential's epic roster of mentors will share their expertise, experience, wisdom, insights, and guidance in order to help their mentees develop and advance professionally. Just 1 hour with any of these mentors could change the life of a woman. MENTORSHIP FOR WOMEN OF COLOR CREATING COMMUNITY, COALILTION, AND CITIZENRY. 2026 PROGRAM UPDATE For 2026, we are looking for applicants who seek to accelerate their careers in the world of media — FILM/TV, MUSIC, MARKETING, or SOCIAL MEDIA. The full mentor roster will be available on the UP website on August 1. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram . DETAILS ABOUT MEMBERSHIP & BUILD UP SESSIONS Up BUILD UP SESSIONS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING We are planning an exciting schedule of quarterly on-line BuildUP sessions to help you navigate your career, develop hard skills, and gain industry insights. They will cover topics you told us matter most to you, including: PITCHING, PERSONAL BRAND, NEGOTIATION, IMPOSTOR SYNDROME, TV DEVELOPMENT, SECURING REPRESENTATION, etc.Mentors already committed to sharing their wisdom include: Academy and Tony Award winning producer Bruce Cohen , Academy Award winning producer Joseph Patel , Meta Creative Director and Strategist Alix Tyler . (subject to change) BuildUP sessions will also available on an adhoc basis for $49 each . Thank you for your continued sUPport and belief in our mission of empowering women of color in the workplace! Please feel free, as always, to email us at support@unlockherpotential.com . OBJECTIVE UP Mentors share their expertise, experience, wisdom, insights, guidance, and constructive criticism in order to help their mentees develop and advance professionally. Just 1 hour with any of these mentors could change the life of a woman. IMAGINE WHAT 12 HOURS COULD DO. THE IDEAL MENTOR EMPATHETIC remembers what it was like just starting out ENGAGED listens to what is and is not being said and how ENCOURAGING helps the mentee believe in themselves EMPOWERING gives the mentee the tools and guidance, but not the answers MENTEE HUMBLE eager to learn and benefit from the mentor’s wisdom CURIOUS asks questions that will help them attain knowledge and skills DISCIPLINED follows through with advice and applies the tools provided GRATEFUL acknowledges and appreciates the mentorship DYNAMIC RESPECTFUL mindful of the other’s time TRUSTING conversations remain confidential COMMUNICATIVE better rapport = more fruitful outcomes RECIPROCAL both mentor and mentee learn from each other GUIDELINES We are confident that this mutually enriching experience will be a powerful step towards achieving greater equity in the workplace. Please adhere to the following guidelines and rules Mentors should be engaged, encouraging, empowering. Mentors are expected to share expertise, wisdom, guidance, and constructive criticism to help their mentees develop and advance their careers. Mentees should be humble, disciplined, grateful. Mentees are expected to respect mentor’s time and do their best to follow their advice. The mentor/mentee relationship should be based in respect, trust, communication. This is a strictly professional relationship. Mentees should not discuss personal issues as mentors are not their therapists. Mentors are not expected to advocate in any way on behalf of their mentee e.g. make introductions, write recommendation letters help secure jobs, etc. If they choose to do so, it is at their sole discretion, not at the request of the mentee. Mentees can discuss projects, but must not pitch them to their mentors. If mentees asks their mentors to engage outside of a call e.g. listen/watch/read a sample, that is considered part of the monthly hour. Mentees should prepare questions for each session to maximize the time. Mentees should schedule the meetings and send calendar invites. Mentees understand their mentors may not reach the target 12 hours in the year due to unforeseen circumstances, but will try to make up the time, pending scheduling. Meetings should be virtual, unless the mentor suggests otherwise. If a mentor doesn’t hear from their mentee after two months, we will assume the mentee is no longer interested or able to participate. Should any issues arise, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@unlockherpotential.com.
- MARKETING | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Marketing mentors for Unlock Her Potential MARKETING FEATURED ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Instagram + Facebook MARKETING ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Instagram + Facebook MAUREEN POLO Head of Direct-To-Consumer | Hello Sunshine DOUG FRISBIE VP Marketing | Snap MELISSA ROSENFIELD Founder | IFP Communications ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Roc Nation JESSIE WEINSTEIN Senior Manager of Celebrity Relations and Talent Producer | BSE Global MARCELLE KARP Creative Director | Pandora VIEW ALL MENTORS
- OUR STORY | Unlock Her Potential
Mentorship for Women of Color - Creating Community, Coalition, and Citizenry. 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. MENTORSHIP FOR WOMEN OF COLOR CREATING COMMUNITY, COALITION, AND CITIZENRY. PRESS OUR STORY Research has revealed that very few women of color get mentored. Even worse, many don’t even think to seek mentors. That’s how systemic racism + patriarchy work hand in hand. IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THAT. It’s time to equip women of color to ascend to the C-suite, run the shows, direct the films, and take over. It’s time to break up the boys’ club that has kept the gates closed off to us for too long. OUR FOUNDER SOPHIA CHANG Sophia Chang is a life and career guide, author, and screenwriter who is developing numerous TV properties, including a scripted series based on her Audible memoir “The Baddest Bitch In The Room.” You can listen to the prologue here . Her memoir was released in print on 9/8/20. She was also the subject of an episode of the Hulu series “Defining Moments.” Sophia created Unlock Her Potential, a program that provides mentorship for women of color. Sophia Chang is the music business matriarchitect who managed Ol’ Dirty Bastard (RIP), RZA, GZA, D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Q Tip, and A Tribe Called Quest as well as working with Paul Simon. She did marketing at Atlantic, A&R at Jive, A&R Admin at Universal, as well as serving as General Manager of RZA’s Razor Sharp Records, Cinematic Music Group, and Joey Bada$$’ Pro Era Records. She trained with and managed a Shaolin Monk, who became her partner and father of her children. She produced runway shows for Vivienne Tam and "Project Runway All Stars," was an account executive at a digital agency, and did business development at a cannabis company.
- MELINDA HSU | Unlock Her Potential
MELINDA HSU Writer | Producer | Showrunner "I will share my knowledge from two decades as a TV writer-producer to help you craft effective strategies to manage your creative journey. And as a former introvert who is also the daughter of Chinese immigrants, I am committed to helping you overcome parental discouragement and cultural inhibitions so that you can step forward powerfully into the world, joyfully take up space, and boldly voice your perspective. While I won’t offer detailed notes on your writing or hear pitches, I will give you insights about the current TV landscape as well as pro tips on navigating the entertainment industry in a way that sustains your internal calm." Melinda Hsu is a TV writer-producer who was the showrunner of NANCY DREW and its spinoff TOM SWIFT, both on the CW; currently, she’s in a multi-year development overall deal at ABC Signature. A lifelong genre geek, she started writing at age 8 when she authored a Star Trek fan fiction novella series on a stack of spiral notebooks in her childhood bedroom in Bangor, Maine. Her TV credits include LOST, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE GIFTED, FALLING SKIES, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, MEDIUM, and one-hour pilots for Amazon, Netflix, NBC and Lifetime. In her nonprofit life, she mentors writers and producers through the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), helped found the Asian American Pacific Islander Writers’ Brunch and the CAPE Showrunner Incubator, and serves on the Executive Board of the Sarah Jones Film Foundation, which fosters set safety through awareness and accountability. She has also been a staff member of service organizations providing education and advocacy for adult refugees and people living with HIV/AIDS. Recently, the Center for Strategic and International Studies appointed her to a U.S. delegation to evaluate NATO facilities throughout Europe in order to craft new messaging around NATO’s work and engagement with the public. Her podcast, Lead With Kindness, is aimed at changing the culture of Hollywood and the world; this series of ten 30-minute conversations is available in audio and transcript form via Apple Podcasts (IG: @LeadWKindness). FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- GABE WHALEY | Unlock Her Potential
GABE WHALEY CEO | Founder MSCHF "I can help with business, creativity, going from zero to one, building a team, fundraising, dealing with lawsuits, managing employees, hiring / firing, breaking into the fine art world, breaking into the fashion world, etc." Gabriel Whaley is the CEO and founder of MSCHF, a collective of approximately 20 artists who are all about poking fun at contemporary trends and riding on the wave of controversy. In 2020, the brand received global attention when they customized a pair of Air Max 97s into "Jesus Shoes" where the soles contain holy water from the River Jordan. The design collective, MSCHF, sold the shoe for over a thousand dollars. Fast forward to 2021, their collaboration with Lil Nas X on the Air Max 97 "Satan Shoes," drew major controversy, that fed off of the common saying, "no press is bad press." Whaley once said, that their "perspective is everything is funny in a nihilistic sort of way. We're not here to make the world a better place. We're making light of how much everything sucks." It appears that with each controversial project, Whaley drove more and more interest and buzz toward MSCHF. The label was once again been at the top of the news when it sold 1,000 Warhol artworks for $250 USD each, but only one would be real. Playing Russian Roulette with one of the most coveted artists in the world would be unimaginable for some, but for MSCHF, it was the perfect way to make art accessible. This year, the Brooklyn-based startup kicked off the season with a project that resold designer shopping bags. On brand with the company's ethos of being "fans of mischief," Whaley and his team are exactly that, always looking to gain attention for their art, whether it is negative or not. Continuing on this creative path, MSCHF came together with Tiffany & Co. to handcraft "The ultimate Participation Trophy." Continuing its foray into the footwear world, the company officially launched its Air Force 1-inspired Super Normal sneakers in white and "5 O'Clock Shadow." MSCHF captures the entirety of the world with the release of the adventurous Gobstomper, drawing notes from the iconic Gobstopper candy that shows off hidden colors with wear in collaboration with Jimmy Fallon, and later arriving in a "Sour Edition." The mischief does not end with painting, as it also recently sold 1,000 keys for one shared mystery car that was located somewhere in New York City. With all that they have done in 2022, MSCHF shows no signs of stopping when it comes to fun and causing chaos. ART VIEW ALL MENTORS
- DONATE | Unlock Her Potential
Your donations go to funding program implementation, administrative overhead, and operational costs. UP pairs Women of Color with Mentors to help them break through the glass ceiling and become leaders in their respective fields. UP Mentors share their expertise, experience, wisdom, insights, guidance, and constructive criticism in order to help their mentees develop and advance professionally. MAKE A DONATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE Your donations go to funding program implementation, administrative overhead, and operational costs.
- BETH OSISEK | Unlock Her Potential
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". FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- LINDA G. KNOWLTON | Unlock Her Potential
LINDA G. KNOWLTON Filmmaker "As a filmmaker, I am profoundly curious and compelled by where the personal and political meet. I am interested in big changes and how we can all not only flourish in those changes and challenges, but grow as human beings. I am inspired by people who act and strive, without any guarantee of success. And not because they are superheroes. And not because they always succeed, because sometimes they don't. It's the striving, it's the vision. As a mentor I am inspired to support my mentee with *their* striving and *their* vision for the story they are burning to tell." Linda Goldstein Knowlton is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, working in documentary and scripted feature films, as well as television. For her most recent film, she directed and produced the feature-length documentary WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS, premiered at SXSW in 2019, won several audience awards, and had its national television debut in 2020 on POV/PBS. The film chronicles a group of young girls of color at the front lines of social justice. Set in Oakland, the film shows the journey of the group as they earn badges for completing units including being an LGBTQ ally, Black Lives Matter, and Disability Justice. Goldstein Knowlton directed and produced one of the six, Emmy-nominated documentaries for the PBS MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA series. The film, WOMEN AND HOLLYWOOD, includes interviews with Jane Fonda, Shonda Rhimes, Lena Dunham, Ava Duvernay, Glenn Close, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Alfre Woodard, HUNGER GAMES producer Nina Jacobson, among many other notable women. Goldstein Knowlton produced the award-winning documentary, CODE BLACK, which was the basis for the CBS one-hour drama. She directed and produced SOMEWHERE BETWEEN, winner of the Audience Award at the Hot Docs Film Festival, which was released theatrically in over 80 cities across the US. For her directorial debut, she co-directed THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SESAME STREET, which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in competition and aired nationally on PBS. Goldstein Knowlton started her career producing scripted feature films, including the award-winning WHALE RIDER and THE SHIPPING NEWS. "I was a 2022 UHP mentee. My mentor was documentary filmmaker Linda Goldstein Knowlton. I had such a great experience having Linda as my mentor throughout the year that at the end of last year I invited her to be an executive producer on my feature documentary in production, I OF THE WATER. She accepted! The project was then selected for the Hot Docs Forum, which took place last week. Linda agreed to be part of my pitch team for the project and came to Toronto with me. We ended up taking the top pitch prize! I'm so grateful to Unlock Her Potential for bringing Linda and me together and giving us the opportunity to get to know one another. She has helped me hone the way I present my projects, and it has made a huge difference in the industry response. Thank you to UHP for providing this platform for mentorship and collaboration!" — Kimberlee "Linda's advice to improve the way I pitch myself was crucial in improving our DocPitch video, and now we're seeing a ton of support worldwide for our film. She helped boost my confidence to give voice to the storyteller within me. I can't thank her enough!" — Pallavi FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS















