Women‘s Impact Report 2026

The professionals featured in Variety’s 2026 Women’s Impact Report navigated yet another crazy year in show business. Despite the mergers, layoffs and the ongoing transformation brought by AI, the box office returned with a bang and small-screen series captured imaginations. The resilience and determination to create, execute and deliver great entertainment by this year’s honorees remains the engine of show business.
By Mya Copeland, Isabella Farina, Tanya Fedak, Carole Horst, Cynthia Littleton, Pat Saperstein, Michael Schneider, Jazz Tangcay

• Pamela Abdy

  

  Co-chair, CEO

  Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group

  Since joining Warner Bros. in 2022, Abdy has led an impressive slate that includes “One Battle After Another,” “Weapons” and “Sinners” — earning 11 Academy Awards, tying the record for the most wins by a studio, and leading the industry with 30 nominations overall. With 16 nominations, “Sinners” became the most nominated film in Academy history. Upcoming is the buzzy “Digger,” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise, and the capstone to the “Dune” trilogy, “Dune: Part Three.”

• Kori Adelson

  

  President, North Road Films

  This year, North Road Company developed the North Road Films label, with Adelson at the helm. In addition to overseeing strategy at the company, she also identifies both emerging and established talent. She was instrumental in bringing Kane Parsons and “Backrooms” to A24, helping it become one of the year’s biggest breakouts. “I saw this as a great achievement because of how I identified and supported an emerging filmmaker to great success on a movie that resonated with audiences globally,” she says.

  Next hurdle: “Cementing North Road Films as a legacy brand that produces and finances audience-facing movies from singular filmmakers” following the massive success of “Backrooms.”

• Michelle An

  

  President of creative strategy, Interscope

  An has spent more than two decades at Interscope Records living up to her title, honing her creative strategy and helping artists develop album campaigns. She’s spent the year working with recently signed Ed Sheeran and Laufey, and has continued to work closely with Olivia Rodrigo as she created and launched the Daisy Chain Fields festival. That festival has raised millions of dollars for nonprofits centered around women and girls. “It was incredible to see Olivia lead and use her platform in such a powerful way,” An said. “I’m incredibly grateful artists like Olivia Rodrigo exist in this day and age.”

  Mentoring advice: An recommends “becoming an expert on the things you are passionate about and learning how to become entrepreneurial around those things.”

• Sarah Aubrey, Amy Gravitt, Francesca Orsi

  

  Sarah Aubrey, Head, HBO Max Original Programming
  Amy Gravitt, Exec VP, HBO programming, head of HBO & HBO Max comedy series
  Francesca Orsi, Exec VP, HBO programming, head of HBO drama series & films

  Aubrey’s remit inside HBO Max includes some of the most-awarded shows on TV — starting with “The Pitt,” which has been held up as the role model for how to produce a hit series with more episodes and on a cadence for streaming (it just won five Emmys); and “Hacks,” which broke the record this year for most-ever Emmy noms in a single year (24) for a comedy and saw star Jean Smart win a historic trophy. Together, Orsi and Gravitt have overseen such hits as “The White Lotus,” “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Euphoria,” “Hacks” and the anticipated “Harry Potter.” Orsi is most proud of the “Game of Thrones” spinoff, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which was produced at a low budget number, received strong reviews, a large audience and an Emmy nomination for drama series.

  App she can’t live without: Gravitt can be found clocking her runs on Strava. “I’m the Viewpoint Cross Country Team Parent,” she says.

  Greatest achievement during the past 18 months: Aubrey doesn’t hesitate, “Getting tickets for 12 girls to Daisy Chain Fields Festival.”

• Ruth de Jong, Jennifer Lame, Ellen Mirojnick

  

  Ruth de Jong, Production designer
  Jennifer Lame, Editor
  Ellen Mirojnick, Costume designer
  
  Artisans of “The Odyssey”

  In adapting Homer’s epic poem, director Christopher Nolan turned to his go-to collaborators to build the world of “The Odyssey.” “Designing ‘The Odyssey’ was one of the most ambitious and demanding experiences of my career,” says Mirojnick. Mirojnick and her team designed and produced 5,300 costumes, handcrafting thousands of pieces. De Jong scouted locations around the world, finding a fifth-century castle in Italy, perched approximately 1,030 feet above sea level, which became the film’s Ithaca. She also designed multiple Trojan horses, each standing approximately 35 feet tall. Troy, by the numbers, was an incredible accomplishment — it covered more than 2.5 acres, large enough to accommodate 2,000 extras and more than 60 structures. Editor Lame pieced it all together, cutting 2 million feet of Imax film to anchor the story in the emotionally tortured mind of the hero, Odysseus.

  Global passage: De Jong says that “designing ‘The Odyssey’ across six countries, managing each country’s art department simultaneously, all the while traveling with carry-on only” stands out among her many production achievements.

  Detail-oriented: “We were not trying to make armor look old. We were trying to make it look used, as if it was pulled from the earth,” Mirojnick explains.

• Bela Bajaria

  

  Chief content officer, Netflix

  Bajaria oversees an annual content budget that grew to $20 billion this year to reach a global audience of one billion viewers. With such global hits as “Bridgerton,” “Stranger Things,” “His & Hers,” “Emily in Paris,” “I Will Find You” and an Oscar (“KPop Demon Hunters”), Netflix continues to help inform pop culture. It added three more live NFL games to its schedule, and Bajaria worked to expand Netflix’s podcast partnerships with Spotify, iHeartMedia and Barstool.

  Advice to 18-year-old self: “I can’t tell you how or when, but one day you’ll get to work with Madonna, Rob Lowe and Demi Moore — so hang in there.”

• Sandra Bignone

  

  Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
  
  Some of the biggest names in the creator economy count on Bignone: streaming star IShowSpeed struck a deal with FIFA, Fox Sports, and YouTube that put him in the middle of World Cup coverage. She led pacts that helped her clients expand into FAST, AVOD and other digital distribution channels. One challenge for Bignone is “staying ahead of my clients. I work with really bright builders who are constantly creating new opportunities, businesses and ways to reach audiences,” she says. However, “The challenge, and the fun part, is anticipating what’s next and helping create opportunities that have a meaningful impact on culture, conversation and whose voices get heard,” she says.

  App you can’t live without? “Notes and Maps! My Notes app is filled with everything from deal ideas and to-do lists to restaurant recommendations and shows I’m convinced I’ll eventually watch. Despite being from L.A., I could not get anywhere in the city if it were not for Maps.”

• Aline Brosh McKenna

  

  Screenwriter

  Brosh McKenna, who penned the first hit “Devil Wears Prada,” saw the sequel — which she scripted, of course — earn a whopping $691.4 million globally. Brosh McKenna admits she and director David Frankel were very nervous while working on the film. “Over the years, I would call David with ideas about doing a sequel. He was just very hesitant to go back to the material,” she says. “I really had to convince him that we had something to say.”

  More to explore: The film’s character Miranda Priestly never left her mind. “Over the years, I would think about her as people were getting in trouble. I was thinking about which trouble Miranda would be in every day. And that was the jumping-off point.”

• Daria Cercek

  

  President, live action, Walt Disney Studios

  The box office is bouncing back to nearly pre-pandemic numbers, and Disney’s live action slate has been a huge part of that. Cercek spearheads that theatrical slate from development through production, seeing films like “Lilo & Stitch” hit $1 billion globally and “Freakier Friday” reunite Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in 2025’s best live-action comedy opening. Cercek also led the winning bid for the “Impossible Creatures” book series, creating a new opportunity. And it doesn’t let up: Cercek is continuing to build a slate that feels like Disney but pushes into new territory.

  Gut check: Deciding what movies to make, she says, is “a mixture of conviction, experience, and a little luck. The next hit never looks like the one that came before it.”

• Mary Ellen Coe

  

  Chief business officer, YouTube

  Coe oversees all global business operations, shepherding content and distribution partnerships, as well as streaming businesses including YouTube TV, YouTube Music and YouTube Premium. Coe also directs the YouTube Partner Program, which allows creators to monetize their channels and has since become the largest partner ecosystem of creators, artists and media companies. Under Coe’s supervision, YouTube hosted its first NFL broadcast, which broke the record for the most concurrent views of a livestream on the platform.

  Good advice: When working with team members early in their career, Coe tells them: “Your 20s are a fantastic time in your career to focus on new experiences and skills so you have a well-formed perspective on the type of work and environment you thrive in,” she says.

• Denise Colletta

  

  Managing director, head of music, City National Bank

  In the last 18 months, Colletta was named head of corporate music at CNB and recently earned the managing director title. “I launched our music vertical more than 20 years ago, so having the bank recognize that work, and the business we’ve built since, has been both personally and professionally rewarding,” she says. She manages a $2 billion portfolio, leading her team to originate or participate in more than $1 billion in global commitments of financing requests.

  What’s your next hurdle?: “Work-life balance is a skill that has eluded me my whole career. Technology has made it easier to be accessible at all times, and I need to find the right separation.”

• Kristin Davis

  

  Actress, podcaster
  
  If you couldn’t help but wonder what “Sex and the City” was like on the inside, Davis has the answers. In the “Are You a Charlotte?” podcast, which Davis launched in January 2025, the Emmy winner rewatches the iconic series and breaks down each episode. She’s most proud of this oral history for giving fans a first-person experience of the show’s creation. Davis is currently filming the adaptation of Emily Henry’s blockbuster book “Beach Read.”

  Futurecast: Although the podcast is nearly caught up on all six seasons of Carrie Bradshaw and friends, Davis says she’s in a “creative stage of beginnings” and “seeing these projects through to their end and making sure they follow my vision is what I’m most focused on.”

• Tina Davis

  

  President, Empire Recordings and Distribution

  Davis, who broke glass ceilings as first female head of A&R at Def Jam, joined Empire in 2018 and stepped into the role of president at Empire in 2023. She has overseen the indie label’s hitmakers including Shaboozey, whose single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” hit historic highs, while in August, his album “The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales” debuted on several charts and bowed at No. 1 on the Independent Albums chart. Empire also counts Bebe Rexha, Larry June, Blxst, Asake, Red Leather and others on its buzzy roster.

  Hurdles ahead: In her years in the industry, Davis continues to face the hurdle of “clearing a pathway for women to be respected in this industry,” she says. “I paid the tax of being one of the first, so they don’t have to pay to belong.”

• Kelly Day

  

  VP, head of international, Amazon Prime Video

  Day wears a lot of hats in her role overseeing Prime Video’s international business and programming operations. And they all tap into her range of experience as an early digital media executive at AOL, Discovery and Viacom. Prime Video’s latest push to grow its global YA content slate calls back to her time as a key architect of Brian Robbins’ AwesomenessTV. During the past year, Day’s teams have been on a campaign to make Prime Video the hub of fan-favorite rom-coms and dramas such as “Off Campus,” “My Fault London,” “Love Me Love Me” and latest hit, “Sterling Point.” “It feels like the culmination of so many teams pulling together to deliver for that audience in a big way,” Day says.
  Focus and trust: “I don’t think change has ever moved faster than it is now,” Day says. “Transparency and being clear about goals and what success looks like is critical to building and maintaining that trust.”

• Katie Dippold

  

  Showrunner, writer, “Widow’s Bay”

  Dippold’s series won big at the Emmys, taking home 14 trophies from 19 nominations, including comedy series. That’s part of the reason Season 1 is what she views as her greatest accomplishment in the last year — “and only looking 15 years older, vs. becoming full skeleton.” Beginning her career writing on “MADtv” in 2006, followed by a “Parks and Recreation” gig three years later, she then wrote multiple buzzy screenplays, including 2013’s “The Heat,” 2016’s “Ghostbusters” and 2023’s “Haunted Mansion.” She was also on Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch list in the past — and we kept watching.

  Advice she’d give her 18-year-old self: “Surround yourself with fellow creatives and weirdos as soon as you can,” she quips.

• Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris

  

  Podcasters, Higher Ground

  “Lemme Say This,” the entertainment podcast hosted by the duo, relaunched under a deal with Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Prods. in April 2026 after a brief hiatus. The co-hosts and best friends agree their greatest achievement this year was returning to the mic for more deep dives on pop-culture news and celebrity gossip. Dix calls the relaunch a “gift” and says, “it’s so much fun to grow alongside my best friend.”

  What’s next? Dix is focused on “navigating the ever-evolving internal battle” of quieting the anxieties that get in the way of her dreams, while Harris says, “I want to finish a script I’m working on — a wedding romantic comedy that’s sort of ‘Deliver Us From Eva’ meets ‘The Family Stone.’”

• Channing Dungey

  

  Chairman, CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD U.S. Networks

  Under Dungey, Warner Bros. TV Group has secured 12 new series orders, on top of renewals for another 12 series — including freshman hits like HBO Max’s “It: Welcome to Derry,” “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” and “Rooster,” as well as Fox’s “Memory of a Killer.” “The Pitt” saw ratings increase in Season 2 and scored 25 Emmy noms, the most of any series (and won five); and she recently oversaw the return of “Ted Lasso” to Apple TV. At the U.S. networks, Food Network and HGTV have driven ratings growth. “I’m very proud of my WBTVG and WBD U.S. Networks teams’ ability to block out the noise and focus on what matters: making great series,” she says.

  App you can’t live without? “Opal has been my tried-and-true app this year to combat mindless distraction and doomscrolling.”

• Autumn Durald Arkapaw

  

  Cinematographer

  The “Sinners” DP Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win an Oscar for cinematography. “Opening a door that stood closed for 98 years is a career landmark,” she says. Her husband and son were by her side every step of the way. “Having my son there to watch history shift for future generations and people that look like me is what truly matters.”
  What’s next?: She reunites with “The Last Showgirl” helmer Gia Coppola: “We’re shooting a fun fashion film on 35mm that we’re excited about.” She will rejoin Coogler: “I’m excited about tackling ‘Black Panther 3’ with Ryan and the team.”

• Sarah Finn

  

  Casting director, Marvel Films

  Finn’s casting chops are not in doubt: she started at Marvel Films in 2008, when the modern Marvel Cinematic Universe exploded into theaters, and now, almost 20 years later, she saw her work on Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” gross $2.4 billion (and counting). Up next is the Russo brothers’ “Avengers: Doomsday,” Jake Schreier’s “X-Men,” Shawn Levy’s “Ghost Rider” and Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther 3.” “I get inspired by their vision, their passion for the stories they’re telling, and the incredible teams they assemble on the production side that we collaborate with,” she says. “Each has their own preferences and way of working with actors, which I’m continually adapting to in trying to meet — even exceed — their expectations of what the best cast might be.”

  The “it” factor: “I aim for a mix of established, respected actors with new discoveries. That keeps the cast feeling fresh and interesting and hopefully adds some intrigue and mystery.”

• Jennifer Garner

  

  Actress, entrepreneur

  The award-winning actress, producer and philanthropist has continued to make a positive impact with the clean baby food company Once Upon a Farm, which she co-founded in 2017 and took public on the New York Stock Exchange this year. Garner is also a Save the Children trustee. She produced and stars in Peacock’s hit “The Five Star Weekend” (from a novel penned by fellow Women’s Impact honoree Elin Hilderbrand) and Season 2 of Apple TV+’s “The Last Thing He Told Me.” What’s next? The 2027 Netflix comedy “One Attempt Remaining” opposite John Cena while she is developing the sequel to “Yes Day,” her 2021 feature.

  Strong bond: She says her greatest achievement is having her three children.

• Jessica Giraldo Navarro

  

  CEO, Bichota Recordings

  While sitting in the C-suite, Navarro also co-manages superstar Karol G, working to expand the Colombian singer and songwriter’s outreach. This year, Karol G became the first Latina woman to headline Coachella and announced a global tour — bucking the trend by selling out and expanding dates — while seeing her album, “No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto,” top the charts.

  Best advice to teenage self: Trust her intuition. “Don’t be afraid to dream bigger than what seems realistic, and remember to enjoy the journey,” she says. “We are often so focused on reaching the next goal that we forget to recognize and celebrate everything we are building along the way.”

• Shalini Govil-Pai

  

  VP and GM of TV platforms, Google

  Google began integrating AI assistant Gemini into the TV platform in September 2025, a move that Govil-Pai says is its greatest milestone in the last 18 months, describing it as something that can transform how consumers use their TV. The next hurdle facing Govil-Pai is decision fatigue and fragmentation in the streaming industry, which she aims to tackle in a way that allows households to spend more time enjoying meaningful storytelling. Real impact, Govil-Pai says, comes from having convictions and challenging the status quo.

  Words to live by: “No one changes an industry by just being agreeable,” she says. “You can be collaborative and empathetic, but your goal should never be consensus for the sake of comfort.”

• Elin Hilderbrand

  

  Author

  Hilderbrand has been writing popular beach reads for more than 25 years, with 30 novels (and counting) to her credit. Her colorful stories of the antics of the 1% in the ritzy playground of Nantucket had drawn interest from Hollywood early on — Aaron Spelling saw the potential in her very first novel, 2000’s “The Beach Club” and optioned it, but the project never came to fruition as a TV series. However, the Hilderbrand milieu has proven to be a perfect fit in the streaming era. “My phone started ringing after ‘Big Little Lies’ came out” in 2017, she notes. Hilderbrand was executive producer on her book adaptations “The Perfect Couple,” a buzzy limited series success for Netflix in 2024, and “The Five-Star Weekend,” which debuted on Peacock this year and nabbed a quick Season 2 renewal. Hilderbrand has also been savvy about building up her community of readers with live events and getaway weekends — she’s built a fan base that is now mobilizing around her TV shows in addition to her books. “I really work from a place of gratitude for everything that I have done so far,” she says.

  In retrospect, the catalyst for Hilderbrand’s growing fan network was her candid disclosure of her breast cancer diagnosis in 2014. “The moment where the community really formed was when I decided, rather than keep it private, I was going to tell my readers that I had cancer,” she recalls. “The outpouring of love was just amazing.”

  What’s next: As Hilderbrand’s media profile rises, look for her to become a bigger presence around her work overall.

• Helen Hoehne

  

  President, Golden Globes

  Hoehne has overseen the reinvention of the Golden Globes into a year-round celebration of film and television, with a significant charitable component. Energized by popular host Nikki Glaser, the longtime awards show continues to evolve to recognize new forms of storytelling. Hoehne has also introduced Golden Week, a celebration of the creative community ahead of the awards. “It has given us new ways to recognize achievement and create memorable moments beyond the awards show itself,” says Hoehne.

  What’s next: “The next hurdle is continuing to evolve at the pace of an industry that is changing extraordinarily quickly. The way audiences discover content, the way stories are told, and the way talent connects with people around the world are all changing,” Hoehne says.

• Cindy Holland, Dana Goldberg

  

  Cindy Holland, Chair, direct-to-consumer
  Dana Goldberg, Co-chair Paramount Pictures; chair, Paramount TV Studios

  Paramount, a Skydance Corp

  Holland oversees the strategy, operations and performance of Paramount+ and Pluto TV. Since the Skydance-Paramount merger, Holland and her team have greenlit over 40 new and returning series across the company’s streaming platforms and launched a seven-year deal with the UFC. Goldberg oversees the long-term strategy and production of both divisions and will also lead Nickelodeon Films. Goldberg is a member of the board of the UCLA Health Rape Treatment Center, which she calls her greatest achievement.
  Streaming ahead: “Just as significant has been our bet on the future: investing in product innovation and content for Pluto TV, our free streaming service, to attract a new generation of viewers, who are now driving double-digit growth in both usage and registrations,” Holland says.
  Advice to younger self: Goldberg offers: Keep going. “If you work hard, you can be one of the lucky people who gets to help create the kind of movie magic that lit up your childhood and inspired you to dream big,” she says.

• Jinny Howe

  

  Head of scripted series, U.S. and Canada, Netflix

  It’s been a year since Howe has been in her post overseeing drama, comedy, young adult programming and overall deals. She also built out an in-house studio division under her watch. New hits over the past year include “His & Hers,” which is the most-watched series across all platforms so far this year according to Nielsen. “I Will Find You” was the biggest original series debut of the year, while major returning titles included “Bridgerton” Season 4, “Nobody Wants This” Season 2 and the final season of “Outer Banks.” And Howe is “tremendously proud” of “Beef” Season 2, which received 16 Emmy nominations.
  Advice to your 18-year-old self? “Focus on the things that you can actually control, and can control the outcome. Don’t spin your wheels,” she says. “And also put your voice to power. It’s something that I wish I could go back and say, ‘Why are you second guessing?’”

• Sue Kroll, Courtenay Valenti, Julie Rapaport

  

  Sue Kroll, Head of global marketing, film, series and brand
  Courtenay Valenti, Head of film, streaming and theatrical
  Julie Rapaport, Head of film, development and production

  Amazon Studios

  This trio kept things exciting at Amazon this year, especially in the YA department. Soapy sensations like “Off Campus” and “My Fault London” captivated audiences around the world. “Project Hail Mary” had a similar effect, leaving moviegoers equally entranced with the human star (Ryan Gosling) and Rocky (James Ortiz). Amazon also celebrated its inaugural “Obsession Is in Session” marketing and fandom initiative in June. For Kroll, these audience connections are what it’s all about. “Both are examples of what I’m most passionate about: deeply understanding an audience, meeting them with the same level of creativity and passion they bring to our stories and creating experiences that extend well beyond traditional marketing,” Kroll says.

  Worldwide web: In order to reach global audiences, Kroll suggests seeing the world. “The more you experience and learn when you’re young, the more you have to draw from later in life — that’s what ultimately makes you a better leader and executive,” she says.

• Kiska Higgs, Veronika Kwan Vandenberg

  

  Kiska Higgs, President of production & acquisitions
  Focus Features

  Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of distribution, Universal Pictures Intl.
  Universal Pictures

  Under Vandenberg’s leadership, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” became the first film of 2026 to surpass $1 billion worldwide; the international release of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” earned over $1 billion in just three weeks of its release. Vandenberg also serves on the boards of Women in Film in Los Angeles and Into Film in the U.K., where she hopes to continue giving back. “While these opportunities are deeply rewarding, there is always more we can do to support and uplift others,” she says. Higgs oversees Focus Features’ development, production and acquisitions slate, which nabbed 13 Academy Award nominations from a 2025 slate that featured “Bugonia,” “Song Sung Blue” and “Hamnet.” Higgs notes that one of her biggest achievements of late has been the pickup of “Obsession,” which grossed $512 million worldwide. Higgs acquired the horror hit after its Toronto Intl. Film Festival debut. “It was a perfect example of what we do best: spot talent early, trust our guts and invest in projects and filmmakers we believe in,” she says.

  Worst advice you ever got? “Carbs are bad for you,” says Higgs.

  Advice to my 18-year old self: “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” says Vandenberg.

• Donna Langley

  

  Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment

  Under Langley’s oversight, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group hit astronomical numbers in 2025-2026: “The Odyssey” ($1.5 billion worldwide), “Jurassic World Rebirth” ($867 million worldwide), “Super Mario Galaxy” ($1 billion worldwide) and “Michael” (which Universal distributed overseas), plus the ultra-buzzy “Obsession” from specialty arm Focus Features. Langley’s purview now includes all of NBCUniversal’s television operations, which were dramatically changed in 2026 following NBCUniversal’s Versant Media spinoff. NBC, Peacock and Bravo are the platform engines of the company, which is poised to undergo more transition next year when it separates from parent company Comcast.

  Targeting success: “Our achievements reflect a deliberate strategy: distinctive creative, a deep understanding of audiences and an evolving marketplace, and the ability to turn great storytelling into genuine cultural moments,” Langley says. “That’s the competitive advantage we’re building at NBCU.”

• Carianne Marshall

  

  Co-chair, chief operating officer, Warner Chappell

  For Marshall, success is defined by company culture rather than numbers. Even though Warner Chappell represents breakout stars like Sombr and Amy Allen, Marshall’s pride comes from fostering community and personal relationships with those she works with. She was warned that working for a large company would “suck [her] soul” and that she should “keep her head down,” but she soon realized this didn’t have to be true. “Some people at Warner Chappell make fun of me and say that we should start a drinking game every time I say the word ‘collaboration’ because they say it all the time, but it’s meaningful, and then people remember what’s important.”

• Amy Madigan

  

  Actress

  The secret weapon of “Weapons” was Madigan’s performance as Aunt Gladys — a surprise supporting actress Oscar win for the veteran thesp and doubly so in a role from a genre film. The success for her personally and the production are moments of pride for Madigan. “It was all new to me — especially the hair, makeup and styling,” Madigan says about the awards season attention. “Above all, I was overwhelmed and grateful for the goodwill for both me and the film.” A “Weapons” prequel titled “Gladys” is currently in the works.

  Up next: Madigan hopes “we see Gladys just have more fun and become the woman we all know and love. And maybe see the evolution of her look.”

• Michelle McGuire Christian

  

  Principal, chief data & AI officer, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Partnership, Deloitte Consulting

  McGuire Christian leads innovation in technology in entertainment and sports for Deloitte. “The goal is to bring AI to make the business of sport more efficient, more effective, using tools to find efficiencies to automate processes for not just athletes or judging, but also for the fan experience,” she says. A big upcoming priority for McGuire Christian and Deloitte is the LA28 Games. She also enjoyed a feeling of accomplishment this year with Deloitte’s contributions to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. “Deloitte’s role as the worldwide technology integration partner really did feel like such a privilege,” she says.
  Efficient evolution: “Humans in the loop are required to make the deployment of this technology successful,” she says of AI.

• Jessica Marlow

  

  Partner, Weintraub Tobin

  Marlow reps high-profile creators and helps her clients build multidimensional careers. She negotiated and closed a three-year deal for Claudia and Jackie Oshry, the talent behind the podcast “The Toast,” to stay at Dear Media, their largest agreement to date. Fighting for women to have a place at the table is something she hopes to pass on to the next generation. “The creator economy isn’t slowing down. The need for fierce, knowledgeable advocates for women in entertainment is only going to continue to grow. So my job now is not just to be that advocate myself — it is to build the infrastructure, the culture, and the mentorship pathways so that the next Jessica Marlow doesn’t have to figure it out alone the way I did.”

  Advice to her younger self: “I would sit her down and tell her three things: take risks, think big, and go all in on yourself — because no one is going to do it for you.”

• Yvett Merino

  

  Producer, Walt Disney Animation Studios

  A Disney veteran, Merino produced back-to-back billion-dollar animated features: “Moana 2” ($1 billion worldwide) and “Zootopia 2” ($1.8 billion worldwide and the biggest U.S. animated feature of all time), a box office first. She’s the first Latina to win the animated feature Oscar (“Encanto”), and this year, has “Hexed” on deck. “People are going back to the theater, and I always love that theatrical experience where I have this shared experience with people that I don’t know, and we’re laughing together,” she says. As for “Hexed,” she can’t wait for the world to meet Billy, the film’s main character when the film opens at Thanksgiving.

  Bigger production ahead: While she’s excited about the success of “Zootopia 2,” “my son is a senior in high school, and so just getting him ready to understand what is next after high school” is an achievement.

• Debra OConnell

  

  Chairman, Disney Entertainment Television, Disney

  As a longtime Disney business executive, OConnell saw her portfolio expand amid the larger management transition at Disney earlier this year. She now oversees the company’s U.S. broadcast, cable and streaming properties and production imprints that will deliver more than 40 series premiering across a range of platforms this fall. Next year, OConnell is looking forward to juggling a big schedule of live events starting with “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest,” followed by the Grammys, the Super Bowl, the Oscars and the College Football Playoffs and National Championship. “It’s an unprecedented lineup of culture-defining events,” O’Connell says.

  Stay nimble: OConnell advises looking “at challenges as opportunities, not obstacles. Do the work, be kind — and amazing things can happen.”

• Melissa Ormond

  

  COO Goldenvoice, COO festivals AEG Presents

  Ormond’s dual titles reflect her lifelong love of music and her ability to anticipate and fulfill concert audiences’ desires. Along with the sold-out Coachella and Stagecoach festivals, Ormond’s oversight takes in concerts and festivals including Head Trip, Portola, Ocean Way Festival, Camp Flog Gnaw and more on the way.

  Advice to younger self: “Challenging professional situations can generally be resolved given focus, clear thinking and time,” Ormond says. “Transparency is best. Learn everything you can from as many people as possible. Try to keep an open mind and an open heart.”

• Mary Parent, Blair Rich

  

  Mary Parent, Chairman of worldwide production
  Blair Rich, Chief marketing & commercial officer

  Legendary

  In a year when large-scale theatrical films are thriving at the box office, Parent and Rich are looking forward to the studio’s upcoming “Street Fighter,” followed by the conclusion to the ambitious trilogy with “Dune: Part Three.” In 2027, the influential indie film and television studio will unveil the sequel to the record-breaking “Minecraft Movie.” Marketing these titles is an “ever-evolving challenge,” according to Rich. She’s focused on “fighting for people’s attention and finding new ways to compel audiences to champion and frequent the moviegoing experience.”

  Don’t listen: The tenacious Parent reflected on one of the worst pieces of advice she’s received: “If a project doesn’t come together easily it’s not meant to be, so you should stop wasting time and just move on.”

  Bad advice: “Someone once told me I need to make myself smaller so people would be more accepting of my ideas. I politely declined the advice,” Rich says.

• Theresa Peters

  

  Partner, agent, UTA

  Peters represents clients ranging from Kirsten Dunst to Theo James, with Sam Claflin, Emma Roberts and Leslie Bibb joining her roster this past year. She recently oversaw James McAvoy’s feature directorial debut with “California Schemin,” guided Jamie Dornan into series for Apple and Netflix and helped book Viggo Mortensen for “Porto Rico” alongside Bad Bunny. Working with Alix Earle, Peters has expanded the influencer’s reach through a spot on “Dancing With the Stars” and her reality series “Earle Meets World.” The partner and agent also serves on the board of the Gotham Film & Media Institute.

  No fear factor: “I am never motivated by a negative emotion,” she says. “I always found it to distract from being passionate and focused.”

• Katherine Pope

  

  President, Sony Pictures Television Studios

  Sony Pictures TV produces for a wide range of platforms — giving Pope oversight on a range of successes, such as Apple TV’s “Pluribus,” which earned 18 Emmy noms in its first season and won six; long-running Starz hit “Outlander,” which landed a four-year ratings high for the premiere of its eighth and final season; unscripted fare like “Shark Tank” and “American Idol”; and Prime Video’s “The Boys,” which she’s particularly proud of. “In the same way we’re the home of ‘Breaking Bad’ and the Norman Lear catalog, I think being the home of ‘The Boys’ has been culture changing for Sony as well,” she says.
  What is your next hurdle? “Time. Just the amount of time it takes to get these shows packaged, sold, developed, greenlit, shot and then ultimately on the air … the more time between seasons, it’s just really hurting our business and it’s hurting the fans,” she says.

• Amy Reisenbach

  

  President, CBS Entertainment

  With Reisenbach celebrating her third year at the helm, CBS ended the 2025-2026 TV season with the four most-watched new broadcast shows: “Marshals,” “Sheriff Country,” “CIA” and “Boston Blue.” And in Nielsen’s 35-day multiplatform viewing for the season, the network held seven of the top 25 shows — more than any broadcast competitor. That includes series like “Tracker,” “Ghosts” and “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” which have found younger audiences on sister streamer Paramount+. “And also there was the success of ‘Survivor 50,’ which we had been planning for three years,” Reisenbach adds. Next up, CBS has a busy fall, with the launches of new series “Cupertino,” “Eternally Yours” and “NCIS: New York.”
  Worst advice ever? “Worst advice I ever got was you’re watching too much TV, and that was definitely my mother,” she says.

• Stephanie Ritz

  

  Agent, WME

  Robert Pattinson has been at the forefront of film this year with four big movies (“The Drama,” “The Odyssey,” “Primetime” and “Dune: Part Three”), and he has Ritz to thank for navigating all of those deals and (no doubt) scheduling challenges. Celebrating 27 years in the business, Ritz has helped steer Pattinson and several other A-list celebrities through another successful year. The list includes Olivia Rodrigo, David Harbour — who just won his first Emmy — and Kristen Stewart.

  Recent achievement she’s proud of: She is “almost not embarrassing on the golf course.”

• Lara Sackett

  

  Co-head, CAA production department, CAA

  Sackett says she is especially proud of her clients’ work on films that brought audiences back to theaters. Her heavyweight list includes “The Odyssey” production designer Ruth DeJong, “Project Hail Mary” editor Joel Negron, “Michael” executive producer David Householter; “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” exec producer David Cain and editor Nat Sanders, “Dune: Part Three” producer Joe Caracciolo and executive producer Jessica Derhammer and “Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” editor Mark Yoshikawa, as well as other award-winning artisans.

  Advice to a younger self: “Pay attention to the things that you love and lean in.”

• Neema Sahni

  

  Partner, Covington & Burling

  Sahni secured a dismissal of a copyright infringement suit on behalf of Netflix and “Squid Game” creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, while she also led positive outcomes for Shari Redstone, and continues to work on cases involving the U.S. Tennis Assn., TikTok, AI and social media concerns. She also served for two years as a co-chair of the AI workshop at USC’s Intellectual Property Institute. “I’ve worked on defamation issues. I’ve worked on copyright issues. I’ve worked on some of these cases for TikTok that involve novel issues around consumer protection law,” says the co-chair of the firm’s commercial litigation and entertainment & media practices. “Part of what’s fun about lawyering is figuring out how to deal with uncertainty in the legal realm.”

  App she can’t live without: Apple Store: “I’m a little old school, I still download music and books.”

• Leslie Siebert

  

  President, Gersh

  The first woman to lead a major Hollywood talent agency, Siebert is making big moves at Gersh. The agency has doubled in size over the past few years, expanding to 17 countries and carrying out strategic acquisitions like the English Premier League Agency PLG. She says her greatest achievement this year was making longtime client Kyle Chandler a superhero in DC Studios’ “Lanterns.” Her client Neve Campbell made a return to the “Scream” franchise, while she guided Drew Starkey to high-profile roles across film and television.

  Advice to her younger self: “Stick to your instincts and prepare for the worst,” she says.

• Nina Shaw

  

  Founding partner, Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang

  Shaw’s clients include Nia DaCosta (“Hedda,” “28 Days Later: The Bone Temple”), Sterlin Harjo (“The Lowdown”), Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Children of the Blood & Bone”) and Quinta Brunson in her overall deal with 20th Television and writing and starring “Betty Boop.” Shaw also handled Ayo Edebiri’s deal to executive produce “Prodigies,” write “Barney,” and make her Broadway debut in “Proof.” “I see my clients dreaming as big as they always have, having to adapt to the changes in the marketplace, which is making less product,” she says about the rocky showbiz landscape; however, they “should continue to dream big, and our job is to all figure out a way to make it happen for you.”

  App she can’t live without: “I’m not a big person for games, but you give me a good exercise app…”

• Alexandria Stapleton

  

  Alexandria Stapleton, Filmmaker

  Stapleton has had a busy year or so. She directed “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” which made huge waves across the pop culture landscape and earned her two Emmy nominations. Tackling another important story that exposed deep societal issues, her doc “The Brittney Griner Story” debuted at Sundance earlier this year to strong reviews and a lot of festival play and buzz. The documentaries are the first two major projects from House of NonFiction, which Stapleton launched in 2021.

  Carry on: On two different occasions, Stapleton was told to shut down the production company, advice she’s glad she ignored. And as for advice she would give her younger self, she says, “there is no such thing as being fully ready to make big moves.”

• Maria Taylor

  

  Sports broadcaster, NBC Sports

  As NBC Sports’ lead studio host for the NBA and WNBA, host of “Football Night in America” and regular host on NBC’s Olympics coverage, Taylor is one of the highest-profile female sportscasters out there. It’s not lost on the former college athlete and mom. “Occupying this chair is a tremendous responsibility. It’s not a burden, but it’s an opportunity for a young girl to be sitting at home and be able to be like, ‘That’s a job I can have,’” Taylor notes. “When I first started out, that was one of my big things. I used to always say I never want to be pigeonholed. I want my boss to feel like they can call me to cover absolutely anything.”

  Working mom hack: While her son travels a lot with her, when he can’t she always picks him up and tells him, “Mommy always comes back.”

• Emma Thomas

  

  Producer

  Thomas produced “The Odyssey,” which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time with a $1.5 billion worldwide B.O.; plus, it boosted Imax theaters and technology and became a global cultural phenomenon. Thomas, who is married to “Odyssey” filmmaker Christopher Nolan, says that there was one part of the film that she was most excited to see come to life. “Obviously we first talked about this being the biggest story there is, so there was much conversation about how to achieve maximum scope. But I was most excited about the emotional climax — the intensely personal moment when Odysseus and Penelope are finally reunited after 20 years apart. Chris wrote the sequence beautifully, and I couldn’t wait to see what Matt (Damon) and Annie (Hathaway) would do with it.”

  Theatrical legacy: “Big cultural moments that unify us have become so rare. It’s incredible to have been a part of one,” she says.

• Alissa Vradenburg

  

  Manager, Untitled

  Vradenburg’s clients at Untitled have been at the cutting edge of pop culture, box office and awards season: Inde Navarrette starred in 2026’s blockbuster horror film “Obsession” and became this year’s hottest young actress, Rhea Seehorn collected awards for her role in Apple TV’s hit series “Pluribus” and Ginnifer Goodwin returned to the world of “Zootopia” for its sequel, which brought in more than $1 billion at the B.O. Still to come, client Joseph Zada is starring in “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” and “East of Eden.”

  Advice to 18-year-old self: Don’t “stress about the small stuff” because “things have a way of working out.”

• Dana Walden

  

  President, chief creative officer, Walt Disney Co.

  The arc of Walden’s career now includes assuming a role that was created for her amid the CEO transition at the Walt Disney Co. in February. Walden now oversees an unprecedented portfolio of television and movie production operations as well as Disney+, Hulu and the direct-to-consumer streaming platforms that Disney is banking on to be the engine of its future growth. Disney’s first-ever chief creative officer role was crafted to allow Walden to serve as CEO Josh D’Amaro’s top lieutenant and guide to understanding Hollywood. Few are better positioned to do that than Disney’s first-ever chief creative officer.

• Katie Welle

  

  President, head of U.S. A&R, Sony Music Publishing

  Since Welle was named head of U.S. A&R in January 2025, Sony Music Publishing has not only maintained its No. 1 U.S. market share position, but it smashed a Billboard record by scoring a 37.3% market share for the second quarter of 2026. It’s not hard to see why: Recent signings include Sienna Spiro, Malcolm Todd, Ravyn Lenae, Victoria Monét, Slayyyter and Blackpink’s Jennie, and Welle’s staff has been hands-on with hits from PinkPantheress, BTS, Zara Larsson, Adela and more. With a career that has alternated between labels and publishing, Welle knows every side of hitmaking, and she has played a key role in strengthening SMP’s worldwide team via its Global A&R Conference and a revamped structure.

  Reframe your thinking: “If it’s worth doing, it’s probably not going to be easy, and I’m always ready for that,” she says.

• Erin Westerman, Amanda Kozlowski

  

  Erin Westerman, President
  Amanda Kozlowski, President, marketing

  Lionsgate Motion Picture Group

  Westerman and Kozlowski stress their collaboration in leading the development and guiding B.O. winners for Lionsgate: “The Housemaid” racked up $400 million-plus worldwide in 2025, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” took in over $245 million worldwide and cultural phenomenon “Michael” ignited with $1 billion-plus worldwide. Up next: the highly anticipated “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” and sequel “The Housemaid’s Secret.” Kozlowski says: “Erin and I are building a unique partnership between production and marketing — one that respects our filmmakers’ voices while bringing together the extraordinary talent of the teams we’ve built across every stage of the process.”

  Essential apps: “Apple Music. Half my commute has no service so this is where I recharge with Taylor Swift,” says Westerman. “Kindle — reading digitally allows me to maintain my pace of about a book a week,” says Kozlowski.

• Jessica Williams

  

  Actress

  Williams is a three-time Emmy nominee for supporting actress in a comedy series for her work in Apple TV’s “Shrinking,” in which she plays therapist Gaby Evans. Despite the show’s exploration of heavy themes such as grief and mental health, she offers a breath of comedic relief while her character still navigates her own personal struggles. In Season 3, one of Gaby’s patients dies by suicide, which serves as a pivotal arc for her character and for the series’ depictions of mental health struggles of the professionals who people rely on to treat their own mental health. Her career trajectory was launched when she joined “The Daily Show” at 22, making history as the youngest and first Black woman to serve as a correspondent on the show.

  Greatest achievement in the past 18 months: Waking up early to film Season 4 of “Shrinking.” “And not getting overwhelmed with the process,” she says. “Really taking it scene by scene, line by line. Being able to be present is my true north when I work.”

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