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  • BAO NGUYEN

    FILM/TV BAO NGUYEN Director | Producer Be Water Bao Nguyen is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has appeared in the NY Times, HBO, Vice, NBC, ARTE, among others. He was the producer and cinematographer of NUOC 2030, a feature sci-fi that opened the Panorama section of the 2014 Berlinale and was awarded the Tribeca Sloan Filmmaker Award. In 2015, he directed the documentary, LIVE FROM NEW YORK! which opened the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. His latest film, BE WATER, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was invited to many prestigious festivals including Cannes, SXSW, San Francisco, Miami, Seattle, Hot Docs, Sydney, and Hong Kong. It broke ratings records with its US broadcast as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series and has received widespread critical acclaim. He is an alumnus of the Berlinale Talents as well as a Firelight Media Fellow. He earned his BA at NYU and his MFA at the School of Visual Arts. INSTAGRAM TWITTER GQ - Bruce Lee Be Water Interview DEADLINE - Be Water Interview - Representation LATIMES VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • LINDA GOLDSTEIN KNOWLTON

    FILM/TV LINDA GOLDSTEIN KNOWLTON Filmmaker 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 VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • BRUCE COHEN

    FILM/TV BRUCE COHEN Producer Bruce Cohen Productions Bruce Cohen is an Oscar and Tony-winning, Emmy-nominated producer of film, television, theater and live events. He won an Academy Award for Best Picture for AMERICAN BEAUTY and earned additional Best Picture nominations for MILK and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. He was Emmy nominated for producing the 83RD ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS, and executive produced PUSHING DAISIES and BROADWAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE for First Lady Michelle Obama. He produced both the feature film and Broadway musical versions of BIG FISH, won the Tony for Best Play in 2020 for co-producing Matthew Lopez’ THE INHERITANCE, and was Tony nominated for co-producing Jeremy O. Harris’ SLAVE PLAY. His next feature film, which will be in theaters this fall from Netflix, is RUSTIN, directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. Bruce is producing with Higher Ground, Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company. Cohen is a graduate of Yale University and started his film career as the DGA Trainee on Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple. He lives in New York City with his husband and daughter. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • ALIX TYLER | Unlock Her Potential

    SOCIAL MEDIA 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 VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • YOUNG GURU | Unlock Her Potential

    YOUNG GURU Record Producer | Executive | Engineer "I have a lifetime of experience that isn’t in a book. I can give a mentee real world experience that an help them navigate this new business with the wisdom of the old" Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton is a Grammy Award-winning record producer, executive, and engineer. Beginning his music career as a DJ in Washington D.C. in the mid-90s, Guru went on to become what the Wall Street Journal dubbed “the most influential man in hip-hop.” While he is most known for his work with Jay-Z – with whom he won a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album for Everything is Love in 2019 – Guru has been a guiding force in the careers of the industry’s top recording artists. Over a decades’ long career Guru has made records with household names including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Ludacris, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, T.I., Mariah Carey and more. In 2015, Young Guru assumed the role of the Director of Operations at 9th Wonder’s record label It’s a Wonderful World Music Group. In 2022, Guru announced his new role as the Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship, & Production program at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University. Passionate about sharing his knowledge and love for music and record-producing, Guru also serves as a mentor for the program. In addition to offering invaluable career guidance, in 2022 Guru offered a full-tuition scholarship to one promising prospective student of the program. Always eager to impart his wealth of expertise on the new generation, Guru has lectured at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Music, Emory University, and the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. MUSIC VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • JEFF CHANG

    PUBLISHING JEFF CHANG Writer "I’m a writer, a keeper and teller of stories, and someone who fervently believes in the next seven generations. I am currently thriving in the publishing world and cultural organizing, and am still recovering from ample service time in academia, the non-profit industrial complex, and the music industry. I’m told by people who still call themselves my friends that I’m one of the toughest editors, hardest inquisitors, and greatest cheerleaders they’ve ever had. I like broad thinking and big ideas. I’m really good at narrative and cultural strategy. I will never use the word “impactful” (because it’s not a real word). I’m at my best mentoring artists who think like activists, and activists who think like artists, but I love all people so just be yourself and let’s go." Jeff was named to the Yerba Buena Center for The Arts 100 list of those “shaping the future of American culture,” and the Frederick Douglass 200 as one of “200 living individuals who best embody the work and spirit of Douglass.” He has received the American Book Award, the Asian American Literary Award, and the USA Ford Fellowship in Literature. His first book, Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation, garnered many honors, including the American Book Award and the Asian American Literary Award. Slate named it one of the best nonfiction books of the past 25 years. Powell’s’ Books chose it as one of their 50 most important books of the past 50 years. A new revised Young Adult edition of the book—co-written with legendary hip-hop journalist Dave “Davey D” Cook—was published in 2021. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • GIGI CAUSEY

    FILM/TV 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. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • CRISTINA CHAVEZ | Unlock Her Potential

    MUSIC CRISTINA CHAVEZ VP 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. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • DR. DAVID KAISER

    STEM DR. DAVID KAISER Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science | Prof of Physics Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) David Kaiser is Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science and Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of several award-winning books, including How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival (2011) and Quantum Legacies: Dispatches from an Uncertain World (2020). Kaiser co-directs a research group on the physics of the very early universe with Alan Guth in MIT's Center for Theoretical Physics, and has also designed and helped to conduct novel experiments to test quantum theory. A Fellow of the American Physical Society, Kaiser has received MIT's highest awards for excellence in teaching. His work has been featured in Science, Nature, the New York Times, and the New Yorker magazine. His group's recent efforts to conduct a "Cosmic Bell" test of quantum entanglement were featured in a documentary film, "Einstein's Quantum Riddle," which premiered on PBS in 2019. WEBSITE VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • RUCHIRA GUPTA

    SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY RUCHIRA GUPTA Journalist & Founder Apne Aap Ruchira Gupta is an Emmy winning journalist and founder of the anti sex trafficking NGO, Apne Aap that helps women and girls exit systems of prostitution. I Kick and I Fly is her debut fiction novel. She has been given the French Ordre National du Mérite, Clinton Global Citizen Award, and the UN NGO CSW Woman of Distinction among other honors for her contribution to the establishment of the UN Trafficking Fund for Survivors, the passage of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act and her grassroots activism with Apne Aap. She has co-wriiten a book with Gloria Steinem, As if Women Matter and edited two anthologies, River of Flesh and Renu’s letters to Birju Babu. She holds a Doctor of Humane Letters from Smith College. Ruchira has worked for the United Nations in Nepal, Thailand, Kosovo, Iran, and USA. She teaches occasionally as a visiting professor at New York University. She divides her time between New York and Forbesganj, her childhood home in the foothills of the Himalayas, where she paints her mother’s garden. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY | Unlock Her Potential

    Check out our Social Impact & Advocacy mentors for Unlock Her Potential SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY FEATURED DR. JORDAN KASSALOW Founder | VisionSpring HEATHER ANDERSON Chief Executive Officer | Global Health Corps JESS TEUTONICO Executive Director | We Are Family Foundation KATIE WAGNER, ESQ Executive Director | Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts RUCHIRA GUPTA Journalist & Founder | Apne Aap SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY ANDREA HAILEY CEO | Vote.org DR. JORDAN KASSALOW Founder | VisionSpring RUCHIRA GUPTA Journalist & Founder | Apne Aap ANURIMA BHARGAVA President | Anthem of Us ELLA GUDWIN CEO | VisionSpring SUSAN JIN DAVIS Social Impact Officer | Al Roker Entertainment, Inc ANUSHKA RATNAYAKE Social Entrepreneur | myAgro HEATHER ANDERSON Chief Executive Officer | Global Health Corps CARRIE GOLDBERG Attorney | C.A. Goldberg JESS TEUTONICO Executive Director | We Are Family Foundation DIANA RHOTEN Managing Director | Purpose Venture Group KATIE WAGNER, ESQ Executive Director | Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • MARCELLE KARP

    MARKETING MARCELLE KARP I'm a Go-Get-Her I have built my career understanding the power of the female brain on fire, the girl who is at the front, the woman juggling and struggling. Are you a writer? I'll show you how to find your voice, nurture it, unleash it. Are you interested in being a Creative Director? I'll unpack what that entails, guide you through corporate shenanigans, bolster your LinkedIn profile. Are you contemplating your next move? Oh my, let's get started. I can help you with any of those things. Here's some part of what I reign at: being your cheerleader. Here's a short list of some of what makes me right for you: I've had to tell Tyler Perry not to sing Millie Jackson's "Phuck You Symphony" in my on-air spot, I've had the great pleasure to produce a monthly stand-up show and I co-founded one of the pioneering zines of Third Wave Feminism, BUST. I've worked at SiriusXM/Pandora, BET, Madison Square Garden, the NFL, HBO, Lifetime, and so many other brands, as a Creative Director. I just published my first YA novel GETTING OVER MAX COOPER. I'm working on my Master's in Women and Gender Studies. And I'm just getting started. At my core, I'm a storyteller. I'd rather write than do most anything, and I know this: every woman has a story to tell. I'll mentor you to tap into yours. PRESS BLOG REEL "My marvelous mentor Marcelle expanded my perception of who I was by offering a safe space for me to explore my place in this chapter of my life. She told me, "Rejection is not the obstacle, it's lack of effort." This statement propelled me into my potential as a writer. Not only did Marcelle light the fire, but she also fanned the flame." — Janel "My experience with the Unlock Her Potential mentorship program has been nothing short of fantastic. I was selected to be a part of the program the first year and that’s when I met Marcelle Karp. During that year Marcelle encouraged and inspired me with her words of wisdom and kindness during our one-hour sessions. Her jovial spirit added a light-heartedness to our virtual meets which were during the pandemic. She always gave me a task to complete to help me stay on track to meet my goals, rather it was ways to expand my audience with my podcast or writing every day for 15 minutes, which eventually turned into one hour. As a writer, stand-up comic, and artist she was instrumental in helping me develop my level of discipline towards how I approach my creativity. I always left those meetings with my head held higher and a little bit more pep in my step. Thank you a million times to Marcelle for guiding and mentoring me, still!" — Rukeyah "I met my UHP mentor Marcelle Karp in 2021, the pivotal year I chose to break-up with my 10-year career as an academic mindfulness researcher. Determined to pursue a dream life as a creative professional, I pushed myself to land a new job as the Director of Communications at a Global Health NGO. I was ready to work with them to produce international video series about activist health workers in the pandemic, but found myself battling with severe nerves and impostor syndrome. Marcelle's mentorship helped me leap past my fears and step into the role to lead my team with confidence. She offered invaluable feedback as I successfully pitched, funded, produced, and launched the video series. Every conversation inspired me to tap deeper into my strengths, build new professional networks, and navigate the ups and downs of being a multidisciplinary creative leader. Since our year together, her advice has supported my capacity to take on new writing clients, travel internationally as a creative producer, and instill a work-life balance that aligns with my health and life goals. Meeting up with Sophia and Marcelle in New York after a year of Zooming in from California was an added layer of bliss to my mentorship experience. Now, as a UHP alumni, I aim to pay my blessings forward and open doors for other women of color within my industry. I'm honored to have been part of this mentorship cohort, and believe in growing this movement so more women of color can access lifechanging opportunities." — Sami VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • JEREMY HOLGERSEN

    MUSIC JEREMY HOLGERSEN Senior Vice President of Concerts Agency for the Performing Arts Jeremy Holgersen is a booking agent for Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) in New York, NY. He has been a booking agent for over 20 years, having started out after college in the late 90’s as an assistant at the boutique booking agency Artists & Audience in NY and later moving on to The Agency Group NY office as an assistant and working up to agent in 2000. He joined UTA when UTA acquired The Agency Group in 2015. Jeremy has worked with a diverse roster of artists throughout his career from Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Glassjaw, Hatebreed, Finger Eleven, Bad Brains, Gojira, The Pogues and many others. He currently is actively working with a diverse roster of artists like Ms Lauryn Hill, Action Bronson, G-Eazy, Protoje, Common, Cypress Hill, Apocalyptica, Suicidal Tendencies, Princess Nokia, GZA, iann dior, YG and many many more. From his days at Artists & Audience and The Agency Group up to UTA, Jeremy has always been surrounded by some of the most talented agents in the business to learn from, as well as working alongside great managers, labels, lawyers and promoters. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • KIMBERLY WILLIAMS

    FILM/TV KIMBERLY WILLIAMS Casting Director Kim most recently served as Vice President, Casting at Disney Television Studios, a post she held from October 2019 - April 2023. Kim served as casting director for season 4 the critically acclaimed series Genius, this iteration, Genius: MLK/X, exploring the lives of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. She cast the lead in Lee Daniels’ upcoming limited series for Hulu, Sammy Davis Jr. She also cast the teen leads in the Disney+ series The Crossover as well as the pilot and first season of Freeform's hit series Single Drunk Female. She oversaw the casting for Onyx's new series Deli Boys, Lee Daniels' The Spook Who Sat by the Door for FX, Showtime'sThe Chi. She was instrumental in shaping the casts and overseeing and the FX series The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges and the Emmy-nominated season 3 Genius: Aretha. Kim joined ABC as director of casting in early 2019, working on projects for the network, Disney+ and ABC Studios, including the critically acclaimed For Life. Kim is passionate about diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity and was actively involved in several projects and initiatives across The Walt Disney Company. As an independent casting director, Kim worked on Greg Berlanti’s All American, Narcos, The Bernie Mac Show and Martin, and several Tyler Perry movies and series including Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and feature films including My Little One and Payment Received. Williams worked on The HBO Access Project, allowing her to guide casting while mentoring creative minds from diverse backgrounds over eight projects. Previously, at Paramount Pictures and Television, Williams oversaw the casting for Annihilation, Looking for Alaska, Jack Reacher: Never Look Back, Baywatch starring Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson, Shooter, The Alienist and Grease: Live! While at Fox, Williams served as director of casting on shows including Prison Break, Glee, and Sarah Conner Chronicles. Prior to that, Williams spent close to a decade at HBO as a director of casting. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • MARK ANTHONY NEAL

    PUBLISHING MARK ANTHONY NEAL James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Duke University Born and raised in the Bronx, NY Mark Anthony Neal is James B. Duke Professor of African & African-American Studies and Professor of English. Neal is the author of five books including What the Music Said: Black Popular Music and Public Culture, Soul Babies: Black Popular Culture and the Post-Soul Aesthetic and Looking for Leroy: Illegible Black Masculinities, and co-editor, with Murray Forman, of That’s The Joint!: The Hip-Hop Studies Reader (now in its 2nd edition). At Duke Neal offers courses in Black Cultural Studies, including signature courses on “Michael Jackson and the Black Performance Tradition” and “The History of Hip-Hop,” co-taught with Grammy Award Winning Producer 9th Wonder. Neal also directs the Center for Arts, Digital Culture and Entrepreneurship (CADCE) which produces original digital content, including the weekly video podcast Left of Black, produced in collaboration with the Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke. WEBSITE QZ.com - How black feminism saved this Duke professor from himself ADUKE MAGAZINE - This professor is his own MAN VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • MELANIE GEE | Unlock Her Potential

    MARKETING MELANIE GEE GVP, Client Partner | Razorfish APPLY FOR MARKETING MENTORS WITH THIS LINK "Whether you're trying to sharpen your problem-solving skills, expand your influence, or think more strategically about your career, I’m here to help you get unstuck and think bigger. My approach is part mindset shift, part practical tools — grounded in real-world experience and a passion for out-of-the-box thinking. We’ll work together to build your confidence, deepen your relationships, and uncover the growth potential hiding in plain sight — for you, your team, and your business." Melanie is a GVP, Client Partner at Razorfish, a digital agency that partners with the world’s most iconic brands to transform their business in an ever-evolving digital landscape. She has over 20 years of experience and proven success leading integrated marketing teams on brands including Citi, Blue Apron, Northeastern University, Sonesta Hotels, WeWork, and Caesars Entertainment. Melanie manages major client relationships at Razorfish. She balances strategy, relationship-building, and business leadership across multimillion-dollar accounts. She is the main point of contact and ensures the agency’s work aligns with business goals and keeps clients happy. She often translates a client request and provides extra business content in a way that makes more sense to their job and helps them understand why requests are coming through. She works with, helps lead, and provides guidance across leads large internal teams like Media, Creative, Analytics, Finance, Production, etc. She solves problems when issues arise and looks for ways to grow the partnership. For the first time ever, a third party is sponsoring a full cohort! Top digital marketing agency Razorfish, part of Publicis Groupe, is providing all of the Marketing mentors in 2026. Thanks to Razorfish's generosity, ALL applicants to these 5 Marketing mentors will be free." VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • VANESSA ANGIULI

    MUSIC VANESSA ANGIULI Senior Director of A&R Interscope Records The most beneficial lessons in my career have come from having a mentor and being a mentor. Paying it forward is one of the most important things people can do for each other. Programs like UNLOCK HER POTENTIAL allow women to build a strong set of skills that will act as a foundation for their paths forward. I am excited to partner with a candidate who is driven, organized – and a lover of music. I have a lot to teach – and even more to learn! My role as an A&R is dependent on my ability to scout and develop new talent. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to work alongside some of the industry’s leading songwriters, producers and recording artists. I am passionate about building and fostering mutually-beneficial relationships within the creative community. Vanessa Angiuli is a Senior Director of A&R at Interscope Records where she has worked with artists including: Selena Gomez, BLACKPINK, Tainy, 5 Seconds of Summer, X Ambassadors, Jacob Banks, Towa Bird and many more. Born and raised in New York, she began her career at Platinum Sound Recording Studios working under Grammy Award-winning producer Jerry ‘Wonda’ Duplessis . After a string of internships at Crush Music and QPrime Management , she landed her first job as an Executive Assistant and Junior Day-to-Day at TMWRK Management . Vanessa also worked briefly as an A&R coordinator for songwriter/producer Tim Anderson . PRONOUNS: She/Her VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • JESS TEUTONICO

    SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE JESS TEUTONICO Executive Director, Social Impact Advisor We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) As Executive Director of We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), founded by legendary music producer and multi-Grammy winner, Nile Rodgers, Jess Teutonico helps lead one of the world's most influential global networks of youth - social entrepreneurs, activists and creatives from 100+ countries who are working to solve systemic social and racial inequities and injustice. She's also a social impact advisor and helped on the campaign for the adoption of The International Day of Happiness by the United Nations 193 member nations by consensus with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Al Bayati, the Ambassador to Iraq, and Kweku and Ndaba Mandela. She has consulted for TED Conferences, The Global Creative Leadership Summit, and in her former life, she was a Director of Special Events at Vogue Magazine and produced fashion shows for Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, among others. Jess has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Forbes, CBS Radio, Refinery 29 and Paper Magazine named her a “Do-Gooder of the Year” and has spoken across various global platforms including the United Nations, The World Economic Forum, Harvard, Yale, INK, Les Napoleons and UNFINISHED, among others. She has sat on the braintrust of Unlock Her Potential since its inception. INSTAGRAM LINKEDIN VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • STEM | Unlock Her Potential

    Check out our STEM mentors for Unlock Her Potential STEM SCIENCE | TECH SCIENCE DR. JENNIFER GARRISON Co-Founder and Dir | Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity & Equality DR. AZRA RAZA Professor | Dir of MDS Center at Columbia University DR. DAVID KAISER David Kaiser | Professor | MIT TECH ANIL DASH Former CEO | Glitch ANNE CHOW Lead Director | FranklinCovey GORDON WILLOUGHBY Former CEO | WeTransfer RENATE NYBORG Founder & CEO | Amorai VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • MUSIC | Unlock Her Potential

    Check out our Music mentors for Unlock Her Potential MUSIC CRISTINA CHAVEZ VP of A&R | Universal Music Publishing Group JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist | Pro Era Records, Badmind Records JUST BLAZE Director of Music & Culture | Hip Hop Producer VANESSA ANGIULI Sr Director A&R | Interscope YOUNG GURU Record Producer | Executive | Engineer VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • SARA SIDNER

    JOURNALISM SARA SIDNER Co-Anchor CNN News Central Sara Sidner is co-anchor of CNN News Central, airing weekdays from 9am-12pm ET. She is also CNN's multiple award winning senior national and international correspondent. In 2014 Sidner provided extensive coverage of the 6 month long protests in Ferguson, Missouri after Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer. From 2020 thru 2021 she led the network's coverage in Minneapolis of the protests following the death of George Floyd and the trial of Derek Chauvin. She was one of the lead reporters in Washington State reporting on the first known deadly US outbreak of Covid-19. As an international correspondent, Sidner covered the aftermath of the deadliest earthquake in modern Turkey which left more than 44 thousand people dead earlier this year. She has reported for more than a dozen countries throughout the Middle East and Asia. Her work in Libya reporting surrounded by rebel fighters during the fall of Tripoli has been recognized all over the world. She was live for hours as grenades and gunfire rang out during the 2008 deadly terrorist attacks on several five star hotels in Mumbai, including the famed Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel. Her stories from South Asia also included a documentary on the 25 year civil war in Sri Lanka, several stints reporting in war-torn Afghanistan, and live coverage of violent political eruptions in Thailand and Bangladesh. Sidner also traveled to Chile and Haiti to cover the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in those countries. Sidner was part of the team that won a Peabody award for CNN's coverage of the Arab Spring. In 2011 Sidner shared the Achievement of the Year Award from SKY WFTV Women in Film & Television in the United Kingdom for her war coverage in Libya. Sidner has collected a Peabody award, two Emmys, two Asian Television Awards, two Alliance for Women in Media Gracie Awards, an NABJ award, several Telly awards and an Edward R Murrow award. Sidner received her journalism degree from the University of Florida and is in the UF School of Journalism and Communications Hall of Fame. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • HOW TO APPLY | 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 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 2026, 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 a non-refundable $75 fee which you can purchase here . This donation helps offset the cost of processing applications and makes a meaningful difference in sustaining the program. As always, please feel free to email us with any questions at support@unlockherpotential.com . 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 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? Yes. 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 2024 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 during my program year? 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 your program year. Do I need to be 18 years old to apply? You must be 18 year s old by January 1, 2026 when the program begins. When do applications close? The applications close August 31 , 2025 at 11:59 PM EST/8:59 PM PST .

  • ALICE GU | Unlock Her Potential

    FILM/TV 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 VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • ADAM NEUHAUS

    FILM/TV ADAM NEUHAUS Founder Neuhaus Ideas Adam is the founder of Neuhaus Ideas, an ideas production company. Before that, Adam spent 7+ years as head of development for 30for30, ESPN Films and ESPN+ developing and producing 100+ storytelling projects across feature length documentaries, docuseries, scripted adaptations, digital series, and 30for30 Podcasts. Adam is longtime supporter of the Ghetto Film School, previously serving on the Board of Directors and currently serving on the Advisory Board. Adam also serves on the Board of Directors for the Bushwick Film Institute and proudly serves as a mentor for Unlock Her Potential. WEBSITE LINKEDIN TWITTER "Adam has helped me in so many ways - it's hard to believe it's only been four months since we met! He has introduced me to a host of industry connections and consistently pushes me to grow in my career. I've seen tremendous progress already, and I am checking off boxes as I get closer to my dreams." — Chloe VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • SARAH HARDEN | Unlock Her Potential

    SARAH HARDEN CEO Hello Sunshine Sarah Harden is the CEO of Hello Sunshine, a media brand anchored in storytelling, on a mission to change the narrative for women. Alongside founder Reese Witherspoon, Harden leads Hello Sunshine’s growth as a premium content studio and direct-to-consumer media brand developing films, scripted and unscripted television series, podcasts, live events and more. She also oversees Reese’s Book Club, fast-growing in reach & influence. Prior to her time with Hello Sunshine, Harden was President of Otter Media, a privately held joint venture between AT&T and The Chernin Group, where she spearheaded Otter’s first investment in Hello Sunshine. She also served as Group Director at News Corp Asia, where she oversaw growth initiatives in Hong Kong. Additionally, Harden served as SVP of Business Development for Fox Networks Group, identifying, cultivating, and executing new business for Fox. Harden began her career at Boston Consulting Group in Melbourne, Australia after graduating from Harvard Business School with high distinction as a Baker Scholar. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

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