Agenda & Session Lineup
November 17 - 19
Join us for three days of inspiration, motivation, and connection at our 5th Annual Women + Media Career Summit. Presented virtually via Zoom, the Summit is designed to help young women break into the business and be successful in their early careers. You'll hear wisdom and actionable advice from trailblazers across the industry and have the opportunity to network with representatives from leading media organizations.
The Summit is open to current students and recent graduates (1-5 years out of school).
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
6:00 pm ET
Welcome Remarks
Kate Stanley, Director of Programming, Center for Communication
Kate Stanley is a seven year veteran of the Center and is a seasoned producing and programming professional. Kate plans media site visits and career panels as professional development for college students. Before joining the Center she worked as an Associate Producer for Full Frontal Fashion, Reservations Required (VOOM HD Networks), The Fabulous Life (Vh1) and Fashion Police (Style Network).
6:05 PM - 7:15 PM
Opening Panel: The New Rules of Hiring
Recruiters at leading media companies share how their hiring practices have pivoted with the Covid-19 pandemic and remote work, and how candidates can put their best foot forward while submitting applications, video interviewing, and following up on early career roles.
Rob Barnett, Founder, Rob Barnett Media
Rob Barnett is a headhunter, management executive, author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. As founder of Rob Barnett Media, he has discovered, hired, and led hundreds of talented creators and executives in senior management roles at MTV, VH1, and Audible/Amazon. He was President of Programming at CBS Radio. A digital pioneer, he founded My Damn Channel, one of the first original online studios and networks. Representing diverse careers, companies, and opportunities, Rob’s multi-platform content and no-nonsense approach inspires people to define and sell their best professional brand.
Netta Dobbins, CEO, Mimconnect
“Passion Produces Perseverance,” says strategist and power connector Netta Dobbins. A values-driven entrepreneur, Netta’s work equips diverse professionals with the support they need to persevere as they, too, pursue their passions.
Her mission is born of personal experience, yet one that too many people of color have in common. After finding herself the only Black person at the table in various corporate settings, Netta decided to create an antidote to such workplace isolation. A natural community builder, she co-founded Mimconnect and grew it into the most engaged digital community and trusted resource hub for multicultural professionals. Mimconnect is an external support network that empowers those in marginalized communities to bring their whole selves to work, and has been featured in Ebony, Popsugar, Afrotech, BET, and more.
Mary Noonan, Vice President of Talent Strategy and Development, ABC News
Mary Noonan is the Vice President of Talent Strategy and Development at ABC News where she works to identify and recruit on- and off- air talent, as well as develop ABC News employees’ talents and careers.
Prior to joining ABC News in 2014, Noonan was a senior producer at CNBC in the long form unit where she oversaw and produced one hour documentaries for primetime.
Noonan spent most of her career at CBS News. Before leaving in 2011, she was the Director, Talent Development, CBS News in 2008. In addition to developing and recruiting on- and off- air talent for the news division, she also worked with colleagues at CBS NEWSPATH and at the CBS Owned and affiliated stations to identify and develop talent there.
She is the recipient of two Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing News Story (about Down syndrome) and for Outstanding General Coverage of a Single Breaking News Story (the Midwest floods), both bestowed in 1993.
Mary Noonan was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was graduated from Catholic University with a degree in American Government. Noonan currently lives in Stamford, CT with her husband and two children.
Sinan Sadar, Director, News Talent Recruitment, Hearst Television
A former TV reporter, producer & news director Sinan Sadar is currently the director of news talent recruitment for Hearst television, nationwide. He worked in various newsrooms across the country including in Houston & Cleveland. For Hearst he has managed news organizations in New Mexico, Vermont, upstate NY and Savannah. Sinan had been fortunate to have been a part of teams that have won 6 Edward R Murrow awards over the years (including first time wins in the history of two tv stations), the Walter Cronkite award for political journalism as well as “station of the year” honors from the New Mexico association of broadcasters and (separately) from the Associated pPress of NY. Sinan is a graduate of Syracuse University and patiently waits for the start of college basketball season every year (& football season to end).
Moderator: Alexandra Merceron, EVP, Rubenstein Strategic Communication; Lecturer in Discipline, Strategic Communication, Columbia University
Alexandra M. Merceron is a strategic communication professional, educator and scholar with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations use the power of digital, social and traditional media to influence publics and manage their reputation.
In addition to teaching at Columbia, Merceron remains active in industry, most recently as Executive Vice President at Rubenstein Strategic Communication, one of the largest public relations and reputation management firms in the world.
7:30 - 8:15 PM
PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING
Join your peers from colleges and universities across the country and abroad for an engaging round of speed networking. Meet and grow your network with other similarly minded students and recent graduates, exchange LinkedIn’s and social media handles, and discuss what projects you’re currently working on.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
12:00 PM ET
Opening Remarks
Katie Gordon Motwani, Partner, Media & Entertainment and Marketing & Sales Practices, McKinsey & Company
Katie is a partner in McKinsey’s Media & Entertainment and Marketing & Sales Practices. She helps leading media businesses—particularly video- and audio-content owners, distributors, and intermediaries—strengthen existing advertising businesses and create new businesses. On the other side of the media transaction, she helps marketers, as buyers of media, improve the performance of customer-acquisition and media-advertising spend, informed by analytics and the latest products and capabilities of the personalized and data-driven media world.
12:05 PM - 1:15 PM
Keynote Conversation
A conversation with Samira Nasr, Harper's BAZAAR‘s first Black editor in chief in the publication’s 153-year-old history and Nikki Ogunnaike the Digital Director at Harper’s Bazaar. The Nigerian-American style expert cut her teeth at publications such as Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, ELLE, and GQ.
Samira Nasr, Editor in Chief, Harper's Bazaar
Samira Nasr was named editor-in-chief of Harper’s BAZAAR in July 2020, overseeing content strategy and development across the brand’s print and digital platforms.
Prior to BAZAAR, Nasr was the executive fashion director at Vanity Fair, where she managed and directed the magazine's fashion department and all fashion content, including styling iconic covers such as the 25th annual Hollywood issue, the spring style issue featuring cover star Lupita Nyong’o, the May 2019 issue with Nicole Kidman and more.
This role serves as a homecoming to Hearst Magazines as she was the fashion director at ELLE from January 2013 to May 2018, and before that served as style director for InStyle. In addition to working with top fashion magazines in publishing, she has also styled campaigns for fashion and beauty brands, including Laura Mercier, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Clarins and more.
Nasr began her career in fashion working as an assistant to Grace Coddington, former creative director of Vogue, after earning a graduate degree in Journalism at New York University.
She is currently a member of CFDA’s Black advisory board, which is responsible for all of the organization’s efforts on inclusivity, diversity and equality.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Nasr currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her son.
Nikki Ogunnaike, Digital Director, Harper's Bazaar
After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2007, the Nigerian-American style expert cut her teeth at publications such as Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, ELLE, and GQ. She’s currently working as the Digital Director at Harper’s Bazaar magazine. You may also recognize Nikki from her time as the host of Snapchat’s Online, IRL and GQ’s Instagram TV show, The Run Through.
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Workshop
Jacqueline Peros, Founder, JMP Branding
How to Succeed in the Hybrid Workplace
Learn how to standout in person and online. Whether at work, in your home, or at the office, hear about the essential skills needed to build a great career.
Eryn Mathewson, Producer, CNN Audio
Office Hours with Eryn Mathewson, Producer, CNN Audio
“Office Hours” are one hour Q&A sessions between students and top media professionals. Eryn will talk about her career path and answer your questions about producing for audio and the opportunities at CNN's podcast unit.
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Partner Networking Session
Network with recruiters from such leading media organizations as Bustle, Disney, Discovery, Hearst Television, and WarnerMedia.
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Partner Networking Session
Network with recruiters from such leading media organizations as Discovery, Hearst Television, and NBCUniversal.
4:45 PM - 6:00 PM
Break
6:00 PM - 6:05 PM
Welcome Remarks
Alia Jones-Harvey, Associate Commissioner, Workforce Development and Educational Initiatives
Alia Jones-Harvey is the Interim Associate Commissioner of Industry Initiatives for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment. She joined the agency in 2015 as director of education & workforce development. By successfully building partnerships with employers, unions, non-profit organizations, schools, and City agencies, Jones-Harvey has launched educational and training programs that have served over 10,000 New Yorkers. She launched and manages the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre, providing $5 million in grants for women-identifying film, music and theater creators—the first municipal program of its kind in the country.
A native of Largo, Maryland, Jones-Harvey earned, concurrently, a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Spelman College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech. She completed her MBA in Finance and Marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business. The Olivier Award-winning and 4-time Tony Award-nominated Theatre Producer is the only African American woman lead producing on Broadway. She has successfully mounted or co-produced 8 plays and 2 musicals for Broadway and London’s West End.
6:05 PM - 7:30 PM
Panel: Creators Conversation
With a wealth of creative opportunities across various platforms, talented storytellers share how they carry out their vision and make compelling content that engages audiences.
Margaret Kerrison, Managing Story Editor, Story Development, Walt Disney Imagineering
Margaret Kerrison is managing story editor in the Story Development Studio at Walt Disney Imagineering. In this role, Margaret is responsible for the overall story direction and integration for projects in the Star Wars portfolio in which she guides Star Wars related story initiatives throughout all Disney lands, resorts, and attractions. To create such an authentic, compelling, and interconnected universe, she works collaboratively with Imagineers and the Lucasfilm story and publishing teams.
Margaret joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 2014 and has worked on several projects including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney Cruise Lines, Super Hero-themed experiences, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, Star Wars Launch Bay and Hyperspace Mountain in Disneyland, D23 Expos, and many blue-sky efforts. Before she became an Imagineer, Margaret developed guest experiences for NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Shanghai World Expo 2010 Information and Communications Pavilion, Heineken Experience, and Amorepacific Story Garden in Korea to name a few.
Margaret holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California. She was born in Indonesia and lived in Singapore until she moved to the United States for college. She enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, learning about new cultures, discovering new places to eat in L.A., and going on road trips with her husband and son.
Megan Marcus, Executive Producer, CNN Audio
Megan Marcus is the executive producer of CNN Audio, with editorial oversight of CNN's portfolio of podcasts, showcasts and smart speaker content. She came to CNN in December 2019 with diverse experience in podcasts, television and live events. Marcus launched one of the first podcasts to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic: "Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction with Sanjay Gupta." She also oversees new podcasts with Don Lemon on race in America, daily news briefings and a series of political audio products tied to the 2020 election.
Marcus began her career in television at NBC News in 2001. She started as a desk assistant in the Washington bureau and later moved to New York where she produced taped pieces and live coverage for NBC Nightly News, Rock Center with Brian Williams and NBC News Specials. During her twelve years at NBC, she covered multiple elections, debates, breaking news events and interviews with President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Tony Blair and then Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
Over the course of her career, Marcus has been recognized with News & Documentary Emmys, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia award and an Edward R. Murrow Award. Marcus grew up in Weston, Connecticut and later attended the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in International Relations, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001.
Tara Montgomery, Executive Producer and Head Content Creator, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
Tara Montgomery is Executive Producer & Head Content Creator for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, overseeing all on-air branded content for Oprah Winfrey (prime time interviews, OWN Spotlights, Super Soul, live events), most recently serving as executive producer for CBS' "Adele One Night Only' performance and interview event with Oprah, which garnered over 10 million viewers.
In 2019, Oprah’s partnership with Apple launched on Apple TV+, with Montgomery tapped as Executive Producer for the newly branded "Oprah's Book Club" author interviews as well as creating and launching the NAACP Image award-winning series "The Oprah Conversation," featuring powerful conversations with high profile guests including President Barack Obama and actor Elliot Page.
In 2020, Montgomery won two Emmys as she led production on the Netflix special "When They See Us Now" featuring Oprah's interview with the Exonerated 5 and cast of the Emmy award-winning series. Montgomery also produced Oprah’s two-night town hall on racism in America, "Where Do We Go From Here?" simulcast across all of Discovery’s networks and platforms reaching over 18 million viewers worldwide.
In 2021, Montgomery served as Executive Producer for the global television event "Oprah with Harry and Meghan," watched by over 50 million people around the world through CBS.
Zuri Rice, SVP, Head of Video Development and Content Strategy, Hearst Magazines
Zuri Rice is an Executive Producer, writer, and senior multi-media executive with expertise running productions and video businesses for companies such as Viacom and Hearst Magazines. At Hearst, Rice spearheads scripted, unscripted, film and digital video strategy, operations, production and development across 23+ brands including Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Seventeen, Elle, Clevver & Esquire. Rice was formerly Nickelodeon’s SVP of Short Form Video for Viacom Digital Studios. In this role, she oversaw the production and development of premium video content for Nickelodeon’s YouTube and Social channels for SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nickelodeon’s legacy and nostalgia properties, and all live action current series.
She has served on the Board for Colour Entertainment, a nonprofit organization dedicated to maximizing the potential of executives of color who work in the entertainment industry. Rice graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Moderator: Jaimie Woo, Senior Development Producer, Culture House
Jaimie Woo (she/her) is a Senior Development Producer at Culture House Media, a Black, Brown, and Women-owned premium production company for film + television and a robust cultural consultancy. In a time of deep social reckoning, Culture House makes entertainment forward work at the intersection of pop culture and politics and creates opportunities for women and BIPOC creators on both sides of the camera. In addition to her producer role, Jaimie is a Senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Facilitator at ReadySet, a high-touch consulting firm specializing in cultivating inclusive and equitable environments.
Jaimie began her career as a community organizer on economic justice campaigns, and later worked for then-Vice President Joe Biden on gender violence policy at the Obama White House. Upon leaving the Obama Administration, she served as a communications director in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she was the only female Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) to hold said title in all congressional offices throughout her tenure.
Friday, November 19, 2021
11:00 AM - 11:45 PM ET
PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING
Join your peers from colleges and universities across the country and abroad for an engaging round of speed networking. Meet and grow your network with other similarly minded students and recent graduates, exchange LinkedIn’s and social media handles, and discuss what projects you’re currently working on.
12:00 PM
Welcome Remarks
Patricia Ratulangi, VP Global Communications DE&I, Nielsen
Patricia Ratulangi oversees Nielsen’s internal and external communications focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Pat is responsible for proactive external communications around Nielsen’s insights on diverse audiences such as our Diverse Intelligence Series. She is first and foremost a storyteller — bringing to life our corporate narrative to engage diverse communities around the world and using our data to amplify underrepresented voices. With over 20 years experience in corporate communications, Pat supports our executives and teams with communications strategies to engage both internal and external stakeholders. She works with the Nielsen Foundation, our External Advisory Council and our internal Business Resource Groups to extend our community outreach.
12:10 PM - 1:15 PM
Keynote Conversation
A conversation with Kathleen Finch, chief lifestyle brands officer at Discovery Inc., who helped trail blaze what is now lifestyle programming. She commands the largest collection of cable channels on television—12 networks, including HGTV, OWN, Food Network and TLC. As one of the most powerful women in unscripted television, she has green-lighted and created shows that introduced the world to The Property Brothers, the Napiers, Bobby Flay and Chip and Joanna Gaines. Moderated by Audrey Adlam, SVP, Communications at HGTV, Adlam leads a team of communications professionals who develop and execute high-impact, national press campaigns that build buzz, deliver viewers and drive ratings.
Kathleen Finch, Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer, Discovery, Inc.
Kathleen Finch was named Discovery, Inc’s Chief Lifestyle Brands Officer in 2018, following the company’s acquisition of Scripps Networks. Finch leads Discovery’s 12-network portfolio of lifestyle networks, highlighted by HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, TRVL and OWN, among others. Finch also supervises the Digital Lifestyle Studios Group, responsible for producing video and social content in support of Discovery's digital businesses, including the Food Network Kitchen subscription service.
Finch’s portfolio of networks contain some of the biggest hits on television, including the #1 program for women on Sunday nights, TLC’s 90 Day Fiance franchise; HGTV’s Home Town and Celebrity IOU; Food Network fan-favorites Tournament of Champions and Buddy vs. Duff; ID’s On the Case with Paula Zahn and Evil Lives Here; TRVL’s Ghost Adventures and OWN’s The Haves & The Have Nots, Queen Sugar and Love & Marriage: Huntsville.
Moderated by Audrey Adlam, SVP, Communications, HGTV
Audrey Adlam, SVP, Communications, HGTV is a public relations and issues management strategist responsible for developing and implementing press policy for the network’s programming, on-air talent and consumer marketing initiatives. In her role, Audrey leads a team of communications professionals who develop and execute high-impact, national press campaigns that build buzz, deliver viewers and drive ratings. Under her leadership, the communications team helped make household names of many talented real estate, design and renovation experts, including: Drew and Jonathan Scott of Property Brothers: Forever Home, Brother vs. Brother and Celebrity IOU; Ben and Erin Napier of Home Town; Egypt Sherrod of Property Virgins and Flipping Virgins; Tiffany Brooks of 50K Three Ways; David Bromstad of My Lottery Dream Home; Hilary Farr and David Visentin of Love It or List It and Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack of Flip or Flop.
Audrey’s team also provides press strategy and support for home content on discovery+ and the network’s experiential events and off-air brand-building programs, including the extraordinarily successful red carpet premiere event for the EmmyⓇ-nominated series, A Very Brady Renovation.
1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Transition Break
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Partner Networking Session
Network with recruiters from such leading media organizations as Discovery, Hearst Television, Rubenstein, and WarnerMedia.
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Partner Networking Session
Network with recruiters from such leading media organizations as Discovery, Disney and Hearst Television.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Breakout Workshops
Lia Grigg, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
Listening + Asserting
In this workshop, we will use students’ experiences and exercises to learn about behaviors associated with good listening & asserting. Students will be able to apply these tools in dialogues with others and to consciously balance listening and asserting, the foundations of building relationships, in professional conversations.
Janice James & Cherice Hunt, Associate Producers, Culture House
Production Pro 101
Hear tips on how to thrive in entry-level production roles, including terms early professionals need to know, how to stay organized as a PA, how to adapt to working with a new team, and advice learned from working in the field.
4:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Participating Companies
