Join us for inspiration, motivation, and connection at our 6th Annual Women + Media Career Summit. The Summit is designed to help students and recent graduates break into the business and be successful in their early careers through keynotes, panels, and skill workshops. You'll hear wisdom and actionable advice from trailblazers across the industry and have the opportunity to network with representatives from leading media organizations.
Our thanks to our sponsors Comcast NBCUniversal, Disney, Hearst, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Special thanks to our knowledge partner, McKinsey & Company.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
TICKETS:
Student Early Bird: $10
Recent Grad Early Bird (1-5 years out of school): $20
Tickets beginning November 21: Current Student $15, Recent Grad $30
Registration closes Wednesday, November 30th at 5:00 PM EDT. We are unable to accommodate new registrations the day of the event.
Your ticket is fully refundable up until Monday, November 28th at 5:00 PM EDT. After that time, we are unable to process refund requests.
Dress code is business attire. No sneakers, no jeans.
Agenda
8:30 AM — Registration
9:00 AM — Welcome Remarks: Anne del Castillo
ANNE DEL CASTILLO, COMMISSIONER, NYC MAYOR'S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT (MOME)
Anne del Castillo is Commissioner of the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME). Del Castillo has more than 25 years of experience in film and TV production, public media, arts and nonprofit administration. Since her appointment in 2019, she has focused on bolstering NYC's world-class arts, entertainment and nightlife sectors and advancing an economy that works for all New Yorkers.
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Commissioner del Castillo has led the economic recovery of the city's creative and nightlife industries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, television and film production made a strong return by fall 2020, and Broadway safely reopened in 2021. In addition, she has worked closely with other city agencies to create Music for the Soul and Music Heals to provide paid gigs for local musicians while also supporting frontline workers at hospitals and vaccine centers; Open Culture to allow arts and entertainment groups to organize ticketed performances in public spaces; the Broadway Vaccination Center to support entertainment and nightlife workers in a safe return to work; and Curtains Up NYC and Fair Share Restaurants to assist NYC live venues and bars and restaurants with applying for federal grants.
Her efforts during the pandemic earned del Castillo recognition in Variety's "New York Women's Impact Report," City & State's "Power of Diversity," and Deadline's "Disruptors," as well as the New York State Senate Woman of Distinction Award.
Prior to her appointment, Commissioner del Castillo served as Director of Legal Affairs and then Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of MOME. Since joining the agency in 2014, she has guided the development of numerous initiatives, including: Broadway / Off-Broadway in the Boros to bring free live performances to the five boroughs; New York Music Month to provide resources, workshops and seminars for NYC musicians and industry professionals at various stages in their careers; the Freelancers Hub to create a central resource hub for freelance workers in the creative industries; the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre; a series of training and educational programs to increase diversity in film and television, theater, music production, and animation; and a deal with Berklee NYC to save the iconic Power Station recording studios.
Previously, del Castillo worked as VP of Development and Business Affairs at American Documentary, producer of the award-winning PBS documentary series POV and Associate Director of the Austin Film Society. She consulted on numerous film projects, and served as associate producer on the Sundance award-winning documentary "Imelda," about the former First Lady of the Philippines. Del Castillo is a member of the Advertising Week New York Advisory Council, the Center for Communications Board of Directors, and The Paley Center for Media Board of Trustees. She holds a BA in English Literature and BS in Mass Communications from Boston University, and a JD from Brooklyn Law School. A native New Yorker, she grew up in Stuyvesant Town, where she is raising her son.
9:15 AM — Networking Breakfast
10:15 AM — Panel Session: Mapping Out Your Career Journey
As you start your media career, the future is bright—and there is no better time than the present to take initiative and set your career goals. Women who work in media share how they took control of their career journeys and made connections that led to promotions and professional achievements.
VENUS ANDERSON, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, "MADE IN NY" PRODUCTION ASSISTANT PROGRAM, BROOKLYN WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS
Venus Anderson (Program Director) has been on staff with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations’ “Made in NY” Production Assistant Training Program since December 2011. Prior to her current position as the MINY Program Director, Venus was the Program Administrator; handling administrative duties for the program participants.
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She earned her BA in Mass Communication from The Ohio State University. A native New Yorker, Venus entered the “Made in NY” Production Assistant Program as a student in 2008. Upon graduation she worked as a Production Assistant on various shows including “Project Runway” & “America’s Next Top Model”. She was also an event coordinator on live events such as “The Revlon Run Walk”. To date, she has worked to train and place over 1,000 New Yorkers as Production Assistants into the world of tv/film in NYC.
GUNJAN BANERJI, LEAD WRITER, LIVE MARKETS, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Gunjan Banerji is the lead writer for The Wall Street Journal's Live Markets. Her articles and videos have covered the biggest stories in financial markets of the past decade, spanning stocks, bonds and derivatives. She regularly appears on national television to discuss her reporting as a CNBC contributor.
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Gunjan helped lead the Journal’s award-winning coverage of retail investing and the meme stock mania that swept markets in 2021. Her work won the Gerald Loeb award for breaking news, the New York Press Club Award for national business reporting and a Front Page Award from the Newswomen’s Club of New York. Her reporting on GameStop is also the basis for Eat the Rich, a Netflix documentary on the frenzy.
Before she joined the Journal, she wrote about distressed credit markets and municipal bonds at Debtwire. Born and raised in New York, she studied Economics at New York University and earned a graduate degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. You can follow Gunjan on Twitter at @gunjanjs.
HEATHER BROWN, SENIOR DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, PARAMOUNT
Heather Brown is a communications leader with over 15 years of experience developing and executing successful PR campaigns for global media brands, including Nickelodeon, CNN, and Paramount. She has led publicity on high-profile TV series such as the Emmy Award-winning Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, and Dora the Explorer. She has also led press, talent, and red-carpet logistics at large-scale events such as the MTV VMAs, MTV EMAs, Emmys, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, CNN Heroes, and Kids’ Choice Awards.
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She is currently a Senior Director of International Communications for Paramount. In this role, she oversees consumer publicity internationally for Paramount’s Global Music, Unscripted and Adult Animation content across streaming (Paramount+ and Pluto TV) and linear (MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Smithsonian). She most recently led the press campaign for the 2022 MTV EMAs in Düsseldorf, Germany, which generated over 11,000 pieces of coverage with 25 billion media impressions globally. In addition, she leads DE&I communications for Paramount internationally, programming and promoting internal panel discussions and securing external press.
Heather has an MS in Strategic Communications from Columbia University in New York and a BA in Communications and Journalism from Miami University. She resides in New York City but will always be a proud Ohio Buckeye.
SABINA GHEBREMEDHIN, COORDINATING PRODUCER, RACE & CULTURE UNIT, ABC NEWS
Sabina Ghebremedhin serves as the Coordinating Producer, Head of the Race & Culture vertical where she directs and leads the multi-platform reporting efforts of the team. Sabina is an Emmy award-winning journalist and was most recently recognized with a Murrow Award for Excellence In Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a Peabody Award for the 20/20 Special, “Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor,” Front Page Television and Webby Award for her work on the cross-platform project "Their Painful Bond: Black Mothers Speak Out Together on Their Unimaginable Loss," originally launched on GMA digital.
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She has produced for a number of ABC News’ special projects, including: Peabody award winning 20/20:“Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor,” “Nowhere to Run: the Ahmaud Arbery story," George Floyd, Soul of A Nation, Corazon de America, Pride: To Be Seen, Together as One: Celebrating Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, America in Pain, Turning Point, and Juneteenth. She most recently served as the West Coast coordinating producer for Good Morning America, landing scores of exclusive interviews on some of the most challenging stories, including multiple mass shootings and riots.
MODERATOR: CAYLEY HELLER, ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, MCKINSEY & COMPANY
Cayley is an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. As part of the firm's Growth, Marketing & Sales practice, she helps clients on topics ranging from growth strategy to commerce media to marketing capability building.
Cayley earned a Bachelors of Science in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. She loves great stories in any form.
11:30 AM — Networking Session
Featuring representatives from:
Hearst Television
Paramount Global
Warner Bros. Discovery
Unilever
A+E Networks
ABC News
BRIC Arts Media
Edna Cowan Management
Hearst Magazines
12:30 PM — Lunch and Informal Networking
1:30 PM and 2:30 PM — Breakout Skill Workshops
Tools for Success: How to Thrive in the Hybrid Workplace
Making an impact in the office is just as important as standing out working from home. Learn the essential communication skills key to building your personal brand and succeeding in the new workplace reality.
WORKSHOP LEADER
JACQUELINE PEROS, FOUNDER, JMP BRANDING
Jacqueline Peros of JMP Brandling, LLC is a Master Certified Personal Brand Strategist inspiring and preparing underserved women to confidently seek fulfilling careers. As a strategist, social branding analyst, keynote speaker and Fashion Institute instructor, Jacqueline provides clients and audiences alike a competitive edge through training and consulting in communications and the importance of what she calls "your digital dress code."
Put Your Best Self Forward: Interviewing & On the Job
Learn the dos and don'ts of showing up professionally in the interview process, from what it takes to advance to the final round—and land the job—to making the right impression in the first 90 days of your journey to career success.
WORKSHOP LEADERS
MARY NOONAN, VICE PRESIDENT, 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, recruit and develop on air correspondents and anchors. In addition, she works with off air talent and their career development and opportunities.
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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 business documentaries for primetime.
Noonan started her career at CBS News. Before leaving there in 2011, she was the Director of Talent Development, developing and recruiting on- and off- air talent for the news division. She transitioned into talent development after years as a producer and associate producer at 48 HOURS. During that time, Noonan covered many of the biggest stories of the past two decades, including 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, the murder trials of O.J. Simpson and Scott Peterson and the Heaven's Gate cult suicide in San Diego.
She also served as the senior producer for several special projects undertaken by the 48 HOURS production team, including one as the co-creator of a CBS pilot.
Before 48 HOURS, Noonan was an assistant to correspondent Steve Kroft at CBS newsmagazines 60 MINUTES and West 57th. She joined CBS News during her senior year in college when she was an intern for Nightwatch, the network's first overnight news broadcast, based in Washington, D.C.
She is the recipient of two Emmy Awards and an Edward R Murrow award.
Mary Noonan was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was graduated from Catholic University with a degree in American Government and currently lives in Stamford, CT.
ALISHA COWAN-VIEIRA, DIRECTOR OF TALENT DEVELOPMENT, ABC NEWS
Alisha Cowan-Vieira is currently the Director of Talent Development at ABC News where she recruits and develops off-air and on-air talent while also creating programs and initiatives to support our engagement and outreach with external organizations. Before transitioning into Talent Development, she worked as a Producer at NBC, Harpo/Sony Productions and CNN.
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Alisha got her start in media at Viacom working with VH1 and MTV’s Strategic Partnerships & Public Affairs. Passionate about using media as a mechanism to create greater social awareness, she brings a unique spectrum of experience not only in television production but also in strategic partnerships, talent development and multicultural strategy.
Alisha holds Bachelor degrees in Political Science and Sociology from Howard University and a Masters of Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
3:30 PM — Keynote Session: A Conversation with Tamron Hall
TAMRON HALL, JOURNALIST AND HOST, TAMRON HALL
Two-time Emmy®-winning journalist, author and producer Tamron Hall is executive producer and host of the nationally syndicated talk show “Tamron Hall,” which will return for a fourth season on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Hall, honored in 2022 with the Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host, made history when she first received the award in 2020, marking the first time that a freshman host was the recipient of that honor.
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Tamron brings a refreshing, relatable and unstoppable voice to the daytime community. From the deeply personal to the purely fun, “Tamron Hall” is a daily destination for viewers to connect with the people shaping our lives through meaningful, engaging and entertaining conversations. “Tamron Hall,” which first premiered in September 2019, celebrated 500 episodes this past May.
The most recent season of “Tamron Hall” featured one-on-one interviews with newsmakers, changemakers, visionaries and people doing extraordinary things in their community and on the front lines. Her recent one-on-ones included a powerful hour-long interview with actress/writer/director/producer Issa Rae; New Edition, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; Oscar-award-winning actress Halle Berry; poet, activist and Time’s 2020 Person of the Year Amanda Gorman; supermodel, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Iman; country music superstar LeAnn Rimes; TV's original Wonder Woman Lynda Carter; actress and Grammy Award-winning artist Mary J. Blige; political powerhouse Huma Abedin; and many more.
“Tamron Hall” has welcomed a diverse slate of entertainment, sports, and lifestyle headline-makers over three seasons including former Democratic rising star Andrew Gillum, who came out publicly as bisexual; former “Vanderpump Rules” cast member Stassi Schroeder who, for the first time since her firing, addressed her racially insensitive behavior; Tamar Braxton, who spoke candidly about her attempted suicide and domestic violence allegations; and “Captain America” actor Chris Evans who reflected on his headline-making Instagram mishap; and former First Lady and best-selling author Michelle Obama, Eddie Murphy, Matthew McConaughey, Regina King, Steph and Ayesha Curry, Lady A, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, and Kelly Rowland to name a few. Additionally, Tamron's love of fashion remains a core element of the show with the stylish host putting a spotlight on the hottest up-and-coming designers, as well as the latest do-it-yourself and crafting trends, not-to-miss music performances, and dishing up fun cooking and baking tips with her Tam Fam.
Tamron’s debut novel, As the Wicked Watch, was published October 26, 2021 and is the first book in her critically acclaimed "Jordan Manning" mystery series. Tamron also hosts Court TV’s original true-crime series "Someone They Knew With Tamron Hall" which was picked up for a second season in June 2022.
Tamron hosted “Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall” for six seasons on Investigation Discovery, taking an in-depth look at crimes that shocked the nation. Previously, Tamron co-hosted the third hour of “TODAY” and “TODAY’s Take” for three years and anchored “MSNBC Live with Tamron Hall.” She received the 2015 Edward R. Murrow Award for Reporting: Hard News in Network Television for her segment on domestic violence as part of “TODAY’s Shine A Light” series. Tamron hosted several special reports for MSNBC and NBC News, including “Education Nation: Teacher Town Hall,” which was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2011, and she served as a correspondent for the NBC News special “The Inauguration of Barack Obama,” which won an Emmy for Outstanding Live Coverage in October 2010.
Tamron has also been honored by The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation with two Gracie Awards, first in 2020 for Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment and again in May 2022 as Best On-Air Talent.
Tamron is passionate about many causes, including domestic violence, homelessness and literacy, and she’s dedicated her time to many deserving organizations over the years. She partnered with Safe Horizon to launch The Tamron ❤ Renate Fund in honor of her sister to help victims and families affected by domestic violence. Safe Horizon honored her with their Voice of Empowerment Award in 2014. Additionally, Day One, a New York-based advocacy group for victims of domestic violence, honored her work, and she received the Ackerman Family Advocate Award for her efforts to raise awareness for families who have a loved one experiencing abuse.
In July 2022, she was appointed to the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) and will serve in the newly created position of industry ambassador, working with NABLF on campaigns and fundraising efforts to help shape the Foundation’s future.
Tamron is a native of Luling, Texas, and she holds a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Temple University where she serves on the Board of Trustees. She lives in New York with her husband and son.
QUIANA BURNS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND SHOWRUNNER, TAMRON HALL
Quiana Burns is the executive producer and showrunner of the “Tamron Hall” show. Quiana joined the syndicated daytime talk show in October 2021 Under her and Tamron’s leadership and vision, the show has reached season highs in total viewership, performance in households and the W25-54 demo, and received a record four Emmy nominations, including a win for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.
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Quiana came back to ABC News in May 2020 as the executive broadcast producer of “Weekend Good Morning America,” leading the team’s coverage of stories, including the global pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and the country’s racial reckoning and the 2020 presidential election, as well as breaking news. While she was at the helm, the broadcast grew in total viewership on Saturdays and Sundays and became #1 on Saturdays across all three key demos.
This is not the first time Quiana and Tamron have joined creative forces. While at MSNBC she served as the executive producer of “MSNBC Live with Tamron Hall.” She also executive produced “MSNBC Live with Ali Velshi,” helped launch “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” and was the co-lead of the Black Employee Network for the news divisions of MSNBC and NBC News. Prior to MSNBC, Quiana served as ABC News anchor Robin Roberts’ anchor producer on “Good Morning America,” winning three Emmy Awards.
Over the course of her career, she has worked in markets such as Chicago, Miami and Milwaukee and has helped lead coverage of every major news story since the 9/11 terror attacks, including Hurricane Katrina, the first network interview with newly inaugurated President Barack Obama, the Oscars, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, unrest in Ferguson, the 2016 election, the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, and the Surfside condo collapse.
In addition to being a thoughtful and effective leader producing impactful programming, Quiana has been an agent of change at ABC News as a member of the Culture Council.
Quiana was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.