Hear from the minds who develop some of your favorite stars in film, television, music, journalism and publishing. Talent agents and managers share how they discover top talent, what it takes to jump-start a career in this fast-paced, dynamic field, and the steps to finding an agent.
Sharon Chang, Partner and Agent, Non-Scripted Television Department and Broadcast Group, WME
Sharon Chang is currently a Partner and Agent in the Non-Scripted Television department and Broadcast Group at WME. Chang represents, manages, and develops a top-tier and diverse roster of news, sports, and lifestyle on-air talent, including anchors, correspondents, contributors, and host personalities in broadcast, cable, streaming and digital. She also represents premium production companies and has packaged shows across various platforms. Chang’s career was launched at CBS Sports, where she served as head of Talent and Production Planning, before joining IMG’s broadcasting group as a Talent Agent.
In addition to serving in WME non-scripted departmental leadership roles, Chang is actively involved in several Endeavor/WME corporate initiatives, including WME’s Development Committee Leadership Board which identifies and selects Agent trainees, WME Empower Leadership board which supports underrepresented Agents, and also co-launched a special WME Non-Scripted TV Toastmasters Corporate Club which is designed to develop leadership, communication and presentation skills of our Assistants, Coordinators, Agents, and Partners. Chang is a graduate of Vassar College, a current Trustee at Vassar, and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Teddy Petrocci, Digital Talent Agent, UTA
Teddy Petrocci is a Digital Talent Agent at UTA, with an impressive roster that includes household names like MORGAN RIDDLE, AUDREY TRULLINGER, and REMI BADER. He came to UTA from Elite World Group, where he served as the Director of Talent Marketing. During his three years at EWG, he oversaw all talent casting for digital campaigns with brands including American Express, Apple, BMW, Chanel, Google, Ralph Lauren, Samsung, Steve Madden and more. Teddy was also a Talent Manager at The Society Management on their creatives board, representing a variety of digital talent in the fashion and culture space. Prior to that, he worked at IMG Models in their talent division working to align mostly traditional model talent with commercial brands servicing talents like Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Hailey Bieber, Martha Hunt, Taylor Hill and Karlie Kloss.
Traci Wilkes Smith, SVP, Talent Representation, CSE
Traci Wilkes Smith is a Senior Vice President at CSE. At CSE, Traci has strategically built a dynamic media talent practice rich with experience, recognition, and diversity which has expanded the CSE brand beyond its well-known sports franchise into a well-recognized news and sports agency. She recruits, develops, and finds network opportunities for talent and creates brand development strategies through marketing, social media, podcasts, book deals and speaking engagements. She has extensive experience scouting and tracking talent, negotiating talent employment contracts and other industry agreements, and managing literary and content development processes. A few of Traci’s clients have included, White House Correspondent and MSNBC Contributor, April Ryan, Director of NBC Nightly News, Christian Alicea, Pulitzer Prize winner and CBS/BET News journalist, Wesley Lowery, ABC News Meteorologist, Somara Theodore, Fox Business Channel Anchor, Taylor Riggs, NBC News Correspondent, Adrienne Broaddus, and Political Commentator and cast member of the hit BRAVO TV Show, The Real Housewives of the Potamac, Dr. Wendy Osefo. Prior to CSE, Traci was an attorney and agent at WTA, a law clerk for the Superior Court of New Jersey, and an associate at ArentFox, LLP in New York. Traci has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion professionally and personally. At CSE, Traci helped spearhead CHU United, CSE’s Diversity and Inclusion vertical and advocated to start CSE’s HBCU Internship program.
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Traci is active in her community through board leadership. She served on the board of the Association of Black Women Attorneys and is currently a member of the executive board of directors for the National Blood Clot Alliance. Traci became an advocate for awareness of the signs and symptoms of blood clots, after surviving a pulmonary embolism at the age of twenty five and continues to be asked to serve on boards, of other organizations. Traci was also a fellow for the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) and is currently serving on the CUP Alumni Fellows Board. She is a member of the New York Association of Black Journalists, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Montclair Local Newspaper and is a Troop Leader for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey.
Traci is a graduate of Rutgers College, where she recently had the honor to serve as a TEDx style speaker for the 11th annual MARK Leadership Conference, the largest student leadership conference in the country. She also serves on the Rutgers University Executive Advisory Council, appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Traci is also a Rutgers University School of Law graduate and a member of the New York and New Jersey state bars.
Moderator: Mary Noonan, Talent Agent, News & Broadcasting, UTA
Mary Noonan is a News and Broadcasting agent with United Talent Agency where she represents network, cable and local on-air talent. Mary joined UTA after nearly a decade at ABC News as the Vice President of Talent Strategy and Development where she hired on and off-air talent for the network shows including Good Morning America, World News Tonight and ABC News Live streaming. With a discerning eye for quality and competitive talent, Noonan brought in dozens of correspondents, anchors and contributors. Her development, mentoring and strategic skills helped retain and promote many of ABC News’ award-winning talent during her time with the network.
Before joining ABC News, Noonan served as a Senior Producer in CNBC’s Long Form unit, overseeing and producing business documentaries with CNBC premiere talent. In 2012, she received the Edward R. Murrow Award for “Billions Behind Bars: Inside America’s Prison Industry.”
Noonan began her career at CBS News as an intern in the Washington DC bureau and went on to roles in New York at newsmagazines West 57th, 60 Minutes and 48 Hours. During her time producing at 48 Hours, she received two news Emmys. Noonan spent her last few years at CBS News as the Director of Talent Development.
She is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC and currently lives in Stamford, Connecticut.
Presented with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and NYU Production Lab
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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