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

STEM DR. JENNIFER GARRISON Co-Founder | Director Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity & Equality (GCRLE) "Love science? Interested in longevity or women's health? I can help demystify the research endeavor from start to finish, no matter your career stage." Jennifer Garrison, PhD, is a passionate advocate for women’s health and is pioneering a new movement to advance science focused on female reproductive aging. She is Co-Founder and Director of the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity & Equality (GCRLE) and an Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. She also holds appointments in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at UCSF and the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC. Her research lab studies the role of inter-tissue communication in systemic aging, and how changes in the complex interactions between the ovary and brain during middle-age. Dr. Garrison received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular Cell Biology from UC Berkeley then completed her PhD at UCSF in Chemistry and Chemical Biology where she was a National Science Foundation Fellow and an ARCS Scholar, then was a Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Rockefeller University. She was named an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Neuroscience Research Fellow and an Allen Institute for Brain Science Next Generation Leader and is the recipient of a Pathway to Independence Award and a Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators from the National Institutes of Health, a Glenn Medical Foundation Award for Research in Biological Mechanisms of Aging, a Junior Faculty Award from the American Federation of Aging Research, and a Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award from the National Academy of Medicine. She has played an active role in the aging field, as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Aging Association (AGE), a reviewer for the American Federation of Aging Research (AFAR), and as Associate Director of the Buck-USC Biology of Aging PhD program. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV, C-SUITE JON RUBINSTEIN CEO Authentic Talent & Literary Jon Rubinstein is the CEO of Authentic Talent and Literary Management, and over the past 30 years has represented some of the top actors in the entertainment industry. Jon produced the award-winning film HIGHER GROUND, released in 2011 by Sony Pictures Classics after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival and served as Executive Producer on the 2020 documentary film WHY IS WE AMERICANS?, a cinematic exploration of Newark’s legendary Baraka family. Jon has long been involved in nonprofit projects around the world, working to provide prenatal care for rural women in southern Haiti, English language instruction to adults in Port-au-Prince, as well as projects working with children and teens in Guatemala, Kolkata, India, and Brooklyn. Jon received his BA from New School University and his MFA from New York University. He lives in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley. También da la bienvenida a hispanohablantes (he also welcomes Spanish speakers). VARIETY - Mimsi Gives Haiti Moms to be the Medicine They Need ENTREPRENEUR - How This Entrepreneur Built a Powerhouse Talent Management FORBES - How Authentic Talent Leverages Today's Attention Economy and Client Passion to Succeed and Grow VIEW ALL MENTORS

STEM, C-SUITE ANIL DASH Former CEO Glitch Anil Dash leads the team at Glitch , the friendly coding community where people have collaborated to create and share millions of apps, serving as CEO of Glitch until its acquisition by Fastly. Honored by the Webby Awards with a lifetime achievement award in 2022, Dash is recognized as a leading advocate for more humane, expressive, inclusive and ethical technology through his work as an entrepreneur, activist and writer. He serves as a board member for organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation , the pioneering nonprofit organization defending digital privacy and expression, The Markup , the leading nonprofit investigative newsroom pushing for tech accountability, and the Lower East Side Girls Club , which empowers and serves girls and families in need in New York City. Previously, Dash was an advisor to the Obama White House’s Office of Digital Strategy, served for a decade on the board of Stack Overflow , the world’s largest community for coders, and was on the board of Data & Society Research Institute , which researches the cutting edge of tech's impact on society. Today, he continues to advise respected startups and non-profits including DonorsChoose , Medium , The Human Utility , and Project Include . In 2008, he led a MacArthur-backed research project that did some of the earliest research on social media’s impact on policy making. And during his tenure as CEO of Glitch, the company became the first tech startup to voluntarily recognize its workers’ union. As a writer and artist, Dash was a contributing editor and monthly columnist for Wired, has written for publications like The Atlantic and Businessweek, co-created one of the first implementations of the blockchain technology now known as NFTs, had his works exhibited in the New Museum of Contemporary Art, and collaborated with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda on one of the most popular Spotify playlists of 2018. Described by the New Yorker as a “blogging pioneer”, his personal website has been cited in sources ranging from the New York Times to hundreds of academic papers. In 2013, Time named @anildash one of the best accounts on Twitter, and he is the only person ever retweeted by both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Prince, a succinct summarization of Dash’s interests. Dash has also been a keynote speaker and guest in a broad range of media ranging from the Aspen Ideas Festival to Desus and Mero's late-night show to SXSW. He’s also guested on most of the podcasts that you like. TWITTER VIEW ALL MENTORS

Check out our Publishing mentors for Unlock Her Potential PUBLISHING FEATURED HEESOK CHANG Professor | Vassar JEFF YANG Writer, Journalist | A. Magazine KEVIN BRUYNEEL Professor | Babson College LINDA CAMACHO Literary Agent | Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency TOCHI ONYEBUCHI Author PUBLISHING CHARLES YU Author | Screenwriter JEFF CHANG Writer LINDA CAMACHO Literary Agent | Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency TOCHI ONYEBUCHI Author DR. JENN JACKSON Asst. Professor | Author JEFF YANG Writer, Journalist | A. Magazine MARK ANTHONY NEAL Professor | Duke ELYSE CHENEY Founder and Agent | The Cheney Agency KATE SCHATZ Author | Activist | "Rad Women" MARYA SPENCE Agent | Janklow Nesbit HEESOK CHANG Professor | Vassar KEVIN BRUYNEEL Professor | Babson College PREETI CHHIBBER Author IJEOMA OLUO Writer, Speaker, & Internet Yeller LAUREN ABRAMO Literary Agent & Subsidiary Rights Director | Dystel, Goderich & Bourret STEPHANIE FRERICH VP & Executive Editor | Simon & Schuster Book Publisher VIEW ALL MENTORS

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

NEW SITE COMING SOON UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS WE PREPARE FOR 2024!

FILM/TV DEMANE DAVIS Television Director | Producer | Filmmaker DeMane Davis is a Television Director, Executive Producer and Filmmaker who has an overall creative deal with Warner Brothers Television Group and is currently EP/Producing Director on the second season of the TV series Brilliant Minds, starring Zachary Quinto. DeMane’s TV directing career began when Ava DuVernay invited her to direct on Queen Sugar. Since then she has directed and produced Found, starring Shanola Hampton; Naomi; the Emmy nominated Netflix limited series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker; and Clarice. DeMane has helmed episodes of For The People, You, How to Get Away with Murder and Station 19. She has also directed over seventy commercials, including the 2023 Super Bowl spot for PETA starring Edie Falco, selected as Best Celebrity Commercial by Entertainment Weekly. Both of the indie features DeMane wrote and directed premiered In Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival and internationally at Edinburgh. LIFT starred Kerry Washington in her first leading role and received two Spirit Award nominations. DeMane’s previous career as a Copywriter/Creative Director spans twenty-five years and counts Nike, Snapple, Reebok, Coca-Cola and Blue Cross Blue Shield as clients. When not working DeMane supports The Innocence Project and the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. Website Twitter Instagram VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV, C-SUITE DAVID LEVINE Chief Content Officer Anonymous Content David Levine spent more than a decade at HBO, most recently as EVP and Co-Head of Drama. During his tenure, he oversaw some of the premium cable network's hit shows, including TRUE DETECTIVE, WESTWORLD, SHARP OBJECTS and GAME OF THRONES. He is currently the Chief Content Officer of Anonymous Content, where he oversees all filmed content, including SHANTARAM, TIM BANDITS, DEFENDING JACOB, DICKINSON, and SWAN SONG. Previous to HBO, he was the VP of Development and Production at Mandalay Entertainment and a producer at Fuse Entertainment. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV ILANA PEÑA Showrunner Ilana Peña is creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy-nominated "Diary of a Future President" on Disney+. The two-season series has been called a “must-watch” by Parade, “wholly charming” by The AV Club, “consistently sweet, authentic and humorous” by Remezcla, won "Best Latinx Show" from the Latino Media Awards in 2021, and was nominated for a GLAAD Award in 2021 and 2022. Ilana directed episode 209 of "Diary" as well as an episode of the HBOmax comedy "Gordita Chronicles." Peña was named as a 2020 recipient of Forbes 30 Under 30: Hollywood and Entertainment, and honored in Variety's 2021 Inclusion Impact Report. She served as a writer on the CW series “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” where she wrote and produced multiple episodes, contributed song lyrics, and was featured both onscreen and on the soundtrack. Ilana is continuing to develop projects through her overall deal at CBS Television Studios in addition to writing features for Universal Studios, Disney+, and 20th Century Studios, where she is penning the reboot of the 1988 film "Working Girl" produced by Selena Gomez. "Getting selected for this program in the first place felt close to winning the lottery. The entertainment industry can feel like such a haze, so I'm lucky to have someone so close to help clear the fog. Beyond being someone I can go to for answers on industry questions and hesitations, beyond looking over my resume and recommending me for programs — which is already more than enough — it’s clear this is a connection that extends beyond just career advice, and I’m grateful to have it." — Jordan VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV SARAH PODEMSKI Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi Multidisciplinary Artist "I am a storyteller. Whether I am writing, acting, or making art, I am passionate about recreating the Indigenous and Jewish narratives that have been misrepresented for so long. As a mixed Anishinaabe and Ashkenazi woman, I am here to support, and share the resources that have helped me succeed in the entertainment industry. We are stronger together. After years of competing, and believing that the road to success is linear, I can finally say I have created an incredible community that is actively decolonising these beliefs and proving that we all thrive when we work together and share resources." Sarah Podemski (she/her) is an award winning Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi multidisciplinary artist from Toronto. From her first role in the German TV series Blue Hawk at the age of 11, to her award winning performance in the TIFF selection Mekko (directed by Sterlin Harjo), Sarah has been passionate about recreating the Indigenous narrative that has been misrepresented since the beginning of cinema. Sarah’s many credit’s include, CW’s ‘The Coroner’, Syfy’s ‘Resident Alien' and most recently the Peabody and Independent Spirit Award winning series, ‘Reservation Dogs' created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. VIEW ALL MENTORS

MELISSA ROSENFIELD Founder IFP Communications "Being a mentor with Unlock Her Potential has been such a privilege and the responsibility of guiding and empowering women to achieve their dreams and aspirations means so much to me. In sharing my experiences, offering support, and providing the tools and confidence my mentees have been able to navigate their personal and professional journeys. This role has given me so much joy and taught me so much about myself and my own journey, it has been an amazing experience and I plan to continue with it." "I'm the social director, the party planner, the camp counselor all rolled into one.” -Cosmopolitan Magazine As a born and bred New Yorker (by way of Brooklyn, to be exact), Melissa Rosenfield has always been a connector. Her affinity for the most cutting-edge, unique, and thoughtful cultural experiences and things has led her to a life defined by well-seeded relationships with movers and shakers (attaining her a certain level of notoriety at a young age) in a variety of lifestyle verticals, including but not limited to hospitality, fashion, art, music, and food. Being around trailblazers throughout her life, Melissa naturally decided to forge for herself a new and unknown path. As the world’s one and only “Director of Vibe,” she is a lifestyle innovator, luxury travel expert and social director all rolled into one. She connects brands with the right people, in the right places, at the right times, establishes authentic partnerships, and most importantly, alignments that drive business and yield a strong ROI. In 2010, Melissa made her role as Director of Vibe official and put the concept into the world by way of her work as a consultant with the Viceroy Hotel Group. By 2015, Melissa’s consulting role had landed her collaborations with GM, Samsung, and 1Hotels, putting her on a fast track to conquering the lifestyle space in both New York, LA, and beyond. Later in 2015, she took it one step further and launched IFP Communications, a New York-based agency that focused on creative brand strategy, marketing, and public relations. Since its launch, IFP has worked with true indie brands and notable brands, including Girlfriend Collective, Little Spoon, Soozy’s Grain-Free, Momotaro Apotheca, Supernow, GREATS, Wandering Bear Coffee, and more, taking them from obscurity to household names. Her most recent accomplishments perfectly represent her ability to challenge conventional business models; she was instrumental in launching multiple indie beauty and food brands into major retailers in 2021 and 2022, including Target, Sprouts, Ulta, and Walmart – including a sexual wellness brand that may have once been considered taboo. Melissa is incredibly active in her spare time – both figuratively and literally. She is an engaged mother of Sidney, aka This Vibe Baby. She believes No Kid Hungry is a major cause everyone should be paying attention to and often partakes in workout sessions with Peloton and Mirror at home. She loves spending weekends outside (weather permitting) and hanging with friends. And she believes in the power of doing things with a swagger and a smile. MARKETING VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV RUSSELL PETERS Comedian Russell Peters is an Indian-Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and author. He is a Gemini Award recipient and earned the number three spot on Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid comedians in 2013. Most notably he is the first comedian to get a Netflix stand-up special. He also won the Peabody Award and the International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming for producing Hip-Hop Evolution. In 2010, Peters published his autobiography, Call Me Russell. He has toured extensively all over the world and has already kicked off his 2022 US tour. VIEW ALL MENTORS

SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE CARRIE GOLDBERG Founder of Victims’ Rights Law Firm C.A. GOLDBERG, PLLC Carrie is the founder of Victims’ Rights law firm, C. A. Goldberg, PLLC which does groundbreaking work nationally fighting for targets of sexual violence, online and off. Carrie has been central in legislative reform for revenge porn, sextortion, and civil statute of limitations for sex offenses. The firm has removed hundreds of abusive social media accounts and over 40,000 naked images off the internet published without her clients’ consent, and represented fifteen individuals sued for defamation for outing sexual predators. Landmark cases include Herrick V Grindr and K.M. v City of New York which is the highest known recovery in a Title IX case in NYC. Recently the firm has opened a class action practice, pursuing mass torts against tech companies for the dissemination of child sexual abuse imagery. Her work for victims is featured in the documentary Netizens and profiled in The New Yorker, Elle, Wired, Glamour and more. She is the author of “Nobody’s Victim: Fighting Psychos, Stalkers, Pervs & Trolls” a 2019 NYT Editor’s Choice. WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK LINKEDIN MAILING LIST VIEW ALL MENTORS

MARKETING ILEANA DIEZ Brand Strategist | Creative Marketing Roc Nation Named one of Billboard Magazine’s 2021 “40 Under 40,” Ileana V. Diez integrates creativity and innovation into all things that she does. As a founder in her own brand strategy and creative marketing consultancy, Ileana works with global brands and companies alike to build bridges between them and real authentic people and culture. Previously Head of Marketing at Roc Nation, Ileana created and oversaw campaigns for 70+ clients including Rihanna’s first return to music in over 5 years, the launch of Rihanna’s luxury fashion brand FENTY Maison (LVMH) as well as Mariah Carey’s career-defining 30th Anniversary campaign. While at Roc Nation, Ileana also created an in-house ‘Cultural Creative Agency’ where she spearheaded innovative global campaigns for clients such as Afterpay. Prior to Roc Nation, Ileana was a senior publicist at Island Records, where she was instrumental to the launch of Grammy-nominated Shawn Mendes’ career as well as the re-launch of Nick Jonas’ solo career. Born in Puerto Rico but raised as a third culture kid living throughout Mexico, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA, Ileana's personal passion is empowering women of color within creative industries and as a mentor, can help you define your own personal brand, strengthen your networking skills, and help develop a clear career path to achieve your goals and dreams. "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

JOURNALISM MARGARET TALBOT Staff Writer The New Yorker Margaret Talbot has been a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine since 2004 and was formerly a Contributing Writer at The New York Times magazine and executive editor of The New Republic magazine. She is the author of The Entertainer: Movies, Magic, and My Father's Twentieth Century (Riverhead, 2012) and, with her brother David Talbot, of By the Light of Burning Dreams: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Second American Revolution (HarperCollins, 2021). "My Mentor is Margaret Talbot who is a staff writer with The New Yorker. Margaret is always so kind and thorough in her responses to my questions. Even when I ask her something very vague, she offers as much actionable advice as possible on the topic. She is incredibly generous with her knowledge, resources, and skills and really goes above and beyond to offer help and support before I could even think to ask for it. I feel so blessed to be mentored by Margaret!" — Amy VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV ALYSIA REINER Actress | Activist | Producer "As an actress, activist and producer, my secret sauce is thinking outside the box, actually I don’t even see the box most of the time. My passion is telling stories that deeply move and entertain folks, and also evolve culture. Let's go change the world together, one story at a time." Award-winning Alysia Reiner is best known as SAG award winning "FIG" on 7 seasons of Orange Is the New Black, and originating the role of Agent Sadie Deever in Ms. Marvel (Pan Asian Critics Choice Best Ensemble Cast). She just finished her 5th season as Sunny on Better Things (nominated for a Critics Choice in 2023) , her second season as Kathryn in STARZ’s Shining Vale starring with Courtney Cox and Greg Kinnear, as well as 2 seasons as KIKI on THE DEUCE. A few other filmed adventures include getting married in the Oscar winning film Sideways, getting naked in an Emmy Award winning episode of Broad City, and going head to head against Viola Davis on How To Get Away with Murder, and she plays Sister in The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something has Passed (Cannes 2023) and just wrapped O HORIZON with David Strathairn and Maria Bakalova. Alysia conceived of, developed, produced, and starred in the feature film EQUITY, which was bought/distributed by Sony Pictures Classics at Sundance Film Festival. She produced/starred in EGG which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival & is 100% FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes. Both on itunes and amazon now. She loves working as a change maker, is on the board of the Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media and Earth Day Initiative, she is a member of Resistance Revival Chorus, a volunteer firefighter (yes really), and received the Acclaimed Collaborator Award from Women in Arts and Media, a MUSE “MADE IN NY” AWARD from The Mayor’s office and New York Women in Film and Television, SARAH POWELL HUNTINGTON LEADERSHIP AWARD, VOICE OF A WOMAN AWARD, the PIONEER IN FILMMAKING AWARD, and the FOUNDERS AWARD FOR SUPPORT. INSTAGRAM WEBSITE VIEW ALL MENTORS

MUSIC, C-SUITE SUZY RYOO Co-Founder | President Q&A Suzy Ryoo is the Co-Founder & President of Q&A alongside co-founders Troy Carter & J. Erving. Q&A is a modern music company seeking to empower artists and their teams through technology, tools and services. She's worked at the intersection of tech, entertainment and media in Los Angeles for over 10 years. Since 2015, Suzy has served as the VP of Technology & Innovation at Atom Factory as well as a Partner at venture capital fund Cross Culture Ventures, where she finds, invests in and supports entrepreneurs creating next generation companies. Suzy graduated from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business in 2009. She serves on the non-profit board of URBAN TxT (Teens Exploring Technology) which exists to enable thousands of South Los Angeles teens to become catalysts of change through tech, community and leadership. Suzy is originally from South Korea, and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1992. INSTAGRAM - SUZY INSTAGRAM - Q&A INSTAGRM - HUMAN RESOURCES GIRLBOSS RADIO - Whether your startup has potential or not, with Suzy Ryoo of Q&A BUSINESS INSIDER - How a LA Music Mogul and Venture Capitalist Decides What to Invest in TECHCRUNCH - Investors are still failing to back founders from diverse backgrounds VIEW ALL MENTORS

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

SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY KATIE WAGNER, ESQ Executive Director Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Kate Wagner is the Executive Director of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA), which provides legal and education services to the New York arts community. She is responsible for developing VLA’s legal services, education, and advocacy programming, and facilitating pro bono legal representation for hundreds of artists and arts and cultural organizations in need each year. Prior to joining VLA, Ms. Wagner was Vice President and Counsel for the National Music Publishers’ Association, the leading trade organization representing the interests of music publishers in the United States. Ms. Wagner served as a legal advisor for the litigation and policy initiatives of the association. She also focused on NMPA’s overall litigation efforts and related licensing offerings. Ms. Wagner began her legal career in private practice, specializing in intellectual property and complex business transaction proceedings. She received her B.A. from Duke University and her J.D. from Tulane University Law School, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. VIEW ALL MENTORS

FILM/TV KELVIN YU Actor | Executive Producer | Screenwriter Kelvin Yu is an actor, Executive Producer, and Emmy-winning writer on the hit animated series BOB’S BURGERS on FOX. He’s also the showrunner of the animated series CENTRAL PARK on Apple TV+. He will next be seen in the series THE AFTER PARTY, alongside Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Dave Franco, and Sam Richardson on AppleTV+. He’s best known for playing Aziz Ansari’s best friend ‘Brian’ in the Netflix series MASTER OF NONE. Other notable acting credits include “STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, MILK, STAR TREK, AND WONDER WOMAN 1984. A native of Los Angeles, Yu is a graduate of UCLA and an outspoken advocate for diversity and empowerment in the Asian-American community. He also has a 17-year-old dog. VIEW ALL MENTORS