MUSIC JANET BILLIG RICH Music Executive | Supervisor | Producer | Manager Janet Billig Rich is a music supervisor, Tony-Award nominated theater producer, artist manager and music executive. Among Janet Billig Rich’s most recent theater projects include, MOULIN ROUGE – THE MUSICAL, MJ The Musical and the five-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical ROCK OF AGES, and the musical theater/ cabaret hybrid show FOR THE RECORD: THE SERIES. She is also the music supervisor for the Steve Aoki documentary, I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD, Sundance winner, STEP and recently released documentaries FOUND and SISTERS ON TRACK, both on Netflix. After starting her professional journey in the rock clubs of New York City, Billig Rich partnered with Gold Mountain Entertainment as an artist manager before landing at Atlantic Records, where she established herself as one of the youngest senior executives and department heads ever appointed at the company. Her work as a publicist and artist manager during her early years helped to advance the careers of some of the biggest bands in history, including the Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Hole, Sugar Ray, Matchbox 20, Jewel and, Grammy-award winning artist Lisa Loeb. Janet’s other ventures include being a Commercial Music Supervisor for Peloton, and a partner in The Lisa Loeb Eyewear Collection (now featured at Costco), and a partner in Loudspeaker Music Group, which provides music supervision & clearance for numerous independent & documentary films as well as national TV commercials. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV JERRY HENRY Cinematographer | Director Jerry Henry is a LA-based Director/DP who received his MFA degree from UCLA's prestigious Production Program with an emphasis on Documentary and Cinematography. His award-winning short documentary "I Promise Africa" premiered in over 100 film festivals worldwide and won many prestigious awards, among them a Directors Guild of America Student Award. Jerry’s visual talents can be seen in the Oscar nominated documentary "Exit Through The Gift Shop" directed by Banksy, and Peabody Award winning documentary "American Revolutionary" by director Grace Lee. He lent his visual talents to help shoot the Grammy Award winning HBO doc series titled "The Defiant Ones" which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Dre. and Jimmy Iovine. Jerry contributed cinematography on the Oscar Nominated documentary short film "St. Louis Superman" by directors Smriti Mundra and Sami Khan. His most recent work is the Documentary/ Narrative hybrid adaptation of the Ta-Nehisi Coates book "Between the World and Me" directed by Kamilah Forbes for HBO Max and "High on the Hog" Season 1 directed by Roger Ross Williams for Netflix. He is recently lensed the documentary series "The 1619 Project" with the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones for Hulu/ ABC/ Disney+ and Season 2 of High on The Hog. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV JULIA ZAK Senior Development Executive Cinetic Media Julia Zak runs Cinetic Media’s TV and film development division. Since joining the company in 2020, Zak has been curating a slate of projects that highlights female voices, queer voices, and people of color by fighting for stories about those who have been systemically erased or cast in the shadows of others’ stories. Most recently, Zak has served as a producer on Restaurants at the End of the World for Disney+ and is also in post on a series for Apple that will premiere later this year. Zak previously worked at Red Wagon Entertainment and WME. She was born and raised in Queens, NY. “I deeply appreciate Julia’s commitment and leadership in wanting me to grow and develop to my truest potential. Julia’s mentorship has been an invaluable asset to my journey. Because of her guidance and support through difficult times, I applied my learned skills and navigated my way to Tribeca Film Festival working with a director. This unique opportunity led to a full-time position working as a Social Media Producer at a production company. Today, I am doing amazing work and helping others in ways that I never could have imagined for myself.” — Jaresiah W. VIEW ALL MENTORS

PUBLISHING LINDA CAMACHO Literary Agent Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency Linda was always a fan of escaping into a good book, so the fact that she gets to make it her career is still surreal. She graduated from Cornell with a B.S. in Communication and has seen many sides of the industry. She’s held various positions at Penguin Random House, Dorchester, Simon and Schuster, Writers House, and Prospect Agency. She's done everything from foreign rights to editorial to marketing to operations, so it was amazing to see how all the departments worked together to bring books to life. Somewhere in between all that (and little sleep), Linda received her MFA in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. At Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency, Linda represents children’s and adult fiction across various genres, along with select narrative nonfiction. My specialty is in books, especially fiction. I don't represent screenplays, poetry, or short stories/novellas, so I wouldn't be the best advisor for those arenas. I'd love to work with someone who's interested in becoming an agent or editor in the book publishing industry. I won’t be reading pages or accepting pitches. WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV KIMBERLY CARVER Talent Manager | Producer Anonymous Content Kimberly Carver is a talent manager and producer at Anonymous Content in Los Angeles. She represents a diverse and talented group of writers, producers, directors and talent in the entertainment industry, specifically in television and film. Kimberly is the executive producer of the HBO Max series, JULIA, starring Sarah Lancashire and David Hyde Pierce. She also co-created and executive produces the non-scripted version of THE JULIA CHILD CHALLENGE for Food Network. In addition, she executive produced several comedies series, including BARELY FAMOUS, COMEDY GET DOWN and VERY SUPERSTITIOUS. At the very heart of what I do is the ability to effectively be many things to many people, be it an entrepreneur, advisor, producer, therapist, and cheerleader. Vital to my role as a manager is the capacity to package and manage client ideas, persuade others to see the value of their vision and act on it all the while pushing client career goals to new heights. While I may have a passion like others in the business, the path that led me here is a little different. I was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and believed my career lay in the finance world. However, shortly after my career in finance began, it quickly ended. I knew this was not where I wanted to be, and it did not fulfill my creative aspirations. So, I did the only thing I could do, I quit and headed out west. My biggest asset during that time was my willingness to do whatever I needed to do to make my dreams a reality, which all started with the first step – the willingness to bet on myself. I learned early on in this journey that there are a million different ways into the entertainment business, and it was critical to be open minded every step of the way. That open mindedness paid dividends when I gave a contact a stock tip that paid off. As a result, this “contact” was so impressed with the information I gave him that he passed along my contact information to a friend of his at a talent agency, CAA, which led to a job as an assistant. From that seemingly inconsequential stock tip, my career took flight. For over 20 years I’ve continued to maintain that level of openness and intellectual curiosity as a manager and producer. Combined with the knowledge that I’m doing exactly what I want and love to do. What propels my career is the choice to continue to make something happen in the face of a thousand no’s. This thinking has led to a very rewarding and unpredictable journey in bringing the artists vision to life. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV LIZ PAULSON EVP of Casting and Talent Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon (Live-Action & Animation), & Awesomeness (Live-Action) "I hope to help shine a light on my mentees vulnerabilities and strengths, for me they’re often one and the same. I will remind one another that we’re constantly evolving and growing and that this relationship will ideally be reciprocal. I truly appreciate the role of the mentor and deeply identify with teaching. With that said, I’m reminded that we’re often mirrors and gain immense knowledge and strength through learning from one another and our ever evolving landscape." Liz has spent the past 20+ years immersed in the casting community. She joined Nickelodeon Animation Studio as SVP of Casting and Talent Development in February 2020 and expanded her oversight to include live-action for Nickelodeon and Awesomeness series and movies in May of 2021. Recently promoted to EVP with a purview to include; Nickelodeon, Awesomeness & Paramount Animation. Prior to Nickelodeon, she was SVP of Casting at 20th Century Fox Television, with oversight of both scripted television and animation. She attributes a large part of her success to leadership, creativity and the ability to attune to others and the marketplace. Her strengths and entrepreneurial spirit help to effectively implement a structure that is organized yet immensely creative. In October 2015, Variety honored Liz as one of Hollywood's New Leaders. VIEW ALL MENTORS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FILM/TV JESSIE DICOVITSKY Senior Vice President of Original Programming Showtime Networks Jessie Dicovitsky is Senior Vice President of Original Programming for Showtime Networks, where she’s worked for over a decade. As a senior leader programming across drama, comedy, and documentary, Jessie brings an end-to-end producorial approach to premium series development and in-house productions for the network. Jessie has creative oversight over Showtime dramas AMERICAN GIGOLO starring Jon Bernthal, HALO airing on Paramount Plus, and upcoming series THREE WOMEN created by bestselling author Lisa Taddeo and starring Shailene Woodley. Additionally, Jessie works on the comedy series FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS and oversees acquisitions for international series WAKEFIELD and WE HUNT TOGETHER. During her time with Showtime, Jessie has overseen the network’s tentpoles like the Emmy Award-winning SHAMELESS as well as THE L WORD: GENERATION Q, BLACK MONDAY, and EPISODES. On the nonfiction side, she shepherds ongoing docu-series THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH among others. VIEW ALL MENTORS

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. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV KELLY GOODE Senior TV Programming Executive "As an Unlock Her Potential mentor, my goal is to offer a mentee personalized career guidance, encouragement, and wisdom. I hope to use my entertainment industry background and experience to help a mentee create a vision for her professional development and offer advice on how to realize that vision. My approach is to meet a mentee where she is, providing a space where she can get feedback both on daily concerns as well as bigger picture strategies." Kelly Goode most recently served as Senior Vice President & Team Leader, Current Programming, at Warner Bros. Television (WBTV), the entertainment industry’s largest provider of original scripted programming for streaming platforms, premium cable, and the broadcast networks. In this capacity, Goode was responsible for day-to-day programming activities on a number of scripted series and worked closely with many of the Studio’s most influential producers. In this role Goode oversaw series such as “Dr. Wolf” and “Superman & Lois,” from Berlanti Productions; “Bob♥Abishola,” “Bookie,” and “Young Sheldon,” from Chuck Lorre Productions; “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” from Roberto Aguirre Sacasa’s Muckle Man Productions and Alloy Entertainment; the upcoming “Just Cause,” starring and executive produced by Scarlett Johansson; and more. Prior to her promotion to SVP, Goode was Vice President, Current Programming, WBTV, from 2015–2020. During her tenure, Goode worked on series such as “Riverdale,” “Westworld,” “Batwoman,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “DC’s Stargirl,” “The Flash,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Kominsky Method,” “Kung Fu,” “Legacies,” “Peacemaker,” “Shrill,” and “Titans,” among others. Before joining WBTV, Goode was Vice President, Original Programming, at ABC Family (now Freeform), overseeing the current programming department. She began her executive career at Columbia Pictures Television and then moved on to CBS Entertainment, first as an executive in the comedy development department and then as Vice President, CBS Productions. Later, Goode was named Senior Vice President, Programming, at Lifetime Television, as part of the team that launched the network’s first original scripted series. Goode has been involved in many professional and civic organizations, and is a board member of the “I Have A Dream” Foundation-Los Angeles. She also serves on the Reform Advisory Council at the Vera Institute for Justice, and the Advisory Council of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS). Goode received her A.B. from Harvard College. VIEW ALL MENTORS

MUSIC JENNIFER KNOEPFLE Executive Vice President & Co-Head of US A&R UMPG As Executive Vice President & Co-Head of US A&R, Jennifer Knoepfle leads the UMPG team with Co-head David Gray to foster the company’s culture of creative collaboration, nurturing the next generation of both songwriting and A&R talent and reinforcing UMPG’s position as the market leader in talent development. Knoepfle works with UMPG’s songwriters, artists, and producers and co-leads the A&R team in identifying, signing, and developing early rising talent, supporting legacy talent by providing opportunities to strengthen their careers, and further grow the company’s unparalleled catalog of hits. Prior to UMPG, Knoepfle was at Sony Music Publishing, serving as SVP, Creative. During her tenure, Knoepfle was responsible for signing and developing some of the most exciting, acclaimed, and decorated songwriters in the U.S. including; Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Dan Nigro, Ariel Rechtshaid, Bloodpop, Joel Little and artists including; WILLOW, Tate McRae, King Princess, Remi Wolf, Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges, Wallows, Salem Ilese, Noah Kahan and Lord Huron in recent years. Other notable songwriters that Knoepfle has signed and worked with throughout her career include Grimes, Foster The People, Mikky Ekko and Sam Dew. VIEW ALL MENTORS

MUSIC JUST BLAZE Director of Music & Culture | Hip Hop Producer Just Blaze is a legendary hip hop producer who has been a household name in the music industry for the past 20 years. He’s worked on classic albums such as Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album,” Drake’s “Take Care,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” and Beyonce’s “Lemonade”. He’s won multiple Grammy awards and has worked with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Usher, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Diddy & Christina Aguilera, Eminem, TI & Rihanna, and many more. In addition to his record production projects, he’s scored various video games for EA Sports, Capcom and Midway, including game-changing projects like Def Jam Vendetta and NBA Street, Volume 2. Just has also toured extensively worldwide as a festival and club DJ. He recently released the smash hit single “We Win” featuring Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin as the lead single off of the Space Jam 2 Soundtrack. Just was a star of the Netflix documentary series “Rapture,” which tells the story of his musical journey. He executive produces and hosts the upcoming series “Fresh Pair” for Uproxx, and is currently serving as the Director of Music & Culture for Brass Lion Entertainment, a AAA video game studio focused on telling diverse stories in interactive mediums. VIEW ALL MENTORS

GBENGA AKINNAGBE Activist | Actor | Entrepreneur Liberated People "From activism to entrepreneurship, storytelling is our greatest tool. Communicating a message to humans is an endeavor as old as humanity itself. Whether it's an audience of one or a million, together we'll learn to identify whom we're connecting with, how they may receive information that penetrates their hearts and minds, and how we can best become those storytelling vessels." Activist, actor and entrepreneur are just a few traits to describe the multi-faceted rising star Gbenga Akinnagbe. Perhaps best known for his career defining turn as “Chris Partlow” in “The Wire,” Gbenga can currently be seen in the FX drama series THE OLD MAN from Fox 21 Television Studios in association with The Littlefield Company. He plays the series regular role of ‘Julian,' a highly trained special ops contractor sent to hunt down Chase, portrayed by Jeff Bridges. Written by Jon Steinberg & Robert Levine, the series also stars John Lithgow, Amy Brenneman, Alia Shawkat. He will next be seen in the features THE THICKET opposite Juliette Lewis and Peter Dinklage based on the critically acclaimed novel from Joe R. Lansdale, FAST CHARLIE from director Phillip Noyce, and BLACK FLIES opposite Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan, heading to Cannes this year. Gbenga’s most recent TV credits saw him in a major arc on season 3 of Starz’s hit series POWER BOOK II: GHOST as ‘Ron Samuel Jenkins,’ and recurring on Hulu’s WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA as ‘Mook.’ He was also seen in Amazon’s anthology series MODERN LOVE opposite Zoe Chao. Gbenga previously reunited with “The Wire” creator David Simon as a series regular in the HBO series “The Deuce” opposite James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Set in NYC during the 1970s and 1980s porn and prostitution scene, Gbenga played “Larry Brown,” an intense and demanding pimp who physically intimidates his stable of women but also has moments that betray a conflicted, underlying humanity. On the big screen, Gbenga’s recent credits include MGM’s THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR opposite Yara Shahini based on the NY Times bestselling novel; STARBRIGHT with Elisabeth Rohm and John Rhys-Davies; ALL THE DEVIL’S MEN opposite Milo Gibson and William Fichtner; HEART BABY with Jackson Rathbone; the comedy EGG opposite Christina Hendricks, Anna Camp, and Alysia Reiner; Kathryn Bigelow’s crime drama DETROIT with John Boyega; and Amazon Studios’ CROWN HEIGHTS, which premiered at Sundance. The son of two Nigerian parents, Gbenga Akinnagbe (pronounced Ben-gah Ah-kin-nah begh) was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland and after a rough upbringing, credits his love of wrestling to help carve his path as an actor. Wrestling got him to Bucknell University where he graduated with a double major of English and Political Science and then worked for the federal government. Gbenga soon became curious about acting and started researching the craft and then landed a job as an extra on the HBO series “The Wire.” That extra gig led to Gbenga later being cast in the recurring role of “Chris Partlow” where he ultimately became a series regular for the last two seasons. Soon after “The Wire,” Gbenga landed starring and recurring roles on such hit shows as “24: Live Another Day,” “Barbershop,” “The Following,” “Nurse Jackie,” and “The Good Wife.” No stranger to the stage, Gbenga performed in The Public Theatre’s Merry Wives, which aired on PBS, The Oedipus Plays at the Shakespeare Theatre and Romeo & Juliet in Washington DC, View From 151st Street for Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Labryinth Theater Company off-Broadway, and earned acclaim for his turn in the one man show The Thin Place. His recent Broadway debut in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, adapted by Aaron Sorkin and produced by Lincoln Center and legendary producer Scott Rudin, earned him rave reviews and won a Theatre World Award for his performance as the accused ‘Tom Robinson’ opposite Jeff Daniels, directed by Bartlett Sher, in this re-imagined adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel. Gbenga has appeared in numerous films including THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, LOTTERY TICKET, HEART, BABY!, INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE and as the producer and lead of KNUCKLEHEAD, which went on to win numerous awards in the film festival circuit. He also produced the indie film NEWLYWEEDS, which was sold at Sundance 2013. Off screen, Gbenga has numerous projects in development as a writer and director. He made his directorial debut with the independent pilot DC NOIR based on material from George Pellecanos (The Wire, The Deuce). The pilot premiered at the 2019 TriBeCa Film Festival. Gbenga was also a writer on the popular Crackle series, THE UNKNOWN. He is currently at work on a memoir, and has multiple projects as a producer. Gbenga has his own lifestyle brand, Liberated People, which has created powerful online movements like #OurSonTrayvon with various celebrities wearing hoodies and a percentage of sales going to the Trayvon Martin Foundation, an organization to end gun violence, and #PatriarchyIsABitch, where they donate a portion of sales to Black Women’s Blueprint, which recognizes the contributions of feminist freedom fighters. In addition, Gbenga can add interior designer to his credits as the founder of Enitan Vintage where he redesigns vintage and antique furniture in the same Dutch wax-resist fabrics that are a fashion staple in West Africa, which allows the consumer to “sit on a story.” Instagram: @GbengaAkinnagbe X: @GbengaAkinnagbe Instagram: @liberatedpeople Facebook: @LiberatedPeople Instagram: @enitan_vintage FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS

MUSIC ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Creative Marketing "As a mentor, it is my aim to create a trusting space where we can discuss how to build a brand, the creation of a marketing campaign that resonates with target audiences, as well as how to develop impactful strategies for projects both big and small. As an entrepreneur who has taken many turns in my career, I have a wealth of knowledge into how to make career pivots that build upon your experience and continue moving you forward to your professional goals." Named one of Billboard Magazine’s 2021 “40 Under 40,” Ileana V. Diez integrates creativity and innovation into all things that she does. Once described as a Swiss Army knife of marketing, Ileana is the founder of her own brand strategy and creative marketing consultancy, focused on creating authentic connections between brands and culture. Operating between Los Angeles, Paris, Mexico City, Singapore, and Miami, she blends her unique expertise in music, fashion, and media to deliver cross-industry campaigns. Ileana has partnered with brands like Golden Goose, Netflix, Spotify, PgLang, and Cartier, leveraging her deep understanding of culture to craft strategic partnerships that align marketing strategies with cultural trends and regional nuances, ensuring campaigns resonate and make audiences feel seen and heard. Previously Head of Marketing at Roc Nation, Ileana led campaigns for over 70 clients, focusing on developing IP, building business for clients, and with them. Her notable work includes Rihanna’s first return to music in over five years, the launch of Rihanna’s luxury fashion brand FENTY Maison (LVMH), and Mariah Carey’s career-defining 30th Anniversary campaign and Supreme brand partnership. Prior to Roc Nation, she played a key role in launching Shawn Mendes’ career and re-launching Nick Jonas’ solo career at Island Records. Born in Puerto Rico and raised as a third-culture kid, Ileana’s passions include empowering women of color in creative industries, exploring new communities, and enjoying good food and wine. "As a young creative starting her first big girl job out of college, Ileana’s mentorship provided me with fierce words of wisdom that couldn’t have come at a better time." —Priyanka P. "Ileana helped me feel certain that I'm doing all the right things for my career switch to music. She boosted my confidence and trust in myself to continue being independent, rather than go get a full time job (just for the sake of added security) that doesn't serve my health, lifestyle or passions." —Maaheem A. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV, PUBLISHING CHARLES YU Author | Screenwriter "I've been writing fiction for over 20 years, and writing for television and film for almost ten. I can share my experience finding and developing my own voice, the difficulties in balancing a creative pursuit with a day job and family, and making the transition from part-time to full-time writer (and the challenges that arise when you do what you love for a living). I'll be candid about what it's been like for me, navigating the publishing world and, more recently, the world of development and production for TV and movies." Charles Yu is the author of four books, including Interior Chinatown, which won the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction, the Silver Medal from the California Book Awards, and was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. He has written for shows on HBO, AMC, FX and Adult Swim, and is the creator and showrunner for Hulu’s adaptation of Interior Chinatown. His fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Harper's and Wired, among other publications. Along with TaiwaneseAmerican.org , he established the Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes. He lives in southern California with his family. Pronouns: he/him VIEW ALL MENTORS

Check out our Journalism mentors for Unlock Her Potential JOURNALISM PRINT & DIGITAL | BROADCAST FEATURED SWAY CALLOWAY Journalist | Radio Personality | SiriusXM PRINT & DIGITAL BILL ADDISON Food Critic | LA Times MARGARET TALBOT Journalist | New Yorker DANIELLE BELTON Editor-in-Chief | HuffPost JEMELE HILL Journalist, Author, & Podcaster | Co-Founder of Lodge Freeway Media JULIE BLOOM Live Editor | The New York Times KATIE BENNER Journalist | NYT BROADCAST JOHN HEILEMANN Host | Creator | Executive Producer | The Circus JUJU CHANG Co-anchor | ABC News’ “Nightline.” SARA SIDNER Co-anchor | CNN News Central VIEW ALL MENTORS

MARKETING JESSIE WEINSTEIN Senior Manager of Celebrity Relations and Talent Producer BSE Global "I will help you learn how to form & cultivate meaningful relationships in order to successfully integrate into marketing plans and initiatives within the entertainment space." Jessie is the Senior Manager of Celebrity Relations and Talent Producer at BSE Global. In this role, she oversees all talent partnerships for the Brooklyn Nets, NY Liberty and Barclays Center. Jessie creates and implements talent strategies across the BSE Global properties to increase brand awareness through talent engagement. Prior to joining BSE Global, she was the Artist Relations Manager on the Culture Marketing team for Red Bull New York. Jessie began her career in the music industry, primarily focusing on booking events both on the agency side as well as in house at NYC’s legendary SOB’s in downtown Manhattan. She then transitioned to public relations where she was an Account Executive at PMK*BNC, working on brands such as Converse, Budweiser and American Express Music. Following this move, she went on to open the Freehand Hotel in NYC as their Director of Events and Culture Marketing. VIEW ALL MENTORS