I needed to take action…
I lead the Agile Center of Excellence in a multi-billion dollar company, working across the studio to maximize the value delivery of teams and individual contributors within the context of an industry in nearly constant disruption. In truth, in my career, I have always faced interesting challenges.
Looking back at my career now, as I prepare to welcome a new cohort of 120 employees from across the globe to our one of our programs, I realize now how my unconventional path has led to this moment. I can remember sitting at my desk in Wiesbaden, Germany, thinking about all that I have to give and was not giving. At that moment, I knew I needed to take action.
At age 27, I leveraged my intimacy with the umlaut (aka my fluency in German) to become VP of Electronic Data Systems Germany with a full $33 million P&L responsibility and a 150-person department, shattering a glass ceiling as the company's highest ranking woman in the region & youngest VP worldwide (117k employees.)
From Tech to Entertainment, I rebooted my career in the realm of nurturing/developing Creativity, both as a Hollywood TV producer for Bonnie Hunt (ABC's "Life With Bonnie”) and as Literary Manager for author Kelle Hampton whose memoir “Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected” debuted #11 on the NY Times Bestseller List.
Pictured from left to right: Brian Monthie, Jessica Gomez, Karlene Hart, Michelle Veo, Chaucey Eichhorn, me; Steve Andujar, Adela Jamal, James Brennan, Susan Black, Sara Akhteh.
I wanted to serve a higher purpose
Throughout my journey, I have always been driven by a higher purpose.
Eight years ago, I had the honor of co-founding the Women In Technology: Hollywood organization (WiTH™) and I continue to serve as Chairwoman of the non-profit foundation 501c3. I also support the board of directors with members from Amazon Studios™, Disney™, Google™, Lionsgate™, and Paramount™. WiTH™ is a cross-media & entertainment initiative with 6000+ members from the major studios, with 6 committees, 100+ active volunteers, and over $135,000 donated to local charities to build a pipeline of girls, women, and underrepresented people in the tech sector of entertainment.
I am also a board member of GAAD, (Global Accessibility Awareness Foundation), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to disrupt the technology culture to include accessibility as a core requirement.
It is time to tell my story
I am now working on my first book, PLOT TWIST: Lessons from a Hollywood Insider on Scripting your Career, Directing your Purpose, and Living Life as a Cinematic Adventure, to be published in 2023.
