2026 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED - VIEW ALL MENTORS
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- ANDREA HAILEY
SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE ANDREA HAILEY CEO Vote.org Andrea Hailey is the CEO of Vote.org , the nation’s largest nonpartisan digital voter engagement organization. Andrea led Vote.org to record-breaking growth during the 2020 General Election and the Georgia runoff elections, helping more than 4.4 million people register to vote and more than 3.3 million request mail-in ballots, and leading a 50-state get-out-the-vote operation which made over half a billion voter contacts across the country. Andrea and Vote.org’s work in 2020 has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and Bloomberg. With nearly two decades of experience in voter engagement operations and campaigns, Andrea is a recognized expert on civic engagement, and a staunch defender and promoter of democracy. Prior to joining Vote.org, she served as the founder of Civic Engagement Fund, an incubator for grassroots nonprofit organizations focused on voter empowerment and engagement. She has advised and supported the efforts of presidential and congressional candidates, ballot initiatives, and historic landmarks, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Andrea launched her career on Capitol Hill in the office of Representative Patrick Kennedy. In addition to leading Vote.org, Andrea sits on the boards of NARAL and Bend The Arc, serves on the Leadership Council of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and is a member of the Society of Fellows for the Aspen Institute. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- SAMANTHA MILITANTE | Unlock Her Potential
SAMANTHA MILITANTE Director of Current Series FX Networks "As a creative executive who has seen the evolving landscape of TV over the last several years, I can help give you perspective on the business and help you hone in on your creative voice. Whether you’re an aspiring exec, producer, writer, or director – being confident and articulate about your voice is a key quality to lean on." Samantha Militante is a director of current series at FX Networks, where she works on comedy, drama, and docuseries across all of FX Networks. Currently, she is overseeing ATLANTA, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, SNOWFALL, MAYANS, & RESERVATION DOGS. In addition, she helped develop and launch the initial FX docuseries slate, including shows like CHILDREN OF THE UNDERGROUND, HIP HOP UNCOVERED, THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL OF ALL, and HYSTERICAL. Before joining FX, Militante began her career in the mailroom at Gersh and went on to work for multiple agents within the motion picture literary department. "I am incredibly grateful to have Samantha Militante as my mentor. From the start, she has actively supported my aspirations of being a TV writer, both in affirmation and in action. As an executive, she has given me invaluable insights from the development process to navigating the TV industry (and life!) as a woman of color, and has provided me with resources that have tremendously helped my writing craft. Her wisdom and talent is matched by her kindness and generosity, which altogether have helped me build greater confidence in myself, my work, and the path I’ve set on. Thank you, Sam!!" — Chloe FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JANET BILLIG RICH
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
- JERRY HENRY
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
- JULIA ZAK
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
- LINDA CAMACHO
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
- KIMBERLY CARVER
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
- LIZ PAULSON
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
- 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
- SUNYA GANBOLD | Unlock Her Potential
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
- W. KAMAU BELL | Unlock Her Potential
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 | Unlock Her Potential
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
- JAIMIE LEE
FILM/TV JAIMIE LEE Drama Development Executive Amazon Studio As a mentor, I will guide you through challenging situations, help you establish a foundation for creative development, and boost networking skills, particularly those with creative executive or producing aspirations. I will not be able to submit scripts officially for consideration but can provide personal feedback for writers. Jaimie Lee is a Drama Development Executive at Amazon Studios. Currently, she is overseeing shows such as Donald Glover’s upcoming series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Prior to joining Amazon in 2022, Jaimie held development positions at SISTER, Apple TV+ and FX Networks, where she worked on shows like FARGO, AMERICAN CRIME STORY and PACHINKO. Jaimie initially intended on going to med school while at UCLA, but with a science degree in hand, decided to pursue storytelling and started her entertainment career in the mailroom at WME. Pronouns: She/her VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JUJU CHANG
JOURNALISM JUJU CHANG Co-anchor ABC News’ “Nightline.” Juju Chang is an Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline.” Born in South Korea and raised in Northern California, Chang graduated with honors from Stanford University with a BA in political science and communication. A former news anchor for “Good Morning America,” Chang joined ABC News as a desk assistant in 1987, later becoming a producer for “World News Tonight.” After reporting for KGO-TV in San Francisco and the ABC News affiliate service NewsOne in Washington, she co-anchored the overnight show “World News Now.” Chang’s work has won numerous awards, including multiple Peabody Awards, Emmys, Gracies, a DuPont, and a Murrow. Chang’s decades-long reporting career converged in two hour-long prime time specials in 2021. She co-anchored an ABC News Live special “Stop The Hate: The Rise In Violence Against Asian Americans.” Following the mass shooting at three Asian-themed spas, Chang co-anchored and reported from the scene for an “ABC News 20/20” breaking news special “Murder In Atlanta”, which won a Front Page award in 2022. Chang’s in-depth personal narratives cover pressing national and international news, spanning from natural disasters to terrorism and racial equity. Chang won a GLAAD award for her coverage of Matthew Shepard’s murder and the legacy his parents built in his honor. Chang has covered major breaking news for decades for ABC News including extensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, mass shootings, and global climate issues. Chang has profiled newsmakers like Joe Biden and Oprah Winfrey as well as high-profile celebrities including Jamie Lynn Spears, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Her extensive feature reporting covers mental illness, opioid addictions and parenting dilemmas. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- MITCH SOLOMON
FILM/TV MITCH SOLOMON Manager Authentic Talent & Literary Mitch Solomon is a well-established feature film and television literary manager, with over 15 years of experience representing writers and directors. He is also a veteran producer, with high level experience running production companies at major studios. In his position at Authentic Talent and Literary Management, Mitch’s special focus is his talent for finding the core story within any piece of material and identifying the right constellation of talent to give it traction in the marketplace. His passion for development is informed by his roots as a producer, running the production arm for Magnet Management, as well as previous stints leading production at financier Film Roman, independent production companies with Miramax and Warner Bros. and heading development at Robert Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises. As a producer and executive, Mitch oversaw award-winning productions such as Lasse Hallstrom’s CIDER HOUSE RULES and Redford’s QUIZ SHOW. Independent producing includes Sundance opener MY FIRST MISTER and thriller BLOOD IN THE WATER. In all, Mitch has been directly involved with over fifty produced television shows and movies as a manager, executive and producer. Mitch has a particular interest in politics, creating and partnering on 501c3 organizations that merged the film, television, and music businesses for Presidential and Congressional campaigns. Mitch is a graduate of Vassar College and is proud to live in Eagle Rock with his partner who runs digital marketing for ArtCenter College of Design and raising a rambunctious teen. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- HEESOK CHANG
PUBLISHING HEESOK CHANG English Literature | Author | Educator Vassar College "I will help you express yourself - your questions and ideas, provocations and arguments, your major and minor feelings - with power and precision, elegance and variety. I will not proofread your writing for publication. Rather we will discuss samples of your work with an eye on rewriting and put it in conversation with close readings of texts you and I love. At the close of our year you will be writing a prose that is conversational but free of bromides and catchphrases, that sounds assured even in the interrogative mood, that moves at a brisk clip but can stop on a dime, that can switch rhetorical registers from high to low and be steady in the pocket." Heesok Chang teaches English literature at Vassar College. He is the author of British Modernism (Blackwell) and various articles on literature and media, philosophy and critical theory. His areas of interest include continental philosophy, poetry, world lit, Asian and Asian American literature and film, media and politics. Heesok has decades of experience mentoring students: college goers who want to improve their academic performance and students who would like help navigating the various stages of grad school (starting and finishing a thesis, securing letters of rec, writing for academic publication, applying and interviewing for jobs and fellowships). But he will also mentor anyone interested in improving their reading and writing skills, non-fiction or fiction, poetry or prose. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ALLEN HUGHES
FILM/TV ALLEN HUGHES Executive Producer | Director Award-winning filmmaker Allen Hughes’ major leap into the entertainment industry came with his and twin brother Albert’s jolting debut as the 20 year-old creators/directors of Menace II Society. His other films with Albert include Dead Presidents, From Hell, The Book of Eli and the documentary American Pimp. Hughes’ most recent project was the critically acclaimed four-part HBO documentary series The Defiant Ones, the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. The series was nominated for five Emmys®, a Peabody® Award, and won the Grammy Award for Best Music Film, the IDA Documentary Award for Best Limited Series, and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special. The series was also nominated for the NAACP for Outstanding Documentary (Television), a Critics’ Choice Documentary Award, and an ACE Eddie Award. Hughes is the director and executive producer of FX’s Dear Mama, the first definitive, comprehensive five-part documentary series on the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur and his mother Afeni Shakur, who was an activist, with the full cooperation of his estate, including access to all of his music and poetry. The series debut scored FX’s most watched premiere for an unscripted series ever, and currently holds a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. Hughes is the executive producer of Netflix’s Arnold, the upcoming three-part documentary series which will chronicle Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey from the countryside of Austria to the highest echelons of the American dream. The series is produced by Hughes’ production company Defiant Ones Media Group. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JEMELE HILL
JOURNALISM JEMELE HILL Journalist | Author | Podcaster Co-Founder of Lodge Freeway Media Jemele Hill is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster. Hill is the Co-Founder of Lodge Freeway Media, a writer for The Atlantic, host of the Spotify podcast, “Jemele Hill is Unbothered” and author of Uphill, a Memoir. Hill’s decades-long journalism career has included stops at the biggest sports media networks and several reputable newspapers. Before joining ESPN, Hill was a sports columnist for the Orlando Sentinel from 2005-2006 – the lone African American female sports columnist in North America. She joined ESPN in 2006 as a national columnist for espn.com . Her profile gradually rose as she began to make appearances on television, hosting and featuring in SportsCenter, First Take, Around the Horn, The Sports Reporters and Outside the Lines. After her stint as SportsCenter host, Hill was a senior columnist for The Undefeated, ESPN’s sub-site that focuses on the intersection of sports, race, culture and politics. Her foray into daily television began in 2013, when she and longtime friend Michael Smith began co-hosting the daily sports discussion show, His & Hers, inspired by their popular podcast of the same name. In 2020, Hill and former ESPN anchor Cari Champion launched a weekly late-night show on Vice Network called Cari & Jemele (Won’t) Stick to Sports. The show covered politics, sports, news, current events and pop culture. Hill also is stretching her muscles behind the camera. She is the executive producer of the ESPN documentary on former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick. Hill is also currently developing a comedy series for Showtime with acclaimed actress Gabrielle Union. She has also appeared in crime series Power Book II: Ghost and The Best Man: Final Chapters movie. A veteran in the podcasting space, Hill’s two-time Webby award-winning podcast, Jemele Hill is Unbothered features in-depth, thought-provoking conversations with some of the biggest newsmakers across entertainment and politics. In 2022 the podcast won two NAACP Awards for Outstanding Podcast in the Arts and Entertainment and Society and Culture categories. Previous Unbothered guests include Vice President Kamala Harris, Spike Lee, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Colbert, and more. In 2020 Hill co-hosted The Wire: Way Down in the Hole, a podcast recapping every episode of the HBO series. In July 2016, Hill participated in Emmy Award winning The President and the People: A National Conversation, a one-hour town hall with President Barack Obama on race relations, justice, policing and equality. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- SCOTT HARDING
MUSIC SCOTT HARDING Music Producer | Engineer | Musician Underground Producers Alliance "As a mentor I can help you understand the different aspects of music production and decide which path you might want to take. Are you an audio engineer who wants to expand into production? Are you an artist or producer who wants to learn the language and techniques of engineering to better express what you want to achieve during the recording or mixing process? Are you a DJ or artist who wants to learn and develop the skills to make your own tracks? These are all things I’ve done and can help you understand. The other things I can help you understand are the different roles one plays in the studio. What do you do if you’re recording an artist or a band when there is no producer? I can help you understand the dynamics of the situation and how to read the room and see when to offer ideas and when to lay back and listen. How do you go from being a beatmaker to fulfilling the full role of the producer, from making decisions about arranging and editing to writing budgets and booking studio time. These are essential lessons in order to maintain a long lasting career in the studio. I have recorded, mixed, arranged, performed and composed on hundreds of records over decades and this has allowed me a unique understanding of the process of music production and I can help you shape the direction you want to take to make music." I am a Brooklyn, NY based music producer, engineer and musician. I have been making records for over 40 years both domestically and internationally, spanning multiple genres from hip hop to jazz, rock to singer/songwriter, folk to classical . I have worked with international art figures Matthew Barney and Stan Douglas and recently remixed the De La Soul catalog. I am also a founding member of the Underground Producers Alliance, an independent school for post graduates and professionals looking for advanced knowledge and extended techniques in music production, sound design, composition, performance and audio engineering. I was involved in developing 2 of its’ signature courses, The Ghost Program and Mixing the Hard Way, my personalized course on the concept and techniques for mixing music. As I play numerous roles in the studio, I have worked extensively in collaborative as well as non-collaborative situations and can help you to learn how to understand your role in the process. I have recorded, mixed, arranged, performed and composed on hundreds of records over decades of working in numerous countries and continents. This has allowed me a unique understanding of the process of music production. Some of the artists I have worked with include The Master Musicians of Jajouka, Wu Tang Clan, Teo Macero, Vijay Iyer, Nação Zumbi, Mos Def, Vernon Reid, Chris Rock, Medeski, Martin and Wood, The Jungle Brothers, Sexmob, Mach Hommy, Harriet Tubman, Salif Keita, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and many more. WEBSITE LINKTREE VIEW ALL MENTORS
- RICARDO LATORRE | Unlock Her Potential
MARKETING RICARDO LATORRE VP, Group Experience Design Director | Razorfish APPLY FOR MARKETING MENTORS WITH THIS LINK "Sometimes, in life's journey, you just need someone to help guide your inner light in the right direction. It's not always easy to find clarity alone, but I'm here to listen and support you." Ricardo Latorre is a dynamic experience design executive with over 20 years of experience transforming brands through innovative digital solutions and creative leadership. As VP, Group Experience Design Director at Publicis Razorfish, he has inspired award-winning teams and crafted user-centric experiences for leading companies. Ricardo’s journey spans pivotal roles at Prophet, Spredfast, Chasse C, and CompassLearning, where his passion for team culture, creative direction, and digital innovation has driven impactful results. Fluent in English and Spanish, Ricardo thrives on building connections between people and technology to deliver meaningful, transformative experiences. 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
- KATIE BARON
FILM/TV KATIE BARON Vice President of Creative Sony Pictures Animation As Vice President of Creative at Sony Pictures Animation, Katie Baron has supported a multitude of animated feature films, including the studio's Academy Award® winner "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," and Academy Award® nominee “The Mitchells vs. The Machines.” She seeks out and acquires new material to be developed from the conceptual stage, through story development and production, working with directors, writers, and artists at all stages. In addition to her work in film, Baron is also overseeing development and production of a slate of adult and family animated television shows, working closely with filmmakers on several projects set up apple+, HBOMax, Netflix and Adult Swim. Prior to joining Sony Pictures Animation, Baron worked in current series at Disney TV Animation on projects such as "Mickey Mouse,” "Pickle and Peanut,” and various Marvel series for the Disney Channel and Disney XD. Before venturing into animation, Baron began her career in live-action working as an assistant and then moving up to a Creative Executive role at Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Entertainment, where she worked on titles such as "Real Steel," "Date Night", and "The Spectacular Now." INSTAGRAM VIEW ALL MENTORS
- MARCELLE KARP | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV MARCELLE KARP Editorial/Creative Director | Brand Strategist | Marketing Magnet "I was never mentored at any point during my career. I had to navigate everything on my own and I made A LOT of mistakes. As a mentor I will guide you towards your potential and help you avoid burning bridges as I did. I will share whatever I possess in my skill set to help further you in your career path. My mentorship is a marriage of my experience, my wisdom and my devotion to my mentee." I have built my career understanding the power of the female brain on fire, the girl who is at the front, the woman juggling and struggling. Are you a writer? I'll show you how to find your voice, nurture it, unleash it. Are you interested in being a Creative Director? I'll unpack what that entails, guide you through corporate shenanigans, bolster your LinkedIn profile. Are you contemplating your next move? Oh my, let's get started. I can help you with any of those things. Here's some part of what I reign at: being your cheerleader. And here is a short list of some of what makes me right for you, how I tap into my voice, how I am always searching for more: I've had to tell Tyler Perry not to sing Millie Jackson's "Phuck You Symphony" in my on-air spot, I've had the great pleasure to produce a monthly stand-up show and I co-founded one of the pioneering zines of Third Wave Feminism, BUST. I've worked at SiriusXM/Pandora, BET, Madison Square Garden, the NFL, HBO, Lifetime, and so many other brands, as a Creative Director. I published my first YA novel GETTING OVER MAX COOPER in 2022. I got my Master's in Women and Gender Studies in 2023. And I'm just getting started. At my core, I'm a storyteller. I'd rather write than do most anything, and I know this: every woman has a story to tell. I'll mentor you to tap into yours. PRESS BLOG REEL "My marvelous mentor Marcelle expanded my perception of who I was by offering a safe space for me to explore my place in this chapter of my life. She told me, "Rejection is not the obstacle, it's lack of effort." This statement propelled me into my potential as a writer. Not only did Marcelle light the fire, but she also fanned the flame." — Janel "My experience with the Unlock Her Potential mentorship program has been nothing short of fantastic. I was selected to be a part of the program the first year and that’s when I met Marcelle Karp. During that year Marcelle encouraged and inspired me with her words of wisdom and kindness during our one-hour sessions. Her jovial spirit added a light-heartedness to our virtual meets which were during the pandemic. She always gave me a task to complete to help me stay on track to meet my goals, rather it was ways to expand my audience with my podcast or writing every day for 15 minutes, which eventually turned into one hour. As a writer, stand-up comic, and artist she was instrumental in helping me develop my level of discipline towards how I approach my creativity. I always left those meetings with my head held higher and a little bit more pep in my step. Thank you a million times to Marcelle for guiding and mentoring me, still!" — Rukeyah "I met my UHP mentor Marcelle Karp in 2021, the pivotal year I chose to break-up with my 10-year career as an academic mindfulness researcher. Determined to pursue a dream life as a creative professional, I pushed myself to land a new job as the Director of Communications at a Global Health NGO. I was ready to work with them to produce international video series about activist health workers in the pandemic, but found myself battling with severe nerves and impostor syndrome. Marcelle's mentorship helped me leap past my fears and step into the role to lead my team with confidence. She offered invaluable feedback as I successfully pitched, funded, produced, and launched the video series. Every conversation inspired me to tap deeper into my strengths, build new professional networks, and navigate the ups and downs of being a multidisciplinary creative leader. Since our year together, her advice has supported my capacity to take on new writing clients, travel internationally as a creative producer, and instill a work-life balance that aligns with my health and life goals. Meeting up with Sophia and Marcelle in New York after a year of Zooming in from California was an added layer of bliss to my mentorship experience. Now, as a UHP alumni, I aim to pay my blessings forward and open doors for other women of color within my industry. I'm honored to have been part of this mentorship cohort, and believe in growing this movement so more women of color can access lifechanging opportunities." — Sami VIEW ALL MENTORS
- MICHAEL OSTIN
MUSIC MICHAEL OSTIN Manager Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, D’Angelo Michael Ostin is a veteran of the entertainment industry. As Senior Vice President of A&R at Warner Bros. Records, Michael was involved in signing and recording some of the most admired artists of the time: Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Green Day, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Seal, Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, Nile Rodgers, and Q-Tip. After WBR, Michael served as President of DreamWorks Records where he worked closely with the film, animation, and television divisions and their principals Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg. In addition to his contributions in the music industry, Michael was an early investor/producer in the Tony Award winning hit Broadway show The Book of Mormon. These days, Michael manages the career of Q-Tip and legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and peerless singer songwriter D’Angelo. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JULIE BLOOM
JOURNALISM JULIE BLOOM Live Editor The New York Times Julie Bloom is the Live editor at The New York Times where she oversees a team of reporters and editors that respond to big breaking news across a variety of subjects with hubs in New York, Seoul and London. She grew up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2002 and has a master's degree in Journalism from N.Y.U. with an emphasis on cultural criticism. Prior to The Times, she worked as an editor at Jane Magazine. She joined The Times in 2007 on the culture desk. She worked there as an editor for eight years, before being promoted to International Culture Editor for the international edition based in Paris. She then returned to New York in 2014 to become deputy weekend editor, before becoming a deputy on National where she oversaw multiple big breaking news stories, including the Las Vegas shooting, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news, coverage of California, as well as the trial of Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. In addition she regularly writes for the culture section. She is also a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild and has volunteered for Girls Write Now. She lives in Brooklyn and is most interested in working with young women who want to develop as journalists. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR
FILM/TV KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR Senior Vice President of Original Programming Starz Kathryn Tyus-Adair is Senior Vice President of Original Programming at Starz where she has recently championed, developed and overseen production of series: BMF, BLINDSPOTTING, RUN THE WORLD, THE SERPENT QUEEN, STEP UP and VIDA. She has also developed and served as a production executive on OUTLANDER, POWER and THE SPANISH PRINCESS. Before joining STARZ, Kathryn oversaw TV and film development and production for industry icons Robert Redford, Halle Berry and Don Cheadle. With Cheadle, she was a producer of the Bill Murray film ST. VINCENT, as well as an executive on Showtime’s HOUSE OF LIES and on the Sony Pictures Classics’ Irish film THE GUARD, starring Brendan Gleeson. Kathryn’s earlier television work included series development for SESAME STREET producers Children’s Television Workshop. She later championed acclaimed Showtime series SOUL FOOD and the films BARBERSHOP and MEN OF HONOR for writer/director George Tillman’s State Street Pictures. Prior to joining Starz, Kathryn segued to the buyer side of the business as a Drama Development executive for NBCUniversal’s UTV Studios, selling and developing series across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. VIEW ALL MENTORS

























