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  • 2026 MARKETING | Unlock Her Potential

    Check out our Marketing mentors for Unlock Her Potential MARKETING FREE MARKETING APPLICATION 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. Please apply here for Marketing mentors only. MELANIE GEE GVP, Client Partner | Razorfish OMAR FAJARDO VP, Creative Director | Razorfish RICARDO LATORRE VP, Group Experience Design Director | Razorfish SUNYA GANBOLD Head of Delivery, EVP | Razorfish THEO JONES VP, Brand Creative + Social Strategy | Razorfish VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • JOSEPH PATEL

    FILM/TV JOSEPH PATEL Producer | Director | Writer “Summer Of Soul” "As a mentor, I can share my experiences, my advice being on both sides of the creative equation, and any guidance you may need wherever you are in your journey. I can’t guarantee reading or watching anything, or making any professional introductions. But if you commit time and effort to this mentorship, those things can happen organically." Joseph Patel is an Academy Award-winning Producer, Director and Writer on documentaries and short films. He recently produced the documentary feature, SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED), directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, which won the Oscar in 2022 for Best Documentary Film. The film won multiple awards (BAFTA, Independent Spirit, PGA, Critics Choice, Sundance Grand Jury & Audience Award) and was declared “The Best Film of 2021” by The New York Times. Patel began his career as a music & culture journalist, writing for magazines and websites. He went on to produce and direct television and digital content for MTV News & Docs and Vice Media, and served as Content and Creative Director at The FADER and Vevo. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • MARKETING | Unlock Her Potential

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

  • TY STIKLORIUS

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

  • TEAM | Unlock Her Potential

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

  • AMELIA HANIBELSZ

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

  • MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE | Unlock Her Potential

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

  • HILARY STRAW

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

  • STACY TRAUB

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

  • BRIAN YORKEY

    FILM/TV BRIAN YORKEY Showrunner 13 Reasons Why Brian Yorkey received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score for Next to Normal. Brian was the Executive Producer and Showrunner of 13 Reasons Why for Netflix, Paramount Television and Anonymous Content. As principal of That Kid Ed, Inc., Brian is writing and developing numerous projects for Netflix, where he is under an overall deal, as well as for HBO Max, Charter, and other outlets. Brian was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Next to Normal, and the show won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Score. Additional theatre credits include If/Then (Tony Award Nominee for Best Score), and The Last Ship (co-bookwriter, Outer Critic’s Nomination, with John Logan), and Freaky Friday (Disney Theatricals, Disney Channel Original Movie). VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • CELIA AU

    FILM/TV CELIA AU Actress | Filmmaker 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. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • MAUREEN POLO

    MARKETING MAUREEN POLO Executive Hello Sunshine Maureen Polo is an award-winning leader with 20+ years of experience in managing and scaling high-growth media businesses. In her current role, Maureen leads the Direct-to-Consumer businesses for Hello Sunshine including Reese’s Book Club, The Home Edit, and Hello Sunshine’s social editorial channels across social. In her role, Maureen oversees content strategy, marketing, editorial, book selection, and business growth. Prior to her role at Hello Sunshine, Maureen ran marketing strategy and solutions for Warner Media’s entertainment properties including HBO Max, TBS, truTV, Turner, Adults Swim, and Cartoon Network. In her previous role as General Manager at Fullscreen, Maureen ran the 400-person next generation entertainment company. Throughout her career Maureen has worked at a mix of traditional agencies and media companies where she excelled at leading start-up digital businesses specializing in the development and execution of cutting-edge cross-platform marketing and branded entertainment. She spent almost a decade at Conde Nast, led the sales and integrated marketing solutions team for Allrecipes.com , and worked with Rachael Ray & CBS to build and sell bespoke in-show, digital, and social integrations- essentially helping to build the industries original digital celebrity. Polo has been consistently recognized for their industry-leading work, including Shorty, Cannes Shortlist, OMMA, Streamy, RealScreen, Brandweek Constellation, and Digiday awards. Polo has also won Ad Age 20 under 30, She Runs It: Changing the Game Awards, and Cynopsis Top Women in Digital. Polo has also been profiled in Thrive Global’s Women Leadership series and featured in Forbes and Inc. "Maureen models badass-ery and generosity in equal measure. On being a badass, she’s a force of both creative and business excellence. Her quick and sharp feedback has been a tremendous guide for me as I navigate a career transition. On being generous, she is in the trenches with you, making sure you both do your best work and get your shine. Maureen’s mentorship has directly resulted in new perspective, new connections, and new opportunities for me. After my first meeting with her I wrote in my journal, “oh my gosh she's incredible” and many meetings later I can’t help but feel that same glee!" — Ami VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • HOLD | Unlock Her Potential

    THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY IS HERE Discover the safest self-driving experience with Autono. MEDIA TV/FILM PRODUCER CREATIVE FINANCE FASHION VISION We’re Changing the Way the World Thinks About Cars I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. PREVIOUS NEXT SERVICES We Deliver Exceptional Products and Services Around the World AUTONOMOUS DRIVING I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. Read More REAL-TIME INFORMATION I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. Read More PERCEPTION ENABLED I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. Read More WHY AUTONO A different approach, using a new method of manufacturing. I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you. Read More Autono In Numbers 200 EMPLOYEES 5 CORE TEAMS 200M$ CAPITAL 326 PARTNERS INDUSTRY Our Partners Click here to add your own content and customize the text. This is a great place to tell a story about your company and let your users know a little more about the company's history, the team's background, or any other information you'd like to share. Just click "Edit Text" to get started. GENERAL TRANSPORT IDI SOFTWARE IMOGEN CARS TRI-NEX CAREERS We’re looking for innovative talent to join our team. See all positions and submit your CV. Openings ELECTRICAL ENGINEER San Francisco, CA I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. Apply Now Our Journey So Far 2013 AUTONO IS FOUNDED I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. 2015 GROUNDBREAKING SENSOR TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHED I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font.

  • LORI TILKIN

    FILM/TV LORI TILKIN Head of Production A Better Tomorrow Films Lori Tilkin deFelice is Head of Production for legendary Hong Kong director John Woo's A Better Tomorrow Films, where she oversees all aspects of development and production for live action, television, and animated feature film properties. This includes liaising with writers, directors, agents, lawyers, studio execs, artists, and publishers in and outside of Hollywood and abroad. In her tenure with John Woo, she co-founded Tiger Hill Entertainment, overseeing all development and production of video game properties and comic book properties for the company, including Midway’s Stranglehold, Virgin Comics John Woo’s 7 Brothers, and Chilingo’s Bloodstroke. For the past several years, Lori has been invited to hear pitches at Fade In’s Hollywood Pitch Festival and in 2019 was proud to be a judge for Project Twenty1’s film contest. She is also the Executive Producer of Kybele Dance Theater, helping manage the company and produce live performances for the award-winning choreographer Seda Aybay. INSTAGRAM "I've had a really wonderful experience with my mentor, Lori. She's very knowledgeable and supportive and I really appreciate her willingness to read my scripts and give me thoughtful notes that push me to create better work. She takes her role as my mentor very seriously and is very generous with her time. I've enjoyed hearing more about her experience as a producer as well. As a filmmaker, this kind of connection and insight is extremely valuable." — Meera VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • KELLY GOODE

    FILM/TV KELLY GOODE Senior Vice-President, Current Programming Warner Bros. Television Kelly Goode is Senior Vice-President, Current Programming at Warner Bros. Television, where she is a creative executive on broadcast, cable, and streaming scripted series. Previously, she was Vice-President, Original Programming at ABC Family (now Freeform), overseeing current programming. Goode began her career at Columbia Pictures Television, then moved to CBS Entertainment as an executive in comedy development and Vice-President, CBS Productions. Later, she was named Senior Vice President, Programming at Lifetime Television, overseeing development and current programming. Goode then became Head of Television at New Deal Productions, director John Singleton’s production company. Later she was named Senior Vice President, Programming at GSN (Game Show Network), where she was head of programming. Goode is a board member of the I Have A Dream Foundation-Los Angeles, Advisory Council member of The Hollywood Radio and Television Society, and a member of the Reform Leadership Council for the Vera Institute of Justice. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • KATIE BENNER

    JOURNALISM KATIE BENNER Reporter The New York Times Katie Benner covers the Justice Department for The New York Times, and she was part of a team whose reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for public service. She moved to Washington D.C. in 2018 to cover the Justice Department under former President Donald Trump. Her reporting often focused on his clashes with law enforcement and national security officials as he flexed presidential power in an extreme manner not seen since the Nixon era. Before covering national security, Benner worked in The Times' San Francisco Bureau and covered Apple, venture capital and startups. She reported on the encryption fight between Apple and the FBI and investigated how tech employees chasing the Silicon Valley dream are short-changed by executives and investors. She also wrote about sexual harassment in the tech industry and the legal contracts used to keep that behavior a secret. TWITTER VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • SOPHIA CHANG

    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

  • EBONIE SMITH

    MUSIC EBONIE SMITH Music Producer | Audio Engineer | Songwriter Founder of Gender Amplified, Inc. Ebonie Smith is an award-winning music producer, audio engineer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA. and Memphis, TN. Ebonie is also the Founder of Gender Amplified, Inc., an organization that celebrates and supports women in music. Ebonie received her first Grammy Certificate and RIAA-certified platinum plaque for work as an engineer on Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording). She received her second GRAMMY Certificate for work as an assistant engineer on Sturgill Simpson's award-winning album A Sailor's Guide to Earth. She also engineered on the GRAMMY-nominated album Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe and the GRAMMY-winning album Invasion to Privacy by Cardi B. She currently works part-time as an in-house engineer and producer for Atlantic Records, and otherwise produces and writes full time. She is also an elected governor of the New York Chapter of The Recording Academy. Ebonie was recognized on the Billboard 2020 Impact list and has been featured in The Fader, Variety, Huff Post, Parade, Music Business Worldwide, etc. Ebonie specializes in hip-hop and R&B production and beat making. Collab highlights to date include Cardi B, Sabrina Claudio, Phony Ppl, DRAM, Charlie Puth, Janelle Monae, Jacob Olofsson (Frank Ocean, Camilla Cabello), James Rim (Willow, Jaden Smith), and more. VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • BEKA TISCHKER

    MUSIC, C-SUITE BEKA TISCHKER Manager | Publisher Wide Eyed Entertainment Turns out Wide Eyed Entertainment is the perfect name for Beka Tischker’s artist/producer/ songwriter management and publishing company, which she co-founded with her husband Benjamin, and now represents such clients as Julia Michaels, Becky G and mega-producer Edgar Barrera, among many others. The Tulsa, OK-born daughter of a midwestern Methodist preacher from Kansas – her dad attended England’s Cambridge University on a prestigious scholarship – tries to remain open to creative and strategic possibilities with innocence, wonder and passion, backed by more than two decades of hard-earned experience. Growing up in Iowa, Beka learned to play saxophone and piano, while singing in Church. “Music was just in my blood from a very young age,” the mother of two children aged 13 and two explains. She developed commercial ears by listening to Top 40 hits on the car radio and would insist to her mother that she’d one day work alongside the musical artists she’d see at concerts as a teenager. Turned on to Nashville by a friend, Beka found a home at Belmont University and its famed music business program. During her time at Belmont, she interned all over Music City, eventually leading to a position at the local office of Desmond Child’s publishing company Deston Songs, during her last semester. With Child celebrating his series of hits with Ricky Martin, including “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” Beka got an early glimpse at the power of a Latin music genre she would explore more fully at her own Wide Eyed Entertainment. A subsequent job at Garth Brooks manager Bob Doyle’s publishing company Major Bob Music had her traveling back and forth to New York, landing a job in 2004 at BMI, then A&R gigs at both Columbia Records and indie powerhouse Razor & Tie, establishing the latter’s Nashville-based, and very successful, publishing company, eventually acquired by Concord Music Group. “I learned early on, I was not meant for major labels,” she says of her entrepreneurial spirit. “I’ve always preferred working for independent companies that had a degree of muscle, which enabled me to figure stuff out on my own. I don’t like being forced into a single lane. I enjoy the flexibility of working with people and projects I love and can be passionate about.” Beka soon moved to Los Angeles to work at songwriter/ producer management company Advanced Alternative Media (AAM). It was while at AAM that she was brought in to help grow publishing company Prescription Songs. Over the next several years, Beka built the company into one of the most successful publishers operating today, working with collaborators like Katy Perry and Benny Blanco and overseeing a string of super smashes such as The Weeknd’s “Starboy” [feat. Daft Punk], Meghan Trainor’s “No,” The Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down” [feat. Daya], Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball,” and countless others. “I was empowered to build a company I was proud of, but it only stoked my desire to do it on my own,” says Beka about her seven years at Prescription Songs. “I’m a good multi-tasker. I have a constant tickertape of lists running through my brain. I’ve worked with some amazing, strong people, and feel I’ve really grown as an executive.” She met her French husband Benjamin 18 years ago while at BMI and the two have now been married 15 years. While Beka organizes the business strategy and operations, she lets Ben follow his artistic muse. Balancing work and family is very important to both. “We actually fight a lot less now that we work together,” she laughs. “Ben is a true creative in every sense of the word., a real artist whisperer. He lives on a different planet. Only Ben can do what Ben does. He gets these crazy ideas and we make it possible for him to see them through.” Wide Eyed Entertainment is a family affair as well – Beka first started managing Julia Michaels while she was still at AAM, while Ben has been working with emerging Latin star Becky G since she was 14 years old. “Julia [Michaels] and I have always had a special bond,” says Beka of the hit songwriter turned artist. “I knew that she was incredible and brilliant as a writer. Her songs resonated with people from six to 60. But when I heard ‘Issues,’ it was so true to what she was. It was an artist-identifying song.” Wide Eyed Entertainment, now a full-scale management and publishing company, signed a joint venture deal in 2018 with Josh Abraham and Scott Cutler’s Pulse Music Group, where their roster includes Texas-born producer/songwriter Gregory “ALDAE” Hein, with five co-writes on Justin Bieber’s recent hit Justice album, and Sarah “Solly” Solovay, who is one of the writers on Jason Derulo’s smash, “Take You Dancing.” Other Wide Eyed clients include Elena Rose, a Venezuelan singer/songwriter who has become the most in demand Latin female songwriter in the business, Jada Kingdom, a Jamaican dancehall artist signed to Republic Records; five-piece Latin girl group Angel22, boasting members from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, and Cuba, along with a 20-year client who predates the company, songwriter/producer Nate Campany who co-wrote hits such as LP “Lost on You” and “Scared to Be Lonely” by Martin Garrix ft Dua Lipa. “This is a real family, literally and figuratively,” insists Beka. “It’s a very close group of people who are all very passionate about the music, and that’s how we like it. “I’ve always been attracted to artists who were also writers. It’s an indescribable feeling that they are so authentic, nobody else can sing their song but them. You can tell a Julia Michaels song even if someone else is singing it.” As a woman who has worked hard to get to her current post as one of the music industry’s most successful executives, Beka is intent on giving back by taking under her wing other young women – and men – who are looking to find their own paths in a business she once never knew even existed. “Mentoring young women is very important to me,” she says. “Helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses. I’ve always been supportive of other women, but I also hire the best person for the job, regardless of gender. “Progress is slow, but women are starting to understand there is more than one seat at the table. You can pull up a chair, without kicking out the legs of someone else to claim it. It’s about women stepping up and leading by example. Hopefully, the future will be better for my daughter, and for her daughter.” VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • ANUSHKA RATNAYAKE

    SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE ANUSHKA RATNAYAKE Founder myAgro Social entrepreneur Anushka Ratnayake has built a solution that’s transforming the lives of farmers in Africa. After years of working on microfinance solutions on the African continent at Kiva.org and One Acre Fund, she launched myAgro, a simple mobile app that offers educational tools and a platform that allows farmers to save money, little by little, for seeds and fertilizer. Since launching in 2011, myAgro has helped over 200,000 farmers dramatically increase their crop yields. Farmers are known to harvest up to 100% more food after joining the app, using climate-resilient materials and methodologies they learn about through the platform. With current operations in Mali and Senegal, plans are in place to reach one million farmers by 2026 across multiple countries in West Africa. Anushka is recognized globally as a leader in financial inclusion, digital payments and social entrepreneurship. She's a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Skoll Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship. Ways I can help: I'm excited to offer support in various ways to my mentee: Scaling and fundraising for a nonprofit or social enterprise Using technology to scale your impact or organization more efficiently Leading organizational change Navigating your leadership changes as your organization grows Building a solid board and managing tricky board relationships Managing remote teams successfully Building strong senior leadership teams Planning ahead for growth Serving low-income consumers Expanding into emerging and frontier markets Measuring and evaluating social and economic impact VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • KATE SCHATZ

    PUBLISHING KATE SCHATZ Writer | Activist | Public Speaker | Educator | Consultant "Love reading and writing? Love books and storytelling? I can help demystify many aspects the publishing process from start to finish, including advice on creative process and getting an idea off the ground; actually finishing a manuscript; a range of FAQs including how to find an agent, how to write a cover letter, how to pitch a book idea, etc. On the activism front I can help people strategize how to be impactful, concrete, and authentic in their change-making work." Kate Schatz is an activist, public speaker, educator, consultant, and queer feminist mama who's been talking, writing, and teaching about race, gender, social justice, and equity for many years. She's the New York Times bestselling author of the "Rad Women" book series (including Rad American Women A-Z , Rad Women Worldwide , and Rad American History A-Z ), which have sold over 300,000 copies and been translated into four languages. Her book of fiction, Rid of Me: A Story , was published in 2007 as part of the cult-favorite 33 ⅓ series. She is the co-author of Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book , with W. Kamau Bell, the comedian and Emmy-winning host of CNN’s United Shades of America . Kate speaks and consults about radical histories, anti-racism, parenting, politics, and more, and appears frequently on national media outlets and popular podcasts, including “Conan,” MSNBC, NPR, WNYC, and WBUR. She's spoken to audiences at companies like Pixar, Genentech, Paypal, and Baker Mackenzie, and has been in conversation with high-profile figures including Megan Rapinoe, Alicia Garza, Margaret Atwood, Kate Hudson, gold medalist Ibtahaj Muhammad, and Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown. Her writing has appeared in print in places like TIME , Buzzfeed, LENNY, Oxford American, and San Francisco Chronicle. Born and raised in San Jose, California, she lives in the Bay Area with her wife, their three kids, and their many pets. In all she does, Kate is committed to sharing radical histories that shine light on the marginalized people who've truly made America great: the people of color, the immigrants, the queers, the punks, the weirdos, the artists, the workers, and the women. INSTAGRAM VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • ROBERT KESSEL | Unlock Her Potential

    ROBERT KESSEL Former EVP of Narrative Film Participant "I am a good person to bounce career trajectory advice around with—both how to get a job, how best to network and make the most of your contacts as well as a good handle on the creative/business side of the film business." Robert Kessel was Executive Vice President of Narrative Film at Participant, the leading global media company dedicated to entertainment that stands at the intersection of art and activism, where he co-manages the development and production of narrative films. Since joining Participant in 2013, Kessel has been integral to the production of the company’s most commercially successful films to date—Wonder and Green Book—overseeing production on both projects, and as an Executive Producer on Wonder. He was also an Executive Producer on the critically acclaimed Todd Haynes film Dark Waters, and oversaw production on Spotlight, Deepwater Horizon, Beasts of No Nation and A Most Violent Year. Kessel is an Executive Producer on the upcoming films Rob Peace and White Bird, the sequel to Wonder; he is also a Producer on the upcoming Out of My Mind. Prior to Participant, Kessel held executive posts at Matt Tolmach Productions, Overture Films, Hart Sharp Entertainment and Miramax Films. Kessel serves on the board of Students Run LA, a nonprofit organization that trains over 3000 at-risk kids to run the LA Marathon each year. He holds a BA in political science and film from Vassar College. Caveats e.g. I won't read scripts, I will not accept or receive any submitted material (scripts, pitches, demos, etc.) without a submission agreement for each project submitted. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • W. KAMAU BELL

    FILM/TV W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer 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

  • DANIELLE BELTON

    JOURNALISM, C-SUITE DANIELLE BELTON Editor-in-Chief HuffPost Born and raised in St. Louis, Mo. on a healthy diet of news programming, pop culture, black history and “snark,” Danielle Belton is currently Editor-in-Chief of HuffPost. She was previously the Editor-in-Chief at The Root and is best known as the editor and writer of the award-winning pop culture-meets-politics blog The Black Snob. She was also the first black woman to lead a writer's room in late-night television as head writer for BET's NAACP Image Award-nominated show, "Don't Sleep," in 2012. As a journalist, Belton has written for: The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Essence Magazine, The Guardian, The American Prospect, Jezebel, NPR and many others. An advocate for mental health, Belton writes extensively about her experience with Bipolar disorder. She currently lives in New York City. "Danielle Belton is a wonderful mentor to have and I am very fortunate to receive her guidance. She helps me set milestones and yearly goals, doesn't allow my imposter syndrome to kick-in, and encourages me to take initiatives I wouldn't dare to try. She's a great listener and our informal monthly meetings make me feel confident about myself and all the things I want to accomplish." — Kristal VIEW ALL MENTORS

  • NEAL SHAPIRO

    FILM/TV, C-SUITE NEAL SHAPIRO President | CEO WNET Neal Shapiro is an award-winning producer and media executive with a 35-year career spanning print, broadcast, cable and online media. As CEO of The WNET Group, he oversees the operations of the country’s largest public media company including New York’s THIRTEEN – America’s flagship PBS station – WLIW21, THIRTEEN PBSKids, NJ PBS; WLIW-FM, Long Island’s only NPR station and ALL ARTS, the arts and culture media provider. Since 2007, Shapiro has revitalized programming for all three stations, emphasizing arts and culture offerings, local programming and community engagement and setting new fundraising records. In 2018, Shapiro brought a new late-night program to PBS in partnership with CNN. Amanpour and Company features internationally renowned anchor Christiane Amanpour with contributors Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, and Hari Sreenivasan. In 2019, he launched ALL ARTS, an award-winning broadcast channel, app and website dedicated to arts and culture. Before joining WNET, Shapiro was President of NBC News, leading its top-rated news programs, including Today, NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press and Dateline NBC. Prior to NBC, Shapiro spent 13 years at ABC News. He has won numerous awards, including 32 Emmys, 31 Edward R. Murrow Awards and 3 Columbia DuPont awards. Shapiro serves on the Boards of American Public Television (APT), TEGNA, the East Coast Peabody Board of Directors, The Edward R. Murrow Center, and his Alma Mater, Tufts University. He lives in NYC with his wife, Juju Chang, co-anchor of ABC News Nightline, and their three sports-obsessed sons. VIEW ALL MENTORS

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