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- ELLA GUDWIN
SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE ELLA GUDWIN CEO VisionSpring As a mentor, I can help you Lead a purpose-driven organization Navigate a career in the non-profit and social enterprise sectors Shift from doing to managing to leading Serve low-income customers and stakeholders Create a strategic plan Build and develop your team Measure and evaluate impact Develop fundraising plans and manage grants Succeed as a single, working mom Ella Gudwin is the CEO of the pioneering social enterprise VisionSpring . Under Ella’s leadership, VisionSpring has corrected the vision of 10 million adults and children with eyeglasses, unlocking $2.16 billion in income earning potential for households living on less than $4 per day. Why eyeglasses? They are a powerful tool for social and economic development, enabling low-income consumers to earn a living, achieve in school, drive safely, and improve well-being. Since Ella joined VisionSpring in 2015, the organization has: Grown its impact 5x to correct the vision of almost 2 million people annually Expanded from two to nine countries with 300 people in Bangladesh, India, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Vietnam and the US; and Raised more than $60 million. With 25 years of experience, Ella has led strategy and program development, emergency response, and Asia and Eurasia partnerships at AmeriCares ; foreign government and board relations at the Population Council ; and member convenings at the Council on Foreign Relations . Her passions for social justice and economic development took root when she lived and worked in Indonesia during the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the ensuing people power revolution. Ella earned a masters degree with distinction from the School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelors with honors from Vassar College. Ella is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Her work has been covered by the BBC , Financial Times , The Guardian , NPR/PRI , Forbes , Fortune , among other media and she has lectured at leading universities including Dartmouth, Duke, MIT, Stanford, Princeton and Yale. LINKEDIN “Ella is beyond patient, supportive and kind, while also fiercely direct, focused and strategic. Working with Ella has taught me how to effectively evaluate the operating landscape, including identifying both potential collaborators and competitors, and how to successfully create an immediate impact that positively influences achieving my goals. I couldn’t have matched with a better mentor than Ella.” — Kia VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JEREMIAH SMITH
FILM/TV JEREMIAH SMITH Cinematographer Hello, I’m Jeremiah Smith and a Local 600 Director of Photography. I’ve worked in the industry as a DP/Camera Operator for almost 20 years. The very first show I was a DP on was Pimp My Ride. From there I’ve gone to work on a vast number of different reality shows and scripted shows, the most recent being Abbott Elementary. Through the years of working in the industry, I’ve had to overcome many obstacles and challenges in my line of work. Those lessons have ultimately helped me to be a better DP/operator and learn many things about myself personally. I have a passion for photography and a keen interest to make ideas and concepts into a reality. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- RENATE NYBORG
STEM, C-SUITE RENATE NYBORG Founder & CEO Amorai "I am looking for passion, a hidden gem, someone who is ready to change lives. If you have a BIG idea and don’t know how to bring it to life, I can probably be a sounding board. I can teach you how to use Tech for Good, about building a rocket ship / global business, products that change the world, and subscriptions (my favourite business model) and the member economy. If you’re technical, I can teach you how to work with business/marketing/policy teams. If you’ve never written a line of code, I can teach you how to talk to technical/product/engineering teams. We could talk about. how to turn what makes you different into what makes you successful, get a start when you don’t have the right connections, degree or CV, or navigate being the only person in the room of a different gender, country or continent." From a gadget obsessed teen to founding her own company, Renate has spent decades immersing herself in every aspect of mobile and consumer technology. Renate Nyborg is the former Chief Executive Officer of Tinder, the world’s most popular app for meeting new people. Prior to her appointment as CEO, Renate was leading Tinder's European business. Her career has spanned the creation and leadership of the International Product & Marketing group at meditation app Headspace, as well as leading the app store subscription business in Europe for Apple. In her twenties she founded an app development company named Pleo and also ran Mobile globally for Edelman. Renate is of Norwegian and Dutch origin and has worked in London, Silicon Valley, Stockholm, Paris and Switzerland. She is a Philosophy graduate of Cambridge University. She loves her piano and music, as well as hiking or skiing around the Alps. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JUST BLAZE | Unlock Her Potential
JUST BLAZE Director of Music & Culture Brass Lion Entertainment 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. MUSIC VIEW ALL MENTORS
- MELISSA ROSENFIELD
MARKETING, C-SUITE MELISSA ROSENFIELD Founder IFP Communications "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. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- KEITH ANTONE
FILM/TV KEITH ANTONE Actor | Comedian | Writer | Producer Keith Antone is an actor, comedian, writer, and producer. As an actor, he has had success in theatre, in over 30 shows, even working for Nickelodeon and Tarell Alvin McCraney in CHOIR BOY. His television and commercial credits include CRIMINAL MINDS, TRAINING DAY and iPhone. As a producer, he created a short film, THEY GO. with his writing partner. Antone has also seen success as a writer, staffing on Netflix's hit show GENTEFIED. "My mentor is Keith Antone and I've had really great meetings with him throughout the year. Every meeting I learn something new. He is a multihyphenate like myself and it has been so helpful hearing his insight on the writing process, acting process, and balancing both. He has also recommended me for a writing competition and invited me to come to audit his audition class. He has been such a great resource for all my questions that come up and is very supportive." — Paige VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JOEY BADA$$ | Unlock Her Potential
JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist Pro Era Records, Badmind Records Joey Bada$$ is a rapper and actor born and raised in Brooklyn. At 17 years old, he and his Pro Era crew took the rap world by storm with the release of his first mixtape, “1999,” which is now considered a classic. His two subsequent studio albums, “B4.DA.$$” and “All-Amerikkkan Badass,” helped elevate him to become one of the hottest names in music. His standout role in the hit TV show MR. ROBOT put his acting talents on display for the world for the first time and has led to multiple roles since. 2019 saw him expand his acting career with a role as Inspectah Deck in HULU’s WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA, as well as recurring appearances in BET sitcoms BOOMERANG and GROWN-ISH. He recently starred in the 2021 Academy Award-winning Netflix short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, where he played protagonist Carter James. He also appears as Unique in the upcoming STARZ original series POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN. WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TWITTER SOUNDCLOUD SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC MUSIC VIEW ALL MENTORS
- KELVIN HARRISON JR.
FILM/TV KELVIN HARRISON JR. Actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. is an award-winning screen actor who recently made waves as the titular star of dir. Stephen Williams’s “Chevalier,” a biographical drama about French-Caribbean conductor and composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. In their review of the 2023 film, The A.V Club called Harrison “one of the most exciting actors of his generation.” Harrison worked on AMC’s “Into the Badlands,” Crackle’s “StartUp,” and WGN’s “Underground” before taking the role of ‘Winslow’ in the History Channel’s “Roots” mini-series. In 2016, Harrison landed the role of ‘Simon’ in FOX Searchlight’s “The Birth of a Nation,” which won the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. In 2017 Harrison’s performance in “It Comes at Night” earned him a 2017 Gotham Independent Film Award nomination for “Breakthrough Actor.” After first taking on leading roles in 2018’s “Monster” and “Monsters and Men,” Harrison has become one of the most recognizable faces in independent film. He has since had starring roles in films including “Jinn,” which won a Special Jury Award at the SXSW Film Festival, “JT Leroy” opposite Kristen Stewart, “Luce” opposite Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts, and “The Wolf Hour,” also starring Naomi Watts. Harrison was also applauded for his performance in A24’s “Waves,” in which he starred opposite Lucas Hedges and Sterling K. Brown. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Harrison was exposed to the performing arts at an early age, growing up in a family of musicians. After learning to play the piano and trumpet as a child, Harrison moved on to study jazz at the New Orleans Center for Creative Art. It was at the prestigious art school that Harrison developed his passion for performing. He began performing in local theater shows and musicals before enrolling at the University of New Orleans to study film. Early into his undergraduate career, Harrison booked a small role in “Ender’s Game,” an experience that empowered him to further pursue his passion for acting. The young actor loves his craft and enjoys researching and preparing for characters he plays. He is most inspired by the work of actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and director Mike Nichols. Outside of acting, Harrison is also a black belt in Korean martial arts and enjoys playing music. When not working, Harrison enjoys hanging out with friends and painting. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- FRANCIE CALFO
FILM/TV FRANCIE CALFO Producer Undisputed Cinema Francie Calfo currently oversees development and production for UNDISPUTED CINEMA, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood’s production company. Together, they are currently producing the fourth season of GENIUS – a dual biography of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. She also continues as Executive Producer of Marc Cherry’s Why Women Kill /Paramount +, Alex Tse and The RZA’s WuTang: An American Saga /Hulu, Reggie Bythewood’s Swagger /Apple and Jordan Cooper and Ms. Pat’s The Ms. Pat Show /BET. Calfo oversaw Imagine Television development and production for ten years, joining partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard in 2010. During her tenure, she developed and produced numerous series, including mega-hit Empire on FOX and Emmy-nominated Genius on NatGeo. In 2017, she was elevated to Chairwoman of Imagine TV, where she guided the TV division’s transition from POD (production overall deal) to fully independent studio. In 2019, she led Imagine to its most prolific year ever, landing six new series orders. Prior to joining Imagine, Calfo was an ABC Television Studios-based independent producer, where she sold and executive-produced numerous network comedies and dramas. From 2004-2008, she served as Executive VP of ABC Network, overseeing all scripted development and current programs. In that time, she developed and shepherded some of primetime’s biggest hits, including Desperate Housewives, Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, and Ugly Betty. Calfo had her first successful stint as a producer in 2003-2004, during which she executive- produced ABC’s Life As We Know It. This followed her work as a studio executive for Touchstone TV, where she oversaw all drama development, including CSI and J.J. Abrams’ Alias, as well as current series, including Home Improvement, Felicity, The PJs, and Sports Night with Aaron Sorkin. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- LISA CHURGIN
FILM/TV LISA CHURGIN Editor Lisa Zeno Churgin is an editor based in Los Angeles. She began her career working as an assistant on the cult classic, THE WARRIORS, which brought her to LA from New York City. She assisted on 2 more Walter Hill films before leaving the film business to pursue an MBA at Columbia University. But ultimately choosing her love of film over the pursuit of money, Lisa returned to LA and editing. While working her way up, she had the opportunity to work on RAGING BULL, MASK, THREE AMIGOS and THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST. As an editor, Lisa has worked on a wide range of films, refusing to be pigeon-holed into one genre. Highlights include BOB ROBERTS, REALITY BITES, DEAD MAN WALKING, GATTACA, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES (Oscar nominated as Film Editor), THE WEDDING PLANNER, HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, PITCH PERFECT and AN AMERICAN PICKLE. She is particularly proud of her 3 films done with Director David Lowery, PETE’S DRAGON, THE OLD MAN; THE GUN (Robert Redford’s last starring role) and PETER PAN; WENDY. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- CHRISTINA VOROS
FILM/TV CHRISTINA VOROS Cinematographer | Director | Producer | Screenwriter Voros came to cinematography through directing and shooting her own award-winning documentaries, later pivoting to the narrative space on films lensed for Tate Taylor, Theresa Rebeck, James Franco and Tim Blake Nelson. In 2018, Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey tapped her to direct an episode of their series Queen Sugar, opening the door to narrative directing. She since helmed episodes for Tate Taylor (Filthy Rich) and David E Kelly (Big Sky), while primarily teaming with Taylor Sheridan with whom she collaborates on Yellowstone and 1883, serving as Director, DP and Executive Producer. She was recently nominated for an Emmy for Best Cinematography for a limited series on 1883 for her episode "Lightning Yellow Hair" She is currently in development on her feature film, Valentine, which she will write and direct, inspired by stories of the people and land of West Texas, where she resides. The only daughter of Hungarian refugees, Christina Voros was raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she later attended Harvard University. She was granted the Dean’s Fellowship at NYU’s Tisch School of the Art’s Graduate Department of Film and Television where she studied under Spike Lee and Sandi Sissel, receiving her MFA in directing and cinematography. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- SOPHIA CHANG | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room "As a mentor, I will teach you to develop your negotiation skills, to have the hard conversations, to advocate for yourself, and find your true value. In short, I will set you on the path to becoming the Baddest Bitch In The Room." Sophia Chang is a screenwriter and author who is developing numerous TV properties, including a scripted series based on her Audible memoir “ The Baddest Bitch In The Room .” Her memoir will be released in print on 9/8/20. She was also the subject of an episode of the Hulu series “ Defining Moments .” Sophia created Unlock Her Potential, a program that provides mentorship for women of color. Sophia Chang is the music business matriarchitect who managed Ol’ Dirty Bastard (RIP), RZA, GZA, D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Q Tip, and A Tribe Called Quest as well as working with Paul Simon. She did marketing at Atlantic, A&R at Jive, A&R Admin at Universal, as well as serving as General Manager of RZA’s Razor Sharp Records, Cinematic Music Group, and Joey Bada$$’ Pro Era Records. She trained with and managed a Shaolin Monk, who became her partner and father of her children. She produced runway shows for Vivienne Tam and "Project Runway All Stars," was an account executive at a digital agency, and did business development at a cannabis company. AUDIBLE - Prologue of Memoir HUFFPOST - Opinion Piece on AAPI Hate "I learned tangible skills around contract negotiation and communicating with my management, but more than that, it was being around a force like Sophia that left its deepest impression. I had access and support from someone who is a model of advocacy, community, impact, and badassery — and because of that became more of who I want to be in this industry/world." — Nancy "My mentorship with Sophia changed not only my career, but the way I operate in this world. In our time together she not only helped me develop hard skill sets in personal branding, pitching, and team management but she also gave me tools to cultivate my confidence, advocate for myself, and to dream big as hell." — Kausar VIEW ALL MENTORS
- GIGI CAUSEY | Unlock Her Potential
GIGI CAUSEY VP of Production FX Entertainment "I’ve worked in many areas of production (Film/Scripted TV/Unscripted) both as a freelancer and in-house at both independent and major studios. While my expertise is in physical production (the details and realities that come into play once a script or show is green-lit), I work closely with creative teams and talent throughout all phases of a project from development through post production. This means I can offer perspective and practical insight as you’re working to find your passion and to hone or redirect your career path. WON’Ts: "I’m really looking to help someone navigate their overall objective and recognize their strengths and am not looking to give advice on a specific script or project. I will not read scripts or hear pitches." Gigi Causey joined FX Entertainment as Vice President, Production, in 2016. She is responsible for directly overseeing physical production on multiple series (Snowfall, Better Things, The Bear, Shogun) and projects in development for FX Productions. Prior to joining FX, Gigi worked as a freelance production manager, supervisor and line producer in New York and Los Angeles on independent films, unscripted TV, and major studio feature films (Queer Eye [the original], Safe House, Straight Outta Compton). She was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for Time Freak, a short film she produced and financed with her husband, who wrote and directed the film. Born in Costa Rica, Gigi immigrated to El Paso, Texas, with her mother at the age of six. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film. She began her career in entertainment in the art department of micro-budget independent feature films in Texas. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ALEX TSE | Unlock Her Potential
ALEX TSE Screenwriter | Executive Producer Xen Diagram Media "I'll share my experiences and pull back the curtain on both the process and profession of screenwriting." Alex Tse was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. After discovering his passion for film in college, he made the short pilgrimage to Los Angeles, bouncing around from temp jobs to gigs producing and promoting low budget music videos for such artists as Hieroglyphics, Living Legends and Del the Funky Homosapien, before breaking in as a screenwriter with his script ’87 Fleer. Besides co-writing the feature adaptation of Watchmen, Tse was also the writer and Co-Executive Producer of the Spike Lee directed Sucker Free City, an original movie for Showtime for which he won a PEN Award, and Superfly for Columbia Pictures. Over his career, Tse has also written projects for directors Michael Mann, Zack Snyder, James Mangold, Guy Ritchie and Justin Lin, and developed drafts of The Crow, The Phantom Tollbooth, Gran Turismo and Highlander. Currently, Tse and RZA are the creators, executive producers and showrunners of Wu-Tang: An American Saga for Hulu. "It has been an amazing experience to get time with Alex. He is super busy but to have an hour a month to be able to talk about the industry and give me tips on how to navigate has been a valuable experience. I’ve been able to meet him in person and attend a screening of one of his projects. He is generous, caring and wants to help me succeed by giving me honest feedback. I’ve gained so much confidence. He has reinvigorated my commitment to becoming a better writer." — Patricia FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JOEY BADA$$
MUSIC JOEY BADA$$ Rapper | Actor | Philanthropist Pro Era Records, Badmind Records Joey Bada$$ is a rapper and actor born and raised in Brooklyn. At 17 years old, he and his Pro Era crew took the rap world by storm with the release of his first mixtape, “1999,” which is now considered a classic. His two subsequent studio albums, “B4.DA.$$” and “All-Amerikkkan Badass,” helped elevate him to become one of the hottest names in music. His standout role in the hit TV show MR. ROBOT put his acting talents on display for the world for the first time and has led to multiple roles since. 2019 saw him expand his acting career with a role as Inspectah Deck in HULU’s WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA, as well as recurring appearances in BET sitcoms BOOMERANG and GROWN-ISH. He recently starred in the 2021 Academy Award-winning Netflix short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, where he played protagonist Carter James. He also appears as Unique in the upcoming STARZ original series POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN. WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TWITTER SOUNDCLOUD SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC VIEW ALL MENTORS
- FILM/TV | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Film & TV mentors for Unlock Her Potential FILM/TV CABRINA QUESADA VP TV | Heyday FRANCIE CALFO Producer JACQUE COFER Executive Producer LINDA G. KNOWLTON Emmy-Nominated Producer & Director SAMANTHA MILITANTE Director | FX BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty ALEX KIM VP of Development | Monkeypaw CELIA AU Actress | Filmmaker GBENGA AKINNAGBE Activist | Actor | Entrepreneur JOSEPH PATEL Producer | Director | Writer | "Summer Of Soul" MELINDA HSU Writer | Producer | Showrunner SARAH HARDEN CEO | Hello Sunshine BETH OSISEK VP of Content Development | Hulu ALEX TSE Screenwriter | Xen Diagram Media CHELSEY LORA Screenwriter GIGI CAUSEY VP of Production | FX Entertainment KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR SVP Original Programming | Starz MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation SHARLA SUMPTER BRIDGETT SVP Film & TV | Chernin Ent. BECCA RODRIGUEZ Manager | Grandview ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer CHRISTINA VOROS Cinematographer | Director | Producer | Screenwriter GRACE TRAN Director of Global Series | Universal International Studios KIM WILLIAMS Casting Executive | Casting Director | Producer NICOLE HARJO SVP Development | Paramount SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room AMELIA HANIBELSZ Former Exec Dir of Development | Founder | ABC News Studios DEMANE DAVIS Television Director | Producer | Filmmaker HELEN CHO Director | Producer | Showrunner LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director ROBERT KESSEL Former EVP of Narrative Film | Participant W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer ADAM NEUHAUS Founder | Neuhaus Ideas VIEW ALL MENTORS
- BAO NGUYEN | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV BAO NGUYEN Director | Producer | EAST Films "I’m honored to return as a mentor for Unlock Her Potential, a program that continues to address one of the most overlooked and urgent gaps in our industry: the lack of mentorship for women of color. This will be my fourth year mentoring with UHP, and each time I’m reminded of how powerful it is to build relationships rooted in guidance, solidarity, and belief. I’ve been fortunate in my career to have people open doors for me and I see it as both a responsibility and a privilege to hold that door open for others. As someone who works across cultures and continents, I know firsthand how essential it is to support voices that haven’t always been heard or valued. UHP creates space for those voices to thrive, and I’m proud to play a small part in that. I’m grateful to Sophia Chang and the entire UHP community for continuing this necessary work." Bao Nguyen is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated Vietnamese American filmmaker and founding partner of EAST Films, a transpacific media company developing content that bridges the Asia-Pacific and global markets. His work has been invited to screen at prestigious festivals including Sundance, Cannes, SXSW, Telluride, Tribeca, and Berlinale. He directed Be Water, a documentary on Bruce Lee that premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and became the most-watched ESPN 30 for 30 film on the platform. His Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, about the recording of “We Are the World,” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, launched globally as the #1 film on the platform, and received three Primetime Emmy nominations, four Critics Choice Documentary Award nominations, a Grammy nomination, and won both the PGA and Critics Choice Awards. His most recent film, The Stringer, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. He is a 2011 PBS/WGBH Producers Workshop Fellow, a Firelight Media Fellow, an alumnus of the 2012 and 2014 Berlinale Talent Campus, a 2022 BAFTA US Breakthrough recipient, and was recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He holds a BA from NYU and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. INSTAGRAM TWITTER HOLLYWOOD REPORTER - Who Really Took the Iconic “Napalm Girl” Photo? Director of New Doc Addresses the Controversy NY TIMES - How 'The Greatest Night in Pop' Got the '80s Right GQ - Bruce Lee Be Water Interview VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ADAM NEUHAUS | Unlock Her Potential
ADAM NEUHAUS Founder Neuhaus Ideas Adam is the founder of Neuhaus Ideas, an ideas production company. Before that, Adam spent 7+ years as head of development for 30for30, ESPN Films and ESPN+ developing and producing 100+ storytelling projects across feature length documentaries, docuseries, scripted adaptations, digital series, and 30for30 Podcasts. Adam is longtime supporter of the Ghetto Film School, previously serving on the Board of Directors and currently serving on the Advisory Board. Adam also serves on the Board of Directors for the Bushwick Film Institute and proudly serves as a mentor for Unlock Her Potential. WEBSITE LINKEDIN TWITTER "Adam has helped me in so many ways - it's hard to believe it's only been four months since we met! He has introduced me to a host of industry connections and consistently pushes me to grow in my career. I've seen tremendous progress already, and I am checking off boxes as I get closer to my dreams." — Chloe FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- MARK R WRIGHT
FILM/TV MARK R WRIGHT VP of Development & Production The Obama’s Higher Ground Mark R. Wright is the Vice President of Development and Production at The Obama’s Higher Ground, where he oversees a slate of scripted film projects for the company's exclusive overall deal at Netflix. In this role, he champions aspirational and entertaining stories across genres as a vehicle to unite and inspire audiences. Mark is an Executive Producer on Higher Ground's upcoming film Rustin directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Colman Domingo. His creative focus is producing unique and genre-bending narratives with people of color at the center to increase diverse images, experiences and perspectives available to audiences. For the work he’s accomplished, Mark was recently named one of 35 Rising Execs Under 35 by The Hollywood Reporter in the 2022 Next Gen issue. Prior to joining Higher Ground, Mark worked at MACRO, where he developed and executive produced Juel Taylor’s directorial debut, They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix) and Thembi Banks’ Young. Wild. Free. He also worked on the Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.), Alan Yang's Tigertail (Netflix), and hit sci-fi family series Raising Dion (Netflix), among others. Mark is originally from Cleveland, OH and earned an MFA from USC's Peter Stark Producing Program and a BS in Communication from Ohio University. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ONE9
FILM/TV ONE9 Director | Producer | Artist One9 is an Emmy-nominated executive producer, director and artist. One9 made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed feature film ‘Nas: Time is Illmatic’ which was selected to premiere as the opening night film in the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and has since toured the film internationally. In 2017, One9 produced a documentary on Race in America with PBS called ‘The Talk’ and co-executive produced and directed the Emmy nominated documentary film ‘L.A Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later’ with the late John Singleton. One9 co-executive produced and directed a 6-part series with Jigsaw Productions/Alex Gibney and QuestLove called Hip Hop: Songs that Shook America for AMC Networks which was nominated for an International Documentary Association award for Best Episodic Series in 2021. One9 is currently executive producing and directing the Nipsey Hussle series with the SpringHill company in 2022. AMC VISIONARIES | HIP HOP: THE SONGS THAT SHOOK AMERICA | CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR Each episode of this new documentary series focuses on a groundbreaking song pivotal to the evolution of American music and culture. Artists deconstruct their composition and dissect the socio-economic and cultural conditions that inspired the landmark work and gave voice to a generation. A&E NETWORK | L.A. BURNING | CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR | EMMY NOMINATED Twenty-five years removed from the LAPD beating of Rodney King—and the ensuing uprising that set South Central L.A. ablaze L.A. BURNING gives new insights into the racial divisions, the police response and the tumultuous events from untold POVs of those who were at the epicenter of the historical uprising. TRIBECA STUDIOS | NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC | DIRECTOR, PRODUCER | ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY FILM NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC delves deep into the making of Nas’ 1994 debut album, ‘Illmatic’, and the social conditions that influenced its creation. The film peaked at #1 on iTunes and is currently shown on Netflix, Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Prime. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- Unlock Her Potential | Mentorship for Women of Color
Mentorship for Women of Color - Unlock Her Potential's epic roster of mentors will share their expertise, experience, wisdom, insights, and guidance in order to help their mentees develop and advance professionally. Just 1 hour with any of these mentors could change the life of a woman. SUPPORT OUR MISSION JOIN OUR REVOLUTION 2024 - 2025 ASPIRATIONS We are actively raising funds to expand programming and community-building to serve thousands of women of color while shifting the mindset of stakeholders and gatekeepers. DONOR PDF VISION A society materially improved by the rise of more women* of color yielding power and influence while leading prosperous and balanced lives. MISSION To accelerate women of color’s* professional ascension through mentorship, career development and community . *This includes cis, trans, non-binary, femmes, gender non-conforming, gender-expansive, & gender-fluid people. PRESS UNLOCK HER POTENTIAL is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN: 20-4286082).
- MAL STARES
FILM/TV MAL STARES SVP, Global Scripted Blink49 Studios Mal Stares was born in Toronto, Canada but split her childhood between Germany, France and England. While majoring in English Literature at the University of British Columbia she started working in the Vancouver film industry. After graduating, she continued to gain experience in the business in a variety of positions before being accepted into the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. Following assistant stints at Millar Gough Ink and Mark Burnett's One Three Media, she joined former HBO exec Anne Thomopoulos as a scripted development executive where she worked on Outlander (Starz), Versailles (Canal+) and Black Box (ABC). She went on to help launch Scott Rudin's Los Angeles based scripted division, which had a deal with the Fox Networks Group, where she worked on What We Do In The Shadows (FX), Diagnosis (Netflix), and Barkskins (NatGeo). She then transitioned to BBC Studios, where she worked on shows set up with AMC, Netflix, FX, HBO, Showtime, Warner Bros. TV, Sony TV, and Snapchat, including Call Me Kat (Fox). She recently served as Vice President of International TV Production at Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), leading the company’s expansion into Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. During her tenure, she successfully sold Amazon’s first Australian original series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart starring Sigourney Weaver, played a key role in securing deficit financing for notable productions such as BBC’s Queen of Oz, SBS’s Swift Street, and CBC’s Run the Burbs, and set up Mammals at Amazon, written by Jez Butterworth and starring James Corden. She is currently the SVP, Global Scripted at Blink49, working across the development and production of their current and upcoming slate of scripted content spanning drama and comedy. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- TOCHI ONYEBUCHI
PUBLISHING TOCHI ONYEBUCHI Author "As a mentor, I will provide guidance not only on navigating the publishing industry--finding and acquiring an agent, dealing with both rejections and offers, thinking about the career you want--but also on your craft. While I cannot provide line-edits on your manuscript, I can help move you through to the completion of your book and strategies for revision. Ultimately, we will work together to help you tell the best version of the story you want to tell, chipping away at the marble block to reveal a sculpture you are proud of." Tochi Onyebuchi is the author of Goliath. His previous fiction includes Riot Baby, a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Awards and winner of the New England Book Award for Fiction, the Ignyte Award for Best Novella, and the World Fantasy Award; the Beasts Made of Night series; and the War Girls series. His short fiction has appeared in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Year’s Best Science Fiction and elsewhere. His non-fiction includes the book (S)kinfolk and has appeared in The New York Times, NPR, and the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy, among other places. TWITTER INSTAGRAM TWITCH PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - Tochi Onyebuchi Freedom Writer PEN.ORG - Pen Ten Interview with Tochi Onyebuchi WBUR - How X-Men And Black Lives Matter Shaped Tochi Onyebuchi’s ‘Riot Baby’ "Having a mentor through UP has profoundly changed my writing process. Working with Tochi has pushed my work in ways I didn’t even know it could. As a Black speculative writer, it can be difficult finding spaces and people who understand my work. Tochi has not only taken the time to see my strengths, but has asked questions and encouraged exploration that will make my writing even stronger. I’m incredibly grateful to Tochi Onyebuchi and the UP team for providing me this opportunity and supporting me on my writing journey." — Bria VIEW ALL MENTORS
- RAKHEE JETHWA
FILM/TV RAKHEE JETHWA Producer | Director Rakhee Jethwa is an Award-winning producer and director. She has developed and produced documentary and branded content across the globe for HBO Max, CNN, HULU, National Geographic, Red Bull, MTV and more. Her work has taken her to Texas prisons, slums in Nairobi and Gujarat, the Amazon rainforest and many places in between. She is most drawn to stories about the human spirit and what drives us, particularly within marginalized communities. Most recently she produced episodes for Take Out with Lisa Ling, United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell and Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi. In the early 1970s, Rakhee’s family became refugees after they were expelled from Uganda by dictator Idi Amin. It was in England that her parents rebuilt their lives and eventually moved to the Washington D.C. area, where Rakhee was born and raised. Though her roots are Indian, her identity is a confluence of several cultures which has given her a unique lens from which to see and interact in the world. Rakhee recently directed and edited a short documentary called Ragpickers , about a group of women in India who collect and sell recyclable waste to support their families. She is currently based in Brooklyn, where she’s practicing her cooking skills and developing a project about her family’s volatile and unusual past. Her hope is that by using story as a tool to center minority and marginalized voices, we may reveal a fuller and more expansive picture of who we are. "Rakhee has been such a great mentor for me at this point in my early career as she has patiently taken me through various explorations of viable and potential next steps in this incredibly wide-reaching industry. I now have a better understanding of specific skills to improve on for the path I plan to go down, but also transferable skills in case of a pivot to something else related. As a working producer, I most appreciate the confidence Rakhee has instilled in me to go forth and claim my place in this industry!” — Nadira J VIEW ALL MENTORS
- HELEN CHO | Unlock Her Potential
HELEN CHO Director | Producer | Showrunner "Having navigated the documentary TV production industry from the ground up, working my way through roles ranging from production assistant to showrunner, as a mentor, I can offer guidance tailored to your current position and aspirations. While I can’t guarantee you a job placement or introductions, I am happy to share insights and answer any questions you may have, helping to demystify the industry's nuances and making the journey feel less intimidating." Helen M. Cho is a Korean American two-time Emmy Award nominated director, producer, and showrunner from New York City. She is best known for her work on the critically acclaimed series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, and United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell. Helen served as Executive Producer and Showrunner of Take Out with Lisa Ling, now streaming on HBO Max. IndieWire named Take Out one of ‘The Best Documentaries and Docuseries of 2022’. Previous to her work in television, Helen was a digital consultant for clients: Anthony Bourdain, Ecco Press, and Steven Rinella. She holds a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. More importantly, she is the proud daughter of a nail salon worker and USPS letter carrier. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helencho Website: https://helenmcho.com Newsletter: https://helenmcho.com/newsletter FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS























