(as of October 27, 2023 and subject to change)
Event Schedule (all times PT):
8 a.m. : Venue Opens
9 a.m. : Opening Remarks/General Sessions Begin
10:30 a.m. : Networking Break
11 a.m. : General Sessions Resume
12:30 p.m. : Networking Luncheon
2 p.m. : General Sessions Resume
3:30 p.m. : Networking Break
3:45 p.m. : WiTH Leadership Awards Program
5 p.m. : Closing Remarks/Networking Reception
Conference Sessions:
9 – 9:10 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Christina Aguilera, President, WiTH Foundation
Guy Finley, Executive Director, WiTH Foundation
9:10 – 9:15 a.m.
Conference Welcome Remarks
Kavita Anand, Senior Vice President, IP & Rights Management Practice Lead, Qvest
9:15 – 9:30 a.m.
A Look at the 2023 Leadership Awards Nominees
This session looks at this year’s award nominees along with previous year’s winners. Join us for a look at who is making the impact and why we are honoring them this afternoon at the SoCal Women’s Leadership Awards ceremony.
Guy Finley, Executive Director, WiTH Foundation and President & Chief Executive Officer, MESA
Nadya Ichinomiya, WiTH Foundation Chair and Vice President, Head of Agile Transformation, Enablement, & Operations, Sony Pictures Entertainment
9:30 – 10 a.m.
OPENING KEYNOTE: STEM in Media
Hear the most recent updates to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media’s intersectional study on the portrait of STEM characters in media (TV, film and streaming).
Madeline Di Nonno, President & Chief Executive Officer, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
10 – 10:30 a.m.
Lasting Impact: Empowering the WiTH Community
Learn more about the impact that WiTH has in our local community during the discussion in this panel session, where you’ll hear personal stories and journeys from the women who have been directly impacted by our community engagement efforts over the years and how they have been able to change their trajectory. You’ll also hear more about what these WiTH supported non-profits do with their members and for their broader community.
Moderator: April Schneider, WiTH Board and Vice President IT, IP Management & General Counsel, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Panelists:
Rose Cherubin, Women’s Empowerment Institute Alum, and AWS Cloud Practitioner Certified
Nina Doeff, Boundless Brilliance Alum, and Support Engineer, PopSQL
Lauren Kush, Codetalk Alum, and AI Recruiting Consultant
Fabiola Martinez, DIY Girls Alum, and BS Computer Science Student, College of the Canyons
Emily Villalba, STEM Advantage Alum, and Associate Software Engineer, Sony Pictures
10:30 – 11 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK: WiTH & Innovate@UCLA
11 – 11:30 a.m.
Responsible Leadership in the Age of AI
This session features AI visionaries and practitioners from Media and Entertainment who will provide a practical introduction to the key leadership issues on AI Ethics, including questions like:
– What are the most important steps to take right now to achieve maximum benefits from AI responsibly?
– What must my organization consider in how it applies AI to avoid ethical pitfalls, and what are those pitfalls?
– How can AI align with or even enhance our DEI goals?
– How can we move past fear to create new opportunities in AI where everyone wins?
Moderator: Nina Skorus-Neely, Industry Advisor, Microsoft & Secretary, WiTH Foundation
Panelists:
Hema Chamraj, Director, AI Advocacy and Thought Leadership, AMD
Shelley McKinley, Chief Legal Officer, GitHub & Vice President, Microsoft
Yesha Yadav, Associate Dean Robert Belton Director of Diversity, Equity, and Community Milton R. Underwood Chair Professor of Law Faculty Co-Director, LL.M. Program, Vanderbilt University Law School
11:30 – 12 p.m.
The Power of Feedback
Research shows that women are 20% less likely to receive actionable feedback that can contribute to their performance and growth at work. This fireside chat explores the power of feedback and how we can create space to give and receive meaningful, actionable feedback at work. This conversation is designed to empower attendees to be a feedback advocate through an engaging, honest discussion with three female executives.
Vanessa Fiola, Executive Vice President, Qvest
Michelle Huynh, Head of Production Technology & Operations: Netflix
Renee McGinnis, Executive Vice President: Lionsgate
12 – 12:30
Be Real: Authentic Leadership
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion, where we delve deep into the heart of authenticity and empowerment within the tech industry. Our panel of industry experts and leaders will share their personal journeys, insights, and experiences on how to be your authentic self while thriving in the world of technology. Discover how Women in Technology: Hollywood Foundation (WiTH) cultivates a community of authentic, bold women who are shaping the future of tech. Learn from our stories, challenges, and successes, and be inspired to embrace your unique journey with confidence and genuine leadership.
Moderator: Christina Aguilera, President, WiTH Foundation
Nikki Johnson, Vice President, SASE & Cloud, Fortinet
Tara Fournier, Chief People Officer: Enthusiast Gaming
Samira Panah Bakhtiar, Director of Global Media & Entertainment, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
12:30 – 2 p.m.
<Lunch
Food Trucks and Fun!
2 – 2:30 p.m.
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: Elevate your Leadership with Courage and Conviction
Join us for a transformative keynote presentation featuring Kelly Hamilton, the esteemed CIO of Sony Pictures. With a proven track record of leadership in the tech and entertainment industry, Kelly will inspire and empower you to step into your full potential as a leader. Learn how courage and conviction can drive innovation, break down barriers, and shatter glass ceilings. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies from one of the industry’s most respected leaders.
Kelly Hamilton, Chief Information Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment
2:30 – 3 p.m.
Leading Effectively Through Changing Times
Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring accomplished past recipients of the Women in Technology: Hollywood Foundation Leadership Award. These distinguished women have thrived in the dynamic landscape of the entertainment and technology industry, demonstrating exemplary leadership during times of transformation and uncertainty. Gain valuable insights as they share their experiences, strategies, and visions for adapting and excelling in a rapidly evolving world, offering inspiration and guidance for future leaders in the field. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with these trailblazers and be part of a discussion that promises to empower and inspire.
Moderator: Christina Aguilera, President, WiTH Foundation
Panelists:
Annie Chang, Vice President of Creative Technologies, Universal Pictures & NBCUniversal
Davida Johnson, Executive Director (Interim), UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing
Cindy MacKenzie, Vice President and Co-Founder, STEM Advantage
Theresa Miller, Chief Information Officer, Lionsgate
3 – 3:30 p.m.
CLOSING KEYNOTE: Legacy of Leadership: Empowering Women in Entertainment and Technology
Discover the captivating journey of our Keynote, an accomplished author, screenwriter, and visionary filmmaker, as she takes the stage for an intimate fireside chat. As the granddaughter of Harry Warner, co-founder of Warner Bros., Cass’s insights will illuminate the Warner family’s profound impact on the entertainment industry. Our conversation with Cass Warner will allow us to explore innovation, ethical leadership, and women’s empowerment through the lens of a family legacy that epitomizes “Educate, Entertain, and Enlighten.”
Cass Warner, President, Warner Sisters Studios
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.
NETWORKING BREAK
3:45 – 5 p.m.
LEADERSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM
- Introduction
- Past Winners/Nominees
- Winners
- Close/Fundraising Goal
-
5 p.m.
CONFERENCE CLOSING REMARKS & NETWORKING RECEPTION
Christina Aguilera, President, WiTH Foundation
Guy Finley, Executive Director, WiTH Foundation and President & Chief Executive Officer, MESA
