2026 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED - VIEW ALL MENTORS
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- 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
- PAUL BROUCEK
MUSIC, C-SUITE PAUL BROUCEK President of Music Warner Bros. Pictures Paul Broucek began his film career as an assistant engineer on the mix of APOCALYPSE NOW. In the 1980s, Broucek went on to join the music engineering staff at the legendary Record Plant. By the end of the decade Broucek moved to music supervision, overseeing a mix of feature films and television projects. He joined the New Line Cinema music department in 1996 and was named President in 2001. During Broucek’s tenure at New Line, he oversaw the music for projects as diverse as AUSTIN POWERS, the RUSH HOUR series, AMERICAN HISTORY X and the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Broucek was named President, of Music at WB in 2009. On top of his administrative duties, he continues to serve as the creative music executive on a full slate of films annually including THE HOBBIT trilogy, INCEPTION, GRAVITY, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, THE GREAT GATSBY, WONDER WOMAN, JOKER, TENET, JUDAS & THE BLACK MESSIAH, KING RICHARD and ELVIS. IMDB VIEW ALL MENTORS
- LENNON PARHAM | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director "I will be a sounding board, a cheerleader, and brainstorm collaborator for the direction you would like to head in your career. I can help you set goals and get specific about where it is you’d like to go. My expertise is in entertainment, specifically being a writer-actor-director mostly in the comedy world. Can’t wait to get started!" Lennon Parham is an actor, writer and director based in Los Angeles. As an actor, she just completed filming on “Holland, Michigan” a thriller directed by Mimi Cave and starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Macfadyen. And the new season of Minx (a comedy set in the world of 70’s erotic magazines) airs late this summer on STARZ. She directed two episodes of HBO’s acclaimed series “Somebody Somewhere” which just aired. Prior to that, she was a series regular on FOX's BLESS THIS MESS, for which she also directed two episodes. She co-created and starred in her own ½ hour USA series, PLAYING HOUSE, for 3 critically acclaimed seasons, also directing a HOOSIERS-inspired episode in Season 3. From TV, you may recognize her as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ incompetent Senior Advisor, “Karen Collins” on HBO’s VEEP. Additionally, Lennon has made a number of memorable appearances on television including CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, Netflix’s LADY DYNAMITE, AMC’s MAD MEN, ABC’s SCHOOLED, NBC’s PARKS AND RECREATION and more recently BETTER THINGS. On the feature side, she also had flashy supporting roles in THE HOUSE, HORRIBLE BOSSES 2, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC and OTHER PEOPLE. She has written a comedy feature for UNIVERSAL and is currently writing another with her long-time collaborator Jessica St. Clair. She is a proud alumnus of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater and the University of Evansville. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JIM LAHEY
CULINARY, C-SUITE JIM LAHEY Artisan Baker | Owner | Founder Sullivan Street Bakery "I can provide guidance on how to start a food-centered business, and insights into the entire spectrum on the food industry, ranging from retail to wholesale. I can also provide support in identifying what you need to do to be recognized, and to build a food brand. I will not teach you bread-making. I will not hire you or find you a job." Jim Lahey is an artisan baker, owner and founder of the Sullivan Street Bakery, in NYC and Miami. He is the creator of the no-knead baking method and author of “My Bread”, “My Pizza”and “The Sullivan Street Bakery Cookbook”. Jim has received two James Beard awards, for outstanding baker and “who’s who“ in food and wine in America. He lives in NYC with his wife Maya, his children, and his rescue dog Polly. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- HEATHER ANDERSON
SOCIAL IMPACT & ADVOCACY, C-SUITE HEATHER ANDERSON Chief Executive Officer Global Health Corps As GHC’s CEO, Heather provides leadership, management, and vision to drive GHC’s mission to mobilize a global community of health equity leaders. Since 2012, she has overseen GHC’s leadership development programming and training curriculum, partner recruitment and selection, and impact measurement activities in her roles as Senior Vice President of Programs and Chief Impact Officer. Prior to joining GHC, Heather was Vice President at Global Health Strategies, an international advocacy and communications consulting firm. She managed a portfolio of public and private sector clients, including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Women Deliver and GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines. Heather previously served as a Senior Program Officer at Planned Parenthood Global in Washington D.C. Additionally, she spent time in Ethiopia establishing a youth program for EngenderHealth. Before joining the global health community, Heather spent six years at Accenture, a management consulting firm. She holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. Heather lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children. Fun Fact: If she could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, Heather would be on a plane to France. She is a lover of warm weather and would be extremely content with a croissant in hand while on a long walk through the French countryside. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JACQUE COFER
FILM/TV JACQUE COFER Executive Producer Jacque Edmonds Cofer attended Princeton University, graduating with an A.B. in Politics. She also earned an M.B.A. at the Harvard Business School. Cofer left corporate life to become a television writer and producer. After completing the Walt Disney Fellowship program, her first network television-writing job was on MARTIN. Within two years, she had risen to supervising producer. Cofer has been the co-executive producer of six network comedies, most recently THE UNICORN, starring Walton Goggins on CBS and “DAD, STOP EMBARRASSING ME, starring Jamie Foxx on Netflix. She has also been the showrunner of four series including LET’S STAY TOGETHER, BET’s first original scripted comedy. Since 2016 Cofer has been a faculty member of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she is also on the admissions committee. She is a lecturer and thesis advisor in the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television and teaches Advanced Half-Hour Comedy writing in the MFA program. Cofer has frequent speaking engagements and has won the following awards: NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Comedy Program, MARTIN PRISM Award, from the National Institutes of Health and the Entertainment Industries Council, for accurate depiction of drug, alcohol and tobacco use and addiction, MOESHA SHINE Award (2), from The Media Project and the Kaiser Foundation for accurate and honest portrayals of adolescent sexual health issues, MOESHA President’s Award, from the Alliance of Black Entertainment Technicians Founder’s Award, from the Black Women Film Preservation Project "Jacque’s guidance has been instrumental in shaping the writer I aspire to be. My background is in advertising, so her depth of knowledge and years of experience in the entertainment industry has been invaluable in helping me navigate a new field. Throughout our mentorship, I've learned so much about the intricacies of TV writing, from crafting compelling narratives to understanding the nuances of character development. Her willingness to share her insights has given me a solid foundation to build upon as I continue on this journey. I am so grateful for the lessons she’s provided, and look forward to learning more from her in the months to come." — Nannette E. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- KIM WILLIAMS | Unlock Her Potential
KIM WILLIAMS Casting Executive | Casting Director | Producer "Casting is key to bringing stories to life and reflecting real-world diversity. Your unique perspectives can shape authentic and powerful narratives. Casting is not just about finding the right actor for a role, but about shaping the way stories are told and who gets to tell them. By learning about casting, you help ensure diverse voices are represented on screen. As a mentor with extensive experience in the casting process, I can guide you through the intricacies of this vital role. My commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in storytelling, coupled with my industry knowledge, equips me to support and inspire you on this exciting journey." Kim most recently served as Vice President, Casting at Disney Television Studios, a post she held from October 2019 - April 2023. Kim served as casting director for season 4 the critically acclaimed series Genius, this iteration, Genius: MLK/X, exploring the lives of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. She cast the lead in Lee Daniels’ upcoming limited series for Hulu, Sammy Davis Jr. She also cast the teen leads in the Disney+ series The Crossover as well as the pilot and first season of Freeform's hit series Single Drunk Female. She oversaw the casting for Onyx's new series Deli Boys, Lee Daniels' The Spook Who Sat by the Door for FX, Showtime'sThe Chi. She was instrumental in shaping the casts and overseeing and the FX series The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges and the Emmy-nominated season 3 Genius: Aretha. Kim joined ABC as director of casting in early 2019, working on projects for the network, Disney+ and ABC Studios, including the critically acclaimed For Life. Kim is passionate about diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity and was actively involved in several projects and initiatives across The Walt Disney Company. As an independent casting director, Kim worked on Greg Berlanti’s All American, Narcos, The Bernie Mac Show and Martin, and several Tyler Perry movies and series including Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and feature films including My Little One and Payment Received. Williams worked on The HBO Access Project, allowing her to guide casting while mentoring creative minds from diverse backgrounds over eight projects. Previously, at Paramount Pictures and Television, Williams oversaw the casting for Annihilation, Looking for Alaska, Jack Reacher: Never Look Back, Baywatch starring Zac Efron and Dwayne Johnson, Shooter, The Alienist and Grease: Live! While at Fox, Williams served as director of casting on shows including Prison Break, Glee, and Sarah Conner Chronicles. Prior to that, Williams spent close to a decade at HBO as a director of casting. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- GBENGA AKINNAGBE
FILM/TV 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.” Follow Gbenga Akinnagbe: Instagram: @GbengaAkinnagbe Twitter: @GbengaAkinnagbe Follow Liberated People: Instagram: @liberatedpeople Twitter: @WeAreLiberated Facebook: @LiberatedPeople Follow Enitan Vintage: Instagram: @enitan_vintage Facebook: @enitanvintage VIEW ALL MENTORS
- TROY CARTER
MUSIC, C-SUITE TROY CARTER Founder & CEO Q&A Troy Carter is the founder and CEO of Q&A, a technology and media company focused on powering the business of music via distribution, services, and data analytics. Formerly, Troy was the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, where he rose to prominence, nurturing the careers of global superstars, including Lady Gaga and John Legend. He most recently served at Spotify as its Global Head of Creator Services, overseeing the company’s growth strategy for artists and record labels. In 2017, Troy was also named Entertainment Advisor to the Prince Estate. His interest in the intersection of technology and culture resulted in the formation of AF Square Investments. Early investments include Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Spotify, Warby Parker, theSkimm, Blavity, Gimlet Media, Thrive Market, PlayVs, and FazeClan. Troy currently serves as a trustee for The Aspen Institute, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and CalArts. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- NICOLE HARJO | Unlock Her Potential
NICOLE HARJO Senior Vice President Paramount Television Studios "I can help you understand the TV development process, whether it’s helping a writer shape their vision into a show or a creative executive wanting to learn more about development or producing and expanding their network." Nicole Harjo is Senior Vice President of Development for Paramount Television Studios, developing half-hour and one-hour TV series for premium cable and streaming. Nicole has creative oversight over Paramount+’s series adaption of the classic psychological thriller FATAL ATTRACTION which is currently in production, as well as Showtime’s upcoming drama AMERICAN GIGOLO, and other projects in development including adapting the movie LOVE STORY and adapting the memoir YELLOW BIRD about Lissa Yellow Bird’s courageous work finding missing indigenous women. Previously Harjo was the Vice President of Television at The Kennedy/Marshall Company. At Kennedy/Marshall she was a Producer on Netflix’s first original Polish series, ‘1983’. Prior to The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Harjo was a Creative Executive at Stars Road Entertainment where she worked on the Emmy nominated Netflix series HOUSE OF CARDS. Additionally, Harjo previously worked in Current Programming at CBS where she oversaw the CSI: franchise, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, and TWO AND A HALF MEN. "Nicole’s mentorship fosters a space for learning through openness and encouragement. She never hesitated to answer any questions about the nuances of working in the entertainment industry and has given me the the tools to help decipher this industry that feels impossible to break into. Not only is Nicole an amazing person and mentor but an inspiring entertainment executive that is dedicated to uplifting others on their career journeys and I am grateful that she is guiding me in the infancy of my career. " — Annaliese FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- BRUCE COHEN | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty "Embarking on a career in film and television or already on that journey and wanting some help with next steps? Through consulation and advice, both practical and inspirational, I can help you craft a game plan." Bruce Cohen is an Oscar and Tony-winning, Emmy-nominated producer of film, television, theater, and live events. He received the 2023 National Medal of Arts from President Biden, for whom he served as co-chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, along with Lady Gaga. He won an Academy Award for Best Picture for AMERICAN BEAUTY and earned additional Best Picture nominations for MILK and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. His recent film and television projects as a producer are EX-HUSBANDS, BLINK TWICE, THE GREAT LILLIAN HALL, and RUSTIN. He was Emmy-nominated for producing the 83RD ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS, and as a career producer, he is a member of Producers United. He produced both the feature film and Broadway musical versions of BIG FISH, won the Tony for Best Play for co-producing THE INHERITANCE, was Tony nominated for co-producing SLAVE PLAY and as a co-producer of GYPSY starring Audra McDonald, now on Broadway. He lives in New York City with his husband and daughter. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ALYSSA CASTIGLIA
MUSIC ALYSSA CASTIGLIA Director of A&R | A&R Research UnitedMasters Directly out of college, Alyssa Castiglia was hired at Island Records to start their A&R Research department. One of her first signings at Island was 21-year-old singer-songwriter Olivia O’Brien . In September 2018, Castiglia spearheaded Island's deal with label Avant Garden, home to Emotional Oranges , THEY ., Chiiild , Slenderbodies , and Rynx . Castiglia then went on to serve as Senior Director of A&R at Primary Wave Music and concurrently, as an A&R consultant for Arista Records (Sony). At Primary Wave, she worked with such talents as Livvi Franc , M-Phazes , Tim Randolph , and two of the acts she signed at Island: Chiiild & Dante Jones from THEY . At Arista, Castiglia signed NYC’s own Princess Nokia as well as LA-by-way-of-Toronto R&B artist Idman . Alyssa is proud to now hold the position of Director of A&R/A&R Research at UnitedMasters , home to such inspiring artists as Brent Faiyaz, BigXthaPlug, Tobe Nwigwe, Superstar Pride, Liana Banks, Alina Baraz, Col3trane, and more. Alyssa is also honored to manage producer The Idiot , who is signed to Pulse Music, and singer/actor Algee Smith . VIEW ALL MENTORS
- 2026 FILM/TV | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Film/TV mentors for Unlock Her Potential FILM/TV APPLY NOW ALICE GU Director | Cinematographer | Photographer KELLY GOODE Senior TV Programming Executive RACHEL RAIMIST Director BAO NGUYEN Director | Producer | EAST Films LENNON PARHAM Actor, Writer & Director SOPHIA CHANG Storyteller | The Baddest Bitch in the Room BRUCE COHEN Producer | American Beauty MARCELLE KARP Editorial/Creative Director | Brand Strategist | Marketing Magnet W. KAMAU BELL Comedian | Host | Executive Producer DEMANE DAVIS Television Director | Producer | Filmmaker MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation KATHRYN TYUS-ADAIR Former SVP Original Programming | Starz NAHNATCHKA KHAN Showrunner | Writer | Director VIEW ALL MENTORS
- LENNON PARHAM | Unlock Her Potential
LENNON PARHAM Actor | Writer | Director "I will be a sounding board, a cheerleader, and brainstorm collaborator for the direction you would like to head in your career. I can help you set goals and get specific about where it is you’d like to go. My expertise is in entertainment, specifically being a writer-actor-director mostly in the comedy world. Can’t wait to get started!" Lennon Parham is an actor, writer and director based in Los Angeles. As an actor, she just completed filming on “Holland, Michigan” a thriller directed by Mimi Cave and starring Nicole Kidman and Matthew Macfadyen. And the new season of Minx (a comedy set in the world of 70’s erotic magazines) airs late this summer on STARZ. She directed two episodes of HBO’s acclaimed series “Somebody Somewhere” which just aired. Prior to that, she was a series regular on FOX's BLESS THIS MESS, for which she also directed two episodes. She co-created and starred in her own ½ hour USA series, PLAYING HOUSE, for 3 critically acclaimed seasons, also directing a HOOSIERS-inspired episode in Season 3. From TV, you may recognize her as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ incompetent Senior Advisor, “Karen Collins” on HBO’s VEEP. Additionally, Lennon has made a number of memorable appearances on television including CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, Netflix’s LADY DYNAMITE, AMC’s MAD MEN, ABC’s SCHOOLED, NBC’s PARKS AND RECREATION and more recently BETTER THINGS. On the feature side, she also had flashy supporting roles in THE HOUSE, HORRIBLE BOSSES 2, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC and OTHER PEOPLE. She has written a comedy feature for UNIVERSAL and is currently writing another with her long-time collaborator Jessica St. Clair. She is a proud alumnus of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater and the University of Evansville. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- C-SUITE | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our C-Suite mentors for Unlock Her Potential C-SUITE ANDREA HAILEY CEO | Vote.org BEKA TISCHKER Manager | Publisher | Wide Eyed Entertainment ELLA GUDWIN CEO | VisionSpring JESS TEUTONICO Executive Director | We Are Family Foundation NEAL SHAPIRO President & CEO | WNET ANIL DASH Former CEO | Glitch CARRIE GOLDBERG Attorney | C.A. Goldberg ELYSE CHENEY Founder and Agent | The Cheney Agency JIM LAHEY Owner | Sullivan Street Bakery PAUL BROUCEK Paul Broucek | President Music | WB Pictures ANNE CHOW Lead Director | FranklinCovey DANIELLE BELTON Editor-in-Chief | HuffPost GABE WHALEY CEO | Founder | MSCHF JON RUBINSTEIN Founder | Authentic RENATE NYBORG Founder & CEO | Amorai ANUSHKA RATNAYAKE Social Entrepreneur | myAgro DAVID LEVINE Chief Content Officer | Anonymous Content GORDON WILLOUGHBY Former CEO | WeTransfer MELISSA ROSENFIELD Founder | IFP Communications SARAH HARDEN CEO | Hello Sunshine BECKY CLEMENTS President | Tomorrow Studios DR. JORDAN KASSALOW Founder | VisionSpring HEATHER ANDERSON Chief Executive Officer | Global Health Corps MICHELLE RAIMO KOUYATE Former President | Sony Pictures Animation SUZY RYOO Co-Founder & President | Q&A VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ALIX TYLER
MARKETING ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist Instagram + Facebook “What can I do to stay inspired and brainstorm more effectively? How can I create a personal brand that will propel my career forward? How do you stand in front of a room full of people with confidence? And does a Creative Director actually get to be creative??” These are just some of the questions I can help you unpack. My process is a combination of inspiration and tangible, go-to tips and tricks. I’ll show you how to exercise your creative muscle, help you “own the room” when you present, and together we’ll hone in on your goals and build strategies to help set you on the path to success! Alix Tyler is an award-winning Creative Director and Creative Strategist at Instagram + Facebook, where she is seated at the table with CMOs, VPs and ECDs for some of the biggest fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands in the world—including Gap, Sephora, Vans and Kate Spade. Alix and her team live at the intersection of creativity and technology where she partners with brands to inspire, educate and guide as they build creative campaigns that connect with the over 2 billion monthly active users on the platform. Before Instagram, Alix spent over a decade in advertising as a Creative Director/copywriter where she created campaigns for Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Fergie…and some very sexy chips and salsa for Frito-Lay. With nearly 20 years of industry experience under her belt, Alix specializes in creative problem solving and is known for creating work that is both strategic and visually inspiring. Alix is also a skilled and engaging public speaker—something which has helped her throughout her career. She has co-hosted a Facebook Watch show with Queer Eye's Tan France, spoke at notable design conference C2 Montréal, hosted a fireside chat with celebrity photographer Alexi Lubomirski, shared Instagram best practices with fashion legends Inez + Vinood and Mario Testino, guest lectured at Stanford University, and even ran an Instagram Story School for the entire Vans Pro Skateboard Team. A graduate of Harvard University with a degree in anthropology, Alix is also a vintage lover, music video director, photographer and confirmed maximalist. She is a big believer that you should move through life with confidence but never take yourself too seriously. She is not afraid to admit she is a self-proclaimed Instagram addict. And no, she can’t get you verified. ALEXANDRATYLER.COM LINKEDIN VIEW ALL MENTORS
- NAHNATCHKA KHAN | Unlock Her Potential
FILM/TV NAHNATCHKA KHAN Showrunner | Writer | Director Showrunner, writer, and director Nahnatchka Khan has become one of the most sought-after creators in film and television, known for some of the most innovative works in comedy including "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23", "Fresh Off the Boat", and "Young Rock". Khan is the founder of her film and TV production company, Fierce Baby, which focuses on amplifying new voices and perspectives in both comedy and drama. In 2019, Khan made her feature directorial debut with the Netflix comedy “Always Be My Maybe", starring Ali Wong and Randall Park. The film premiered to rave reviews and Netflix announced it was viewed by 32 million households in its first four weeks on the service. In 2023, Khan journeyed into the horror category with her feature “Totally Killer,” a time-travel slasher-comedy with Blumhouse for Amazon, which starred Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen and Randall Park. The film released for streaming on Prime Video to rave reviews. Most recently, Khan served as writer, director and executive producer on Peacock series Laid, which is based on the Australian television series of the same name by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher. The series from Universal Television stars Academy Award Nominee Stephanie Hsu. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- 2026 SOCIAL MEDIA | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Social Media mentors for Unlock Her Potential SOCIAL MEDIA APPLY NOW ALIX TYLER Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Instagram + Facebook VIEW ALL MENTORS
- BECKY CLEMENTS
FILM/TV, C-SUITE BECKY CLEMENTS President Tomorrow Studios Becky Clements is President of Tomorrow Studios, a joint venture between ITV Studios and Marty Adelstein, with whom she’s worked for over a decade. In her role, Clements oversees the company’s robust development and current production slate. Becky is executive producer of multiple series including Tomorrow Studios’ SNOWPIERCER starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs (TNT); iconic Japanese anime properties COWBOY BEBOP, starring John Cho, and ONE PIECE (Netflix); and PHYSICAL starring Rose Byrne (Apple). She is also executive producer of HANNA (Amazon) and LAST MAN STANDING (FOX), starring Tim Allen. Previously, Clements served as executive producer of GOOD BEHAVIOR (TNT) and AQUARIUS (NBC). Clements, who began her career in New York at THE JON STEWART SHOW and The NFL Today, rose to the position of Executive Vice President at Brillstein Grey Television, where she shepherded over 50 pilots and long-running hit series including NEWSRADIO, JUST SHOOT ME and SAMANTHA WHO. VIEW ALL MENTORS
- JOEY BADA$$ | Unlock Her Potential
MUSIC JOEY BADA$$ 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
- GRACE TRAN | Unlock Her Potential
GRACE TRAN Director of Global Series Universal International Studios "As a mentor I can help you establish an understanding of the international tv landscape. I will help you navigate the tv development process both domestically and globally, which can range from helping writers shape their vision into a show to helping producers identify and learn the co-production model. I can also help you develop an understanding of the Current television process from the early scripting to cut stages." Grace Tran is the Director of Global Series at Universal International Studios, one of the scripted studios at Universal Studios Group at NBC Universal. She works across both scripted Development and Current across the US, UK, Australia, and Canadian series. She works production companies across the globe such as Heyday Television, Lark, and Matchbox Pictures to identify, develop, and sell global series. She has helped launch series such as Liane Moriarty’s APPLES NEVER FALL (Peacock), TRANSPLANT (NBC/CTV), and the Peabody winning series, WE ARE LADY PARTS (Channel 4/ Peacock). In addition to working with English language content and territories, she is helping to develop global projects for the Spanish speaking market as well. Growing up in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual household has informed her passion for telling global stories and hopes to continue creating shows that can help create bridges between cultures. A native of Southern California, she graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in Communications and started her career at CAA. FILM/TV VIEW ALL MENTORS
- ERIC OBERLAND
FILM/TV ERIC OBERLAND Development Executive Amazon Studios Born and raised in Milwaukee, Eric migrated west in his early 20s to break into entertainment with an eye toward working on impactful storytelling. Eric currently is a Development Executive at Amazon Studios, working directly with First Look and Overall talent deals, including Riz Ahmed, Michael B. Jordan, and Carlton Cuse, among others. Prior to Amazon, he ran the Scripted TV Dept. of LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Co., overseeing both development and production for six years. In his time at the company, Eric worked on shows such as Starz’ SURVIVOR’S REMORSE, Netflix’s TOP BOY & SELF MADE, and produced the “Career Mode” storyline for NBA2K20. Eric’s passion lies with working alongside tremendous creators and helping bring their stories to life. Prior to SpringHill, Eric worked in various capacities on-set for both scripted and unscripted productions, spent some time in post-production, and worked in Comedy Development at Warner Bros. TV. Eric currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jessica, and two children, Maya & Oscar. WEBSITE @OberlandEric @theghostmo VIEW ALL MENTORS
- PUBLISHING | Unlock Her Potential
Check out our Publishing mentors for Unlock Her Potential PUBLISHING IJEOMA OLUO Writer | Speaker | Internet Yeller MAUREEN POLO Head of Direct-To-Consumer | Hello Sunshine VIEW ALL MENTORS





















