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Women in Technology: Hollywood Foundation (WiTH) is thrilled to announce the nominees for the 6th Annual Leadership Awards, to be presented at the 2023 SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit, being held Nov. 3 at Nya Studios in Los Angeles.

The awards are a celebration of leaders and advocates who have made remarkable contributions to the entertainment technology field, and who embody WiTH’s core values of professional development, mentoring, networking, and community engagement.

The WiTH Leadership Awards are a testament to the incredible talent and dedication within the industry. The nominees represent a diverse range of professionals who have excelled in their careers and have made significant impacts in their communities.

All the nominees embody the spirit of WiTH and the values it stands for.

Their stories of leadership, advocacy, and innovation are inspiring, and the SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit 2023 celebrates their outstanding contributions to the entertainment technology industry and the broader community.

Here are the 2023 WiTH Leadership Awards nominees:

• Katie Hinsen, director of technology, Marvel Studios
• Nancy Baca, director of licensing financial systems, The Walt Disney Co.
• Melanie Hildebrandt, EVP and CIO, Endeavor
• Filiz Bahmanpour, VP of product, Gracenote
• Kelly Hamilton, CIO, Sony Pictures
• Carol Danoff, chief procurement officer, Warner Bros. Discovery
• Eileen P. Drake, former CEO and president, Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Cara Sheppard, president, Picture Shop
• Shazzy Angulo, Unreal development supervisor, WildBrain
• Jessica ‘Sica’ von Medicus, CG supervisor, Nickelodeon Animation
• iAsia Brown, senior producer, Xbox Game Studios publishing, Microsoft
• Tammy Choy, VP and CIO, The Aerospace Corporation
• Samira Panah Bakhtiar, director of global media and entertainment, Amazon Web Services

Leadership Awards winners are selected by the WiTH Board of Directors, which is comprised of representatives from some of the most prominent organizations in the entertainment technology sector, including Microsoft, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Co.

Their expertise and commitment to recognizing excellence ensure that the awards reflect the highest standards of achievement in the industry.

Get involved and stay informed
WiTH is more than just an awards ceremony; it’s a catalyst for the advancement of women in entertainment technology.

If you want to get involved and make a difference, there are several ways to do so:

• Make a donation. Support WiTH’s mission by making a tax-deductible donation to the Women in Technology: Hollywood Foundation. Donate here.
• Stay informed. To stay up to date on women’s initiatives in the entertainment technology field, attendees can subscribe to WiTH’s weekly newsletter.
• Join a committee. Make a meaningful impact in the industry by joining one of WiTH’s committees. Learn more and sign up here.

The annual SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit is presented by Qvest with sponsorship by Softtek, and will take place at Nya Studios, located in the heart of Hollywood.

The summit will be held both in-person in Los Angeles and virtually via Zoom.

With the theme “Us, Our Org, Our Community,” the full-day event promises a dynamic lineup of presentations and discussions. Attendees can expect engaging sessions such as “STEM in Media,” “Courageous Leadership,” and “Ethical AI.” Last year’s in-person edition of the summit attracted over 250 attendees, with more than 70 percent representing the media, entertainment, and tech-adjacent industries.

The Leadership Awards recognizes outstanding leaders and advocates in the entertainment technology sector. Past recipients of the award include industry luminaries like Nancy Faginas-Cody, Cristina Mancini-Jones, and Theresa Miller.

WiTH, founded in 2014, plays a pivotal role in advancing women in entertainment technology. The WiTH Steering Committee, responsible for selecting Leadership Awards winners, comprises representatives from prominent organizations such as Amazon Studios, Microsoft, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Company.

For inquiries about sponsorship, as part of your tax-deductible donation to WiTH Foundation, contact [email protected]. For more information about the WiTH Leadership Awards and the organization itself, contact [email protected].

To register for the event click here.