SHARLA SUMPTER BRIDGETT Senior Vice President, Film and Television Chernin Entertainment "As a mentor, I will help you hone your story development skills, provide feedback on projects, and advise on how to navigate your career as it pertains to your short- and long-term goals, particularly for those with aspirations of becoming a creative executive or producer." Sharla Sumpter Bridgett currently holds the role of Senior Vice President of Film and Television at Chernin Entertainment. Sumpter Bridgett, who has over 15 years of experience in development and production, was previously Tim Story’s producing partner running The Story Company where projects in development included Lionsgate and Hasbro’s live-action feature Monopoly starring Kevin Hart, Universal Pictures’ musical comedy Praise This directed by Tina Gordon, and the Netflix and STX Entertainment superhero comedy Night Wolf led by Hart. Before this, Sumpter Bridgett produced television and film through her SB&Co shingle, consulted for multiple companies, and ran a writer/directors program. She’s also served as Partner and President of Production at Varsity Pictures, where she produced titles like The To-Do List , Blue Mountain State and Sonny with a Chance, and served as President of Film at Tollin/Robbins Productions where she executive produced Coach Carter and Wild Hogs . FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV ALEX KIM VP of Development Monkeypaw Alex Kim is Monkeypaw's VP of Development. Since joining the company in 2017, Kim has been integral to building Monkeypaw’s expansive TV and film slate, working on the development and production of HUNTERS, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, LORENA, WEIRD CITY and THE LAST OG. Most recently, Kim has served as a producer on the second season of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Across Monkeypaw, Kim manages content curation, project development, creative oversight, and production workflow, ensuring that all projects are aligned creatively with the Monkeypaw vision. Caveats: "I'm okay with reading projects to discuss, but I'm not interested in project pitches for Monkeypaw consideration. I'm happy to talk at length about any advice or feedback I can give to help someone better understand the process, but if they want to pitch something to me for Monkeypaw consideration, I will only consider hearing the pitch if we set that up through the proper channels/reps outside of this program. I would like to use this time to focus on how I can help an individual and not on purely developing/producing a project for someone." Languages: I speak some Korean. I'm somewhat conversational, but definitely shy of saying I'm fluent. VIEW ALL MENTORS

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 .

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

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

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

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 FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV MARK R WRIGHT VP of Development & Production The Obama’s Higher Ground Mark R. Wright is the Vice President of Development and Production at The Obama’s Higher Ground, where he oversees a slate of scripted film projects for the company's exclusive overall deal at Netflix. In this role, he champions aspirational and entertaining stories across genres as a vehicle to unite and inspire audiences. Mark is an Executive Producer on Higher Ground's upcoming film Rustin directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Colman Domingo. His creative focus is producing unique and genre-bending narratives with people of color at the center to increase diverse images, experiences and perspectives available to audiences. For the work he’s accomplished, Mark was recently named one of 35 Rising Execs Under 35 by The Hollywood Reporter in the 2022 Next Gen issue. Prior to joining Higher Ground, Mark worked at MACRO, where he developed and executive produced Juel Taylor’s directorial debut, They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix) and Thembi Banks’ Young. Wild. Free. He also worked on the Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.), Alan Yang's Tigertail (Netflix), and hit sci-fi family series Raising Dion (Netflix), among others. Mark is originally from Cleveland, OH and earned an MFA from USC's Peter Stark Producing Program and a BS in Communication from Ohio University. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV ONE9 Director | Producer | Artist One9 is an Emmy-nominated executive producer, director and artist. One9 made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed feature film ‘Nas: Time is Illmatic’ which was selected to premiere as the opening night film in the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and has since toured the film internationally. In 2017, One9 produced a documentary on Race in America with PBS called ‘The Talk’ and co-executive produced and directed the Emmy nominated documentary film ‘L.A Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later’ with the late John Singleton. One9 co-executive produced and directed a 6-part series with Jigsaw Productions/Alex Gibney and QuestLove called Hip Hop: Songs that Shook America for AMC Networks which was nominated for an International Documentary Association award for Best Episodic Series in 2021. One9 is currently executive producing and directing the Nipsey Hussle series with the SpringHill company in 2022. AMC VISIONARIES | HIP HOP: THE SONGS THAT SHOOK AMERICA | CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR Each episode of this new documentary series focuses on a groundbreaking song pivotal to the evolution of American music and culture. Artists deconstruct their composition and dissect the socio-economic and cultural conditions that inspired the landmark work and gave voice to a generation. A&E NETWORK | L.A. BURNING | CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR | EMMY NOMINATED Twenty-five years removed from the LAPD beating of Rodney King—and the ensuing uprising that set South Central L.A. ablaze L.A. BURNING gives new insights into the racial divisions, the police response and the tumultuous events from untold POVs of those who were at the epicenter of the historical uprising. TRIBECA STUDIOS | NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC | DIRECTOR, PRODUCER | ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FILM NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC delves deep into the making of Nas’ 1994 debut album, ‘Illmatic’, and the social conditions that influenced its creation. The film peaked at #1 on iTunes and is currently shown on Netflix, Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Prime. VIEW ALL MENTORS

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. SUPPORT OUR MISSION JOIN OUR REVOLUTION 2024 - 2025 ASPIRATIONS We are actively raising funds to expand programming and community-building to serve thousands of women of color while shifting the mindset of stakeholders and gatekeepers. DONOR PDF VISION A society materially improved by the rise of more women* of color yielding power and influence while leading prosperous and balanced lives. MISSION To accelerate women of color’s* professional ascension through mentorship, career development and community . *This includes cis, trans, non-binary, femmes, gender non-conforming, gender-expansive, & gender-fluid people. PRESS UNLOCK HER POTENTIAL is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN: 20-4286082).

FILM/TV MAL STARES SVP, Global Scripted Blink49 Studios Mal Stares was born in Toronto, Canada but split her childhood between Germany, France and England. While majoring in English Literature at the University of British Columbia she started working in the Vancouver film industry. After graduating, she continued to gain experience in the business in a variety of positions before being accepted into the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. Following assistant stints at Millar Gough Ink and Mark Burnett's One Three Media, she joined former HBO exec Anne Thomopoulos as a scripted development executive where she worked on Outlander (Starz), Versailles (Canal+) and Black Box (ABC). She went on to help launch Scott Rudin's Los Angeles based scripted division, which had a deal with the Fox Networks Group, where she worked on What We Do In The Shadows (FX), Diagnosis (Netflix), and Barkskins (NatGeo). She then transitioned to BBC Studios, where she worked on shows set up with AMC, Netflix, FX, HBO, Showtime, Warner Bros. TV, Sony TV, and Snapchat, including Call Me Kat (Fox). She recently served as Vice President of International TV Production at Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), leading the company’s expansion into Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. During her tenure, she successfully sold Amazon’s first Australian original series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart starring Sigourney Weaver, played a key role in securing deficit financing for notable productions such as BBC’s Queen of Oz, SBS’s Swift Street, and CBC’s Run the Burbs, and set up Mammals at Amazon, written by Jez Butterworth and starring James Corden. She is currently the SVP, Global Scripted at Blink49, working across the development and production of their current and upcoming slate of scripted content spanning drama and comedy. VIEW ALL MENTORS

PUBLISHING TOCHI ONYEBUCHI Author "As a mentor, I will provide guidance not only on navigating the publishing industry--finding and acquiring an agent, dealing with both rejections and offers, thinking about the career you want--but also on your craft. While I cannot provide line-edits on your manuscript, I can help move you through to the completion of your book and strategies for revision. Ultimately, we will work together to help you tell the best version of the story you want to tell, chipping away at the marble block to reveal a sculpture you are proud of." Tochi Onyebuchi is the author of Goliath. His previous fiction includes Riot Baby, a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Awards and winner of the New England Book Award for Fiction, the Ignyte Award for Best Novella, and the World Fantasy Award; the Beasts Made of Night series; and the War Girls series. His short fiction has appeared in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Year’s Best Science Fiction and elsewhere. His non-fiction includes the book (S)kinfolk and has appeared in The New York Times, NPR, and the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy, among other places. TWITTER INSTAGRAM TWITCH PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - Tochi Onyebuchi Freedom Writer PEN.ORG - Pen Ten Interview with Tochi Onyebuchi WBUR - How X-Men And Black Lives Matter Shaped Tochi Onyebuchi’s ‘Riot Baby’ "Having a mentor through UP has profoundly changed my writing process. Working with Tochi has pushed my work in ways I didn’t even know it could. As a Black speculative writer, it can be difficult finding spaces and people who understand my work. Tochi has not only taken the time to see my strengths, but has asked questions and encouraged exploration that will make my writing even stronger. I’m incredibly grateful to Tochi Onyebuchi and the UP team for providing me this opportunity and supporting me on my writing journey." — Bria VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV RAKHEE JETHWA Producer | Director Rakhee Jethwa is an Award-winning producer and director. She has developed and produced documentary and branded content across the globe for HBO Max, CNN, HULU, National Geographic, Red Bull, MTV and more. Her work has taken her to Texas prisons, slums in Nairobi and Gujarat, the Amazon rainforest and many places in between. She is most drawn to stories about the human spirit and what drives us, particularly within marginalized communities. Most recently she produced episodes for Take Out with Lisa Ling, United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell and Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi. In the early 1970s, Rakhee’s family became refugees after they were expelled from Uganda by dictator Idi Amin. It was in England that her parents rebuilt their lives and eventually moved to the Washington D.C. area, where Rakhee was born and raised. Though her roots are Indian, her identity is a confluence of several cultures which has given her a unique lens from which to see and interact in the world. Rakhee recently directed and edited a short documentary called Ragpickers , about a group of women in India who collect and sell recyclable waste to support their families. She is currently based in Brooklyn, where she’s practicing her cooking skills and developing a project about her family’s volatile and unusual past. Her hope is that by using story as a tool to center minority and marginalized voices, we may reveal a fuller and more expansive picture of who we are. "Rakhee has been such a great mentor for me at this point in my early career as she has patiently taken me through various explorations of viable and potential next steps in this incredibly wide-reaching industry. I now have a better understanding of specific skills to improve on for the path I plan to go down, but also transferable skills in case of a pivot to something else related. As a working producer, I most appreciate the confidence Rakhee has instilled in me to go forth and claim my place in this industry!” — Nadira J VIEW ALL MENTORS

HELEN CHO Director | Producer | Showrunner "Having navigated the documentary TV production industry from the ground up, working my way through roles ranging from production assistant to showrunner, as a mentor, I can offer guidance tailored to your current position and aspirations. While I can’t guarantee you a job placement or introductions, I am happy to share insights and answer any questions you may have, helping to demystify the industry's nuances and making the journey feel less intimidating." Helen M. Cho is a Korean American two-time Emmy Award nominated director, producer, and showrunner from New York City. She is best known for her work on the critically acclaimed series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, and United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell. Helen served as Executive Producer and Showrunner of Take Out with Lisa Ling, now streaming on HBO Max. IndieWire named Take Out one of ‘The Best Documentaries and Docuseries of 2022’. Previous to her work in television, Helen was a digital consultant for clients: Anthony Bourdain, Ecco Press, and Steven Rinella. She holds a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. More importantly, she is the proud daughter of a nail salon worker and USPS letter carrier. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helencho Website: https://helenmcho.com Newsletter: https://helenmcho.com/newsletter FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

Check out our Art mentors for Unlock Her Potential ART GABE WHALEY CEO | Founder | MSCHF VIEW ALL MENTORS

MARKETING SUNYA GANBOLD Head of Delivery, EVP | Razorfish APPLY FOR MARKETING MENTORS WITH THIS LINK "I can help you: sharpen your leadership skills and elevate your personal brand—whether that means navigating tough moments with clarity and confidence, building high-performing teams rooted in trust and purpose, or finding your voice in the room. As a woman of color myself, I’ve learned how to navigate within complex organizations, negotiate cultural nuances, and facilitate alignment across stakeholders with different backgrounds and agendas. I’ve led program management and operations for some of the world’s biggest brands and built and managed massive high-performing cross-disciplinary teams. And along the way, I’ve picked up tools to lead with executive presence, resilience, and empathy. I’m passionate about supporting other women of color as they step into their power." 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

FILM/TV W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer "As someone who has navigated a unique path through my career, but has somehow managed to make some headway in this business in comedy, writing, producing, and directing, I can help you brainstorm ideas and come up with plans to get ahead in your chosen career" W. Kamau Bell is a stand-up comedian and the host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning CNN docu-series UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA WITH W. KAMAU BELL. His latest stand-up comedy special, PRIVATE SCHOOL NEGRO, is available on Netflix. Kamau wrote a book with the easy-to-remember title, The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian. He’s the ACLU Celebrity Ambassador for Racial Justice and serves on the advisory boards of Hollaback! and Donors Choose. VIEW ALL MENTORS

CELIA AU Actress | Filmmaker "As a mentor, I can help you navigate the ups and downs of being an actor and working in the entertainment industry. Together, we can set goals and manage expectations. Drawing from my personal experiences, I will provide you with valuable insights and advice, helping you find the balance between the business and artistic aspects of your career." Celia Au is well known for playing a variety of characters across Netflix's Wu Assassins, Comedy Central's Nora from Queens, and AMC's Lodge 49. Au believes the power of storytelling is to change perception and her producerial slate is centered around uplifting AAPI voices. She is an alumni of Berlinale Talents and her current projects include an untitled cooking show in co-production with Hearst Media Productions, a TV show and 3 feature films in development. She recently produced a Music Video Don't Give Up by artist Calistar and directed by Ron Yuan. Her films were nominated at the SoHo International film, Asian on Films and her VR project premiered at Cucalorus film festival. In addition to acting and producing, Au has been an outspoken activist in the AAPI community and has spoken at engagements with Goldman Sachs, IPG group, AEG Studios, Wash the Hate, Act to Change, and others. in 2020-2022 Celia was named the "Ambassador of Hope" at the Rise Above the Storm Gala. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS