HERE - New York Women in Communications, Inc.

The Third Annual
Careers in Media Day 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
8:30 am–3:00 pm
A&E Television Networks
Keynote Speaker
Juju Chang
Co-Anchor
ABC News’ Nightline
NYWICI FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Linda Descano
NYWICI Foundation
Treasurer
Cheryl Surana
President
The Brooklyn Cookie Company, LLC
Linda Krebs
Founder & CEO
LKPR, Inc.
Secretary
Stacy Martinet
Chief Marketing Officer
Mashable
VP/Co-Chairs, Communications
Rachel Bowie
Editor
PureWow
VP/Co-Chairs, Scholar Relations
Saundra Thomas
Vice-President, Community Affairs
WABC-TV
Taylor Trudon
Life Lead
MTV
Stephanie Guzman
Assistant Account Executive
Ketchum
VP/Co-Chairs, Development
Ellen Archer
Managing Director, Golden Seeds
Founding Partner, Path2 LLC
Sheryl Victor Levy
Senior Director, Digital Strategy,
Phil & Co.
Founder, Savvy Strategy
VP/Co-Chairs, Student Affairs
Lori Greene
Senior Partner, Director of Content
Maxus Global
Brittany Hennessy
Associate Director,
Social Strategy and Influence
Horizon Media
VP/Co-Chairs, High School Outreach
Jacqueline Dolly
Marketing & Communications
Consultant
2
Megan Hess
Associate Editor
Mashable
VP/Co-Chairs, Scholarships
Kara Iaconis
VP, Sales & Marketing
BBC Worldwide
Assistant Treasurer
Danielle Dardashti
VP, Branded Content
Tribune Publishing
Isabelle Miner
VP/Co-Chairs, Mentoring
Bonnie Blake
President
Bonnie Blake & Company Inc.
VP/Co-Chairs, Strategic Alliances
Karen Karpowich
CEO
St.George's Society of New York
Francine Ryan
President & CMO
The Ryan Group
VP/Co-Chairs, Young Professionals
Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich
Managing Partner & President,
Editorial Operations
Masthead Media
HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH
COMMITTEE
VP/Co-Chairs
Jacqueline Dolly & Isabelle Miner
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Bree Caldwell
Owner
ProStyle Speaks
Mandy Carr
Freelance Journalist
Kendal Nicole Lambert
NYWICI Scholarship recipient,
2013/2015
BA Communications & Public
Relations (Class of 2017)
Stockton University
Alanna McCatty
NYWICI Scholarship recipient,
2014
Intern, MedShadow Foundation
BA Communications & Media
Studies (Class of 2017)
Pace University
Kim Richards
Executive Assistant to VP of
LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
LinkedIn
Christine Simpson
Grant Writing Consultant
Antoinette Miller
Recruiter, Talent Acquisition
HBO
VP/Co-Chairs Empowerment Grant
Janet Warren Dugo
President, Warren Dugo Media, Inc.
Publisher, Staten Island Business
Trends
Stephanie Scott
CEO & Communicator-in-Chief
First and Last PR
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
ABOUT NYWICI FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH INITIATIVE
The New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) High School Outreach Initiative
connects 9th-12th grade girls to vital college, career, and education resources to help them
become future communications, media, and technology stars. We create opportunities for
teens to explore and learn about current and emerging careers in communications through
collaborative partnerships with local high schools and youth serving organizations. We tap
into and leverage our richly diverse membership network to provide scholarship opportunities,
career exploration, personal development experiences, and access to successful mentors and
role models. Teens are inspired to dream big and take responsibility for their future success
in school and in life. NYWICI HSO communicates to teens the importance of preparation,
knowledge, and action to drive results. Our vision is to become the primary career exploration
resource and entry point for teen girls to communications, media, and technology careers.
ABOUT NEW YORK WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS
NYWICI is the largest Foundation providing support to women studying communications in the
NY-NJ-PA-CT region. NYWICI Foundation awards annual scholarships, ranging from $2,500
to $10,000, to women based on academic excellence, financial need, community service, and
a demonstrated interest and involvement in communications. Since the Foundation’s formal
establishment in 2000, it has issued more than $1 million in scholarship support. Our annual
college scholarship application process begins in November.
AND THERE’S MORE!
Today is just the beginning. Participate in our free and low cost college and career development
events year round! Join our High School Outreach Community page on Facebook to stay
current on all the great opportunities available to help you reach your fullest potential. Check
out the NYWICI Foundation website, www.nywici.org, to get started on your career future.
Welcome to Your Future in Communications, Media, & Technology!
WiFi login: Aeuser | password is History!
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
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The Third Annual
Careers in Media Day 2015
Welcome to the third annual Careers in Media Day event! Careers in Media Day brings girls with dreams
together with women of influence for a day of inspirational, fun, and informative experiences designed to
motivate teens to take control of their college and career pathways to success. We thank the panelists,
workshop presenters, moderators, and our amazing keynote speaker for donating their time to inspire young
people. In addition, we thank A&E Television Networks for hosting us in their beautiful mid-town location.
This event would not be possible without the awesome collaborative spirit, creativity, and passion of the
NYWICI High School Outreach committee, NYWICI volunteers, and the unbelievably talented and resource
rich NYWICI Foundation Board for their support and encouragement. Last, but not least, we thank you – our
student participants – for choosing to be here today. You have made an important and smart investment in
your future career development. We are confident you will see a great return on your investment. Bottomline, we are here to support you to explore and discover your passion for, or interest in, careers in the
communications, media, and technology fields.
Make the most of this experience. Learn about the benefits and the challenges of pursuing a career in
communications. It’s one of the most diverse career sectors you can find. There are communications
professionals in EVERY INDUSTRY!
Meet, greet and hear from an AMAZING line-up of distinguished women in broadcast, digital and social
media, PR, marketing, and the print journalism sectors. These are the movers, shakers, and thought leaders
of their industries.
Listen and learn from experts who will share valuable advice and experiences to help you build a successful
career in an industry bursting with opportunity! Be inspired by the passion and zeal of dynamic role models
and mentors.
Tap into college funding resources and internship opportunities. Get the skinny on awesome NYWICI
Scholarships, insider tips on the application process, and learn about the coolest internship opportunities on
the planet – the kind that can skyrocket your career to great heights. They are exclusively offered through
the NYWICI Foundation.
Have Fun! By the end of the program you will be empowered and motivated to take charge of your own
future, but don’t forget to have fun while you learn and grow.
JACQUELINE DOLLY AND ISABELLE MINER
Co-Chairs High School Outreach Committee
4
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
The Third Annual Careers in Media Day 2015
PROGRAM AGENDA
8:30-9:15 AM..............................CHECK-IN/BREAKFAST
9:15-9:30 AM..............................WELCOME
9:30-9:50 AM.............................KEYNOTE ADDRESS: JUJU CHANG, CO-ANCHOR, ABC NEWS’ NIGHTLINE
9:50-10:00AM............................BREAK
PANEL PRESENTATIONS*
10:00-10:30 AM.........................PANEL SESSION 1
Group A: There’s More To Broadcasting Than You Might Know! (FRONT ROOM)
A career in broadcasting is more than reading the news or hosting a show. Learn about the
wide range of career opportunities available within the exciting broadcast media field.
MODERATOR: MARISCH PERERA, Field Producer, Fox 5 News | NYWICI Scholarship Recipient:
2012, 2013
PANELISTS:
• DORIS MARTINEZ, Assistant Manager,Program Scheduling, Planning and Strategy
- HBO Latino and Multiplex channels
• BROOKE SASSMAN, Associate Lifestyle Editor, TODAY.com/NBC News | NYWICI Scholarship
Recipient: 2012, 2013
• OPAL VADHAN, NBC Nightly News Intern, NBC News | NYWICI scholarship Recipient: 2013, 2014
OR
Group B: The A-Z’s of Jumpstarting Your Marketing Career (BACK ROOM)
How does a company or individual buy or sell a product or service? We will introduce you to
the skills and experiences necessary for advertising, selling, and delivering products to people.
Our panel of marketing experts will help you understand the four ‘Ps’ of market: product, place,
price and promotion, and the pros and cons of a career in marketing.
MODERATOR: MARIE DUGO, Marketing Manager, NBCUniversal Inc.
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2007, 2008, 2009.
PANELISTS:
• NATASHA AARONS, Music Industry Marketing Manager, YouTube
• AMY FISHER, VP Global Marketing, Lauren, Chaps and American Living
• MAYTAV KOTER, Marketing & Management Coordinator, Primary Wave Music
• VICTORIA KULBANKSA, Brand Strategist, Horizon Media
10:30-10:40AM...........................BREAK
*Each Panel discussion lasts for 20 minutes followed by a 10 minute Q&A.
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
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PROGRAM AGENDA
10:40-11:10 AM...........................PANEL SESSION 2
Group A: So You Want to be a PR Wiz? (FRONT ROOM)
There’s a magic to PR; once you fall under its spell, you’re hooked for life! If you like influencing others
and enjoy creative problem solving, this might be the career for you. Learn if you have the skills and
drive to become a master in this field. Our panel of PR experts will help you understand what it takes
to be a 21st century PR Wiz!
MODERATOR: RHONDA RIDLEY, President/CEO, Affinity Public Relations
PANELISTS:
• CARA HUTCHISON, Account Supervisor, Rogers & Cowan
• FIORELLI SALVO, Senior Communications Manager, Mashable
• SIMONE SMALLS, Founder & CEO, Simone Smalls Public Relations Inc.
OR
Group B: Navigating the Digital and Print Career Landscape (BACK ROOM)
Print and digital communications have merged to create new career opportunities while eliminating
others. What are the current and emerging trends in the print and digital career fields? How do you build
a successful career in digital and print journalism, and what skills do you need to succeed in this field?
MODERATOR: MARIA CRISTINA MARRERO, Group Content Chief, Meredith Hispanic Media
PANELISTS:
• SARA BRAVMANN, Research Strategist, O, The Oprah Magazine, Hearst Corporation
• MORGAN GRECO, Senior Director, A&E, HISTORY, H2
• KATE HOGAN, Staff Features Editor, People.com
• TAYLOR TRUDON, Life Beat Lead, MTV News | NYWICI Scholarship Recipient 2010
11:20-11:50 AM............................PANEL SESSION 3 (ALL STUDENTS)
Do it Your Way! Entrepreneurship, Communications and You! (FRONT ROOM)
Launching and successfully running your own communications business enterprise isn’t easy, but
the long term benefits can be big. Learn about the rewards and challenges of the entrepreneurial
communications career path from our panel of business owners.
MODERATOR: BREE CALDWELL, Founder/CEO, ProStyle Speaks
PANELISTS:
• KRISTEN ELISE BROWN, Founder, Gold Label Cosmetics, Co-Star of B.O.R.N. to Style
• SHARRA DADE, Founder, 3-D Platform Public Relations
• JANEL MARTINEZ, Founder/Journalist, AintILatina.com
11:50-12:00PM............................BREAK
12:00-12:30 PM...........................PANEL SESSION 4 (ALL STUDENTS)
Success Begins with a NYWICI Foundation Scholarship (FRONT ROOM)
NYWICI Foundation offers amazing scholarship funding opportunities to help finance your
communications college and career dreams.
MODERATOR: KARA IACONIS, VP, Sales & Marketing, Learning Team, BBC Worldwide
PANELISTS:
• ALANNA MCCATTY, Intern, MedShadow Foundation | NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2014
• AMANDA MORRIS, Managing Editor, nywiciNEXT | NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2014, 2015
• CINDY NGUYEN, NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2015
• OPAL VADHAN, NBC Nightly News Intern, NBC News | NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2013, 2014
6
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
PROGRAM AGENDA
12:30-1:30PM .............................LUNCH
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
1:30-2:10 PM...............................WORKSHOP SESSION 1
Workshop A: A Brand New You! Personal Branding Makeover 101. (BACK ROOM)
FACILITATOR: JESSICA STYLES, Professional Coach and Founder of The FAB Network
You are the CEO of you. You have the power to develop and shape how the rest of the world perceives
you in life and in your career. You are going to learn the fundamentals of building and managing a
winning personal brand for a lifetime of success. We will show you how to make over and manage your
personal brand to get you noticed by the right people.
OR
Workshop B: The Power in your Pocket: Produce Content With Your Smart Phone
FACILITATOR: DUPE AJAYI, Digital and Social Media Strategist (FRONT ROOM)
You don’t have to wait to graduate from college, or have access to fancy, expensive equipment
to become a 21st Century media maven. You can begin creating and publishing engaging, career
boosting content right now using your smart phone. Get the skinny on the making the most of the
power in your pocket.
2:10-2:15PM ................................BREAK
2:15-2:55 PM...............................WORKSHOP SESSION 2
Workshop A: 60-second Elevator Pitch (FRONT ROOM)
FACILITATOR: JOANNE TOMBRAKOS, Founder and Chief Storyteller, Joanne Tombrakos International
In an “on-demand” world, having time to make a good impression is a luxury. Most people decide
within the first 60 seconds of meeting us whether we are worth more investment of their time. When
you find yourself at your college, scholarship, or job screening interview, how can you make the most
of those precious first 60 seconds to convince them of your value and potential? Learn and practice
the fundamentals of creating a winning 60-second elevator pitch to make a great first impression.
OR
Workshop B: Link into Success (BACK ROOM)
FACILITATOR: KRYSTLE DESANTOS, Campaign Manager, LinkedIn
Do you know how to network your way to success? Build meaningful and powerful relationships to
help you advance in your future career. Learn how to leverage LinkedIn to make important decisions
about your college and career path. Learn the importance of creating value for others to increase
your value in other people’s networks.
2:55-3:00 PM..............................CLOSING REMARKS (FRONT ROOM)
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
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WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
OUR INSPIRATIONAL
ROLE MODELS: BIOGRAPHIES
OPENING REMARKS
LINDA DESCANO, President, NYWICI Foundation
@lindadescano
Linda
Descano,
CFA,
is
an
intrapreneurial executive and strategist
distinguished for seeding, structuring
and scaling cutting-edge programs
that deliver results. As a conversation
architect, Linda integrates content,
communications, and community to
create branded experiences that
engage audiences and drive action. Most recently, Linda
served as Managing Director and Global Head of
Content Marketing and Social Media at Citi, where she
created the first strategic roadmap for centralizing
Citi’s social media and content marketing efforts across
the global consumer bank. As the U.S. Head of Content
Marketing and Social Media, also at Citi, Linda
restructured the organizational model and redefined
the strategy, launching numerous social “firsts” that
ignited brand engagement and garnered 15+ industry
awards. Concurrently, she served as President and CEO
of Women & Co., an award-winning financial lifestyle
community for women.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
JUJU CHANG, Co-Anchor, ABC News’ Nightline
@JujuChangABC
Juju Chang is an Emmy Awardwinning co-anchor of ABC News’
“Nightline.” She also reports regularly
for “Good Morning America” and
“20/20.” Chang covered breaking
news of the devastating effects of
Superstorm Sandy from lower
Manhattan to Breezy Point to the
Rockaways. She reported on the mass shootings in
Newtown, Conn., interviewing a mother of one of the
young victims. For a special “Nightline” series following
the shooting at Sandy Hook, she profiled a young family
of gun enthusiasts in Utah. Chang received one of her
two Emmys for team coverage of the California wildfires.
She won one of her two Gracies for a “20/20” story on
gender equality in the sciences. She began her career
at ABC News as a desk assistant and eventually became
a producer at “World News Tonight.” She rose to
become a correspondent covering such stories as the
U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya, Hurricane Georges,
and the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
From 1996-97, Chang was based in Washington, DC,
where she covered the White House, Capitol Hill and
the 1996 Presidential election for NewsOne, ABC’s
affiliate service.
8
BROADCAST PANEL
MODERATOR MARISCH PERERA, Field Producer, Fox
5 News | @MarischPerera
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2012, 2013
Marisch Perera is a Field Producer at
Fox 5 News. She recently graduated
from Pace University with a Bachelor
of Arts in Communication Studies.
As a first generation South Asian
American college student, education
has played a vital role in her career.
As an undergraduate student, she
successfully completed various internships at major
television networks including CBS, CNN, NBC, and NY1
News. Additionally, she served as an On-Camera
Reporter for MTA’s Transit News. Since 2012, Marisch
has been involved with the New York Women in
Communications as a 2X scholarship winner. She served
on the Student Affairs committee and volunteered at
the annual Student Career Conference. Marisch also
served as a Scholarship Ambassador and Co-Director
of Events for the High School Outreach committee.
Additionally, she has contributed stories to the online
student blog, nywiciNEXT.
DORIS MARTINEZ, Assistant Manager of Program
Scheduling, Planning and Strategy — HBO Latino and
Multiplex channels | @Dfez2
Doris graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in Economics from Hunter
College (CUNY) in 1999. After two
years of working in the Financial
Services industry, she decided to quit
and switch careers to work in the
entertainment industry. A few
months later, she got her foot in the
door and was hired as the Assistant to the Director of
Financial Reporting in the Home Entertainment
department at a HBO. The following year, 2002, she
transferred to the Sports Programming department of
the company working as an Executive Assistant to the
Vice President of Sports Programming where she
learned all about boxing programming and contracts. In
2003, she moved to the Program Planning and Strategy
department as an On-Air Planner handling the on-air
promotion for HBO Latino and other plex channels. A
year later, she decided to attend graduate school and in
2006 she earned a master’s degree in Communication
and Media Studies from Fordham University. She was
subsequently promoted to Senior On-Air Planner in
2007. Two years later, she moved within the department
to a more senior role and became Assistant Manager of
Program Scheduling, where she currently handles the
programming for HBO Latino and the HBO Plex channels.
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
BROADCAST PANEL continued
MARKETING PANEL
BROOKE SASSMAN, Associate Lifestyle Editor,
TODAY.com/NBC News | @BrookeSassman
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2013, 2014
MODERATOR MARIE DUGO, Marketing Manager,
NBCUniversal Inc. | @MarieDugo
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2007, 2008, 2009
Brooke Sassman is an Associate
Lifestyle Editor for Today Show
Digital. A Rutgers University alum,
she represented the top .5% of her
class and delivered the School of
Communication and Information
commencement speech this past
spring as the distinguished student
speaker. Within the industry, Brooke has been
recognized by the Today Show as the “future of women
in communications”. In 2014, she received a Foundation
Scholarship from New York Women In Communications,
in addition to the President’s Scholarship from the
Radio Television Digital News Foundation. In 2013 she
was awarded the $10,000 NYWICI Ruth Whitney
scholarship from Glamour Magazine for her advanced
level of reporting. She has previously interned at NY1
News, The Today Show, Today.com, Cosmopolitan
Magazine, Glamour Magazine, and She’s the First.
Marie Dugo is the Marketing Manager
for NBCUniversal Owned Television
Stations, the division of NBCUniversal
that includes 28 NBC and Telemundo
local television stations, a regional
news network and their associated
websites and digital platforms, as
well as a group of out-of-home
properties, a production company, an in-house
marketing and promotions company and two national
multicast networks, COZI TV and TeleXitos. Marie has
worked at NBCUniversal, Inc. since participating in the
acclaimed NBC Page Program, following her graduation
from Vassar College with a degree in Media Studies.
Marie serves as a Board Member for The Vassar Club of
New York and chairs its Programming Committee,
managing the Club’s social media presence and
executing over 40 events per year. Marie is a three-time
recipient of the New York Women in Communications
Foundation Scholarship (2007, 2008, 2009) and the
2011 Young Communicator Award. She currently serves
on the NYWICI Membership Committee, with previous
roles at the organization including VP of Scholar
Relations for the Foundation Board and Editor-in-Chief
of the student e-newsletter nywiciNEXT.
OPAL VADHAN, NBC Nightly News Intern, NBC News
@OpalVadhan
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2013, 2014
Opal Vadhan is a recent graduate
from Pace University where she
majored in communications and
minored in women and gender
studies. At Pace, Opal was a resident
advisor for three years working with
freshmen to upperclassmen. She is a
two-time New York Women in
Communications scholarship winner, an advance
associate working in politics, a freelance reporter for TV
Asia, as well as a panelist for The Seven Sisters Project.
Vadhan spent her fall 2014 semester interning at The
White House in the Office of Communications in
Washington D.C. She is a former campus editor-at-large
for Huffington Post, Her previous internships include
NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, MTA, Gimme Mo, Fashion
Delivers, Girls Who Rock, The Rachael Ray Show, and
Sony Music Entertainment. Vadhan is also the youngest
person in the Lacoste hall of fame selling more than
$250,000 of merchandise in under a year.
NATASHA AARONS, Music Industry Marketing Manager,
YouTube
Natasha Aarons is the Music Industry
Marketing Manager at YouTube/
Google where she lives out her
passion of empowering artists
careers with technology. Prior to
joining YouTube/Google, she worked
at Verizon Wireless where she
developed advertising marketing
strategies. Natasha started her career in the music
industry aiding the development of artists’ careers, at
Bad Boy Records in Marketing and then at Jive Records/
Sony Music as a Manager of Video Promotions. She is a
graduate of Georgetown University (Go Hoyas!) and
received her MBA from Northwestern University’s
Kellogg School of Management.
AMY FISHER, VP Global Marketing – Lauren, Chaps
and American Living
Amy has worked in Marketing for
over 25 years. She began her career
at Guideline Research, a customer
research supplier where she serviced
many clients including Unilever and
Avon. In 1994 she joined Philip Morris
continued
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
9
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
MARKETING PANEL continued
Companies as a Senior Insights Analyst where she
supported brands such as Marlboro, Virginia Slims and
the Direct Mail business. Amy spent 14 years at L’Oreal
USA where she held various roles in Strategic Planning
and Insights for both the Consumer Products and
Luxury Products Divisions. Her responsibilities included
the management of Consumer Insights, CRM,
Syndicated Data, and Strategic Planning. In 2011 she
joined Elizabeth Arden as the Vice President of North
American Marketing and in 2013 she became the Vice
President of Marketing for Women’s Wholesale at Ralph
Lauren. She is currently the Vice President of Global
Marketing for the Lauren Brand Group at Ralph Lauren.
MAYTAV KOTER, Marketing & Management
Coordinator, Primary Wave Music | @MaytavK
Maytav is originally from Israel and
received her bachelor’s degree in
Marketing and Arts & Entertainment
Management from Pace University in
NYC. In between classes and a part
time job, Maytav had six internships
including Atlantic Records – where
she worked for COO Julie Greenwald
and digital label The Shop – Sony Music/RCA Records
in Digital Marketing, MTV Networks, WEA Corp/WMG,
and lifestyle/entertainment PR firm Sarah Hall
Productions. Maytav is actively involved in the music
scene in New York, both on the creative and business
side with a vast interest in industry trends and a passion
for emerging talent. Working hand-in-hand with CMO
Adam Lowenberg at Primary Wave, Maytav coordinates
all marketing initiatives, assists managers’ day to day,
and plugs into the publishing world in regards to
upcoming talent.
VICTORIA KULBANKSA, Brand Strategist, Horizon
Media | @VikaKulbanska
Victoria graduated from Fordham
Gabelli School of Business in 2014
with
a
Major
in
Business
Administration and a minor in
Marketing. After graduating, she
accepted an offer from Ogilvy and
Mather as an Assistant Media Planner.
During her time at Ogilvy, Victoria
worked on the E*TRADE account specializing in digital
planning and buying. She also worked on a pro bono
account for the United Nations to bring awareness to
World Humanitarian Day through a global social
campaign. After a year at Ogilvy, Victoria accepted an
offer from Horizon Media as a Brand Strategist.
10
PUBLIC RELATIONS PANEL
MODERATOR RHONDA RIDLEY, President/CEO,
Affinity Public Relations | @APRFirm
With close to 25 years of Public
Relations, Marketing and Branding
experience, of which 16 have been as
President/CEO of Affinity Public
Relations, Rhonda Ridley has built a
highly specialized agency that’s
skilled at turning a brand’s targeted
consumers into their marketing
ambassadors and are well-versed in loyalty sustaining
programs to produce the highest ROI. In 2005, Rhonda
added journalist to her resume when she began writing
for Gospelcity.com, the largest urban Gospel website in
the world. She has interviewed hundreds of recording
artists, actors, authors, world-renowned ministers and
celebrities. Her open, in-depth and compelling interview
style has been applauded and led to Rhonda being
promoted to head writer in 2008. Over the years
Rhonda has spoken on several panels covering topics
from Public Relations, Women’s Issues, Marriage to
Entrepreneurship. She has been guest PR instructor at
2 New York local colleges, and is currently in the process
of creating various podcasts, webisodes and vlogs for
the PR industry, business owners, women and
relationship enthusiasts.
CARA HUTCHISON, Account Supervisor,
Rogers & Cowan
As an Account Supervisor at Rogers
& Cowan specializing in music and
entertainment,
Cara
Hutchison
architects
and
engages
allencompassing publicity campaigns
for a myriad of influential music and
celebrity clients. She has been
integral to album releases by
everybody from The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, and
David Duchovny to Elton John, Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey,
and Nathan Sykes. Her diligence, drive, and devotion
continually yield high-profile placements across
television, print, and online media. Beyond personal PR
for artists, she has spearheaded public relations for
major AEG and Live Nation tours such as Katy Perry,
Kanye West, Lionel Richie, Queen and Adam Lambert,
The Smashing Pumpkins, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys,
and many more. Her experience extends to managing
large-scale events including The Kentucky Derby,
Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala, Elton John AIDS
Foundation, Andrea Bocelli’s Live at Central Park, Live
Nation’s “National Concert Day,” Live Nation’s Music
Midtown Festival, and more. Cara has also proven
instrumental to entertainment initiatives for Southwest
Airlines, LivingSocial, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
and Museum, ASCAP, and Sirius XM Radio.
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
PUBLIC RELATIONS PANEL continued
FIORELLI SALVO, Senior Communications Manager,
Mashable | @fiosalvo
As Senior Communications Manager
at Mashable, Fiorelli develops and
executes plans to generate awareness
for the brand’s premium content as
well as spearheads the organization’s
internal communications strategy.
She joined Mashable in March 2014.
Prior to Mashable, Fiorelli helped
manage media relations, influencer engagement and
launch campaigns for a number of iconic global brands.
Her favorite part about working in media is the ability
to inspire change through storytelling.
SIMONE SMALLS, Founder/President, Simone Smalls
PR, Inc. | @simonesmalls
Simone Smalls, is the Founder and
CEO of Simone Smalls Public Relations,
Inc. — a leading public relations and
strategic marketing agency specializing
in entertainment, sports, lifestyle and
corporate brand industries. Simone is
widely recognized as a strong leader
and brand strategist with laserfocused vision, creativity and dedication to her craft.
She has a proven track record of developing wellcrafted, highly effective publicity and marketing
initiatives for a diverse array of clientele. From music
artists, television and film stars, awards shows,
entertainment and sports companies, corporate
executives, non-profit organizations, authors, speakers,
and fashion/lifestyle brands, Simone has developed
and implemented campaigns and cohesive brand
strategies for NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Inc., USA
Swimming and USA Swimming Foundation, BET
Networks, The Nelson Mandela Foundation and more.
She has also represented an array of the most prominent
names in music and entertainment, including Usher,
Justin Bieber,Prince,Tristan “Mack” Wilds, Luke James,
Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Hanson, Omarion, Lil’ Jon, Mario,
Sean Paul, LL Cool J, Keyshia Cole, Mario, Avant, Toni
Braxton, Mya, The Neptunes / N.E.R.D, Talib Kweli,
among countless others. Simone has been featured in
various media outlets and has been honored by several
organizations for her work in public relations and
marketing. She is a graduate of Fashion Institute of
Technology and resides in New York City.
PRINT & DIGITAL PANEL
MODERATOR MARIA CRISTINA MARRERO, Group
Content Chief, Meredith Hispanic Media
@mcristymarrero
María Cristina “Cristy” Marrero is
obsessed with creating content with
substance that connects with her
people. Developing audiences while
helping brands engaging in “the right
way” is her calling. This avid
“conversationalist” as she prefers to
be identified, left Puerto Rico when
she was 19 years-old. Only a few years later, Cristy
would become Editor-in-Chief of Siempre Mujer
magazine, published by Meredith Corp., the first Latina
to ever win a Women in Communications, Inc. Rising
Star Award (2013), as well as a Julia de Burgos Award
Honoree (2014) from National Puerto Rican Day Parade,
a MIN Most Intriguing People in Media Honoree (2015)
and a Folio Awards Top Women in Media 2015 honoree.
At age 30, the she became the youngest Latina in the
U.S. to assume that position.
SARA BRAVMANN, Research Strategist, O Magazine
@SaraBravmann
Sara Bravmann is Research Strategist
within the Marketing Department of O,
The Oprah Magazine. After receiving
her B.A. in Psychology at Barnard
College of Columbia University in 2012,
she went on to work for Time Magazine
and Boston Children’s Hospital, before
joining the team at O in 2014. She has
a passion for publishing, sales and marketing, and, of
course, Oprah. In her free time she loves to travel and has
done volunteer work across several continents.
MORGAN GRECO, Senior Director, A&E, HISTORY, H2
@MorganGreco
Morgan Greco is the Senior Director
of Social Media & Fan Engagement
for A&E, HISTORY and H2. Morgan
and her team are responsible for A&E’s
social media efforts surrounding
cable mega-hits such as Vikings,
Bates Motel, Pawn Stars and Duck
Dynasty. The team works to empower
uber-fans to share their love for A&E’s content. During
her tenure which began in February 2013, social media
fan growth and interaction more than doubled. In
addition to her work at A&E, Morgan implemented
launch strategies for the FYI Network and revamped
the social strategy for LMN.
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
11
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
PRINT & DIGITAL continued
ENTREPRENEURSHIP PANEL
KATE HOGAN, Staff Features Editor, People.com
@misskph
MODERATOR BREE CALDWELL, Founder/CEO,
ProStyle Speaks | @breestylespeaks
Kate Hogan is currently the staff
features editor at People.com. After
graduating from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in
journalism, the Chicago native moved
to New York City without a job and
four months later, found herself as an
editorial assistant at IN New York and
WHERE magazines, both tourist-friendly publications
found in hotels around Manhattan. After 18 months
there, she made the jump to People.com, where she
spent two years on the PEOPLE Pets and Celebrity
Moms & Babies sites before shifting her focus to all
things celebrity fashion and beauty at StyleWatch
online. Now, she runs photo galleries like StarTracks;
pitches in on in-book features; plans, writes and edits
content for PEOPLE franchises like the World’s Most
Beautiful and the Sexiest Man Alive; and spends late
nights in the office covering awards shows while eating
way too much junk food.
Bree Caldwell has been in the
corporate world in the legal and
management industries for over 14
years. She also graduated with an
Associates Degree in Business
Administration. In her professional
experience, she understands that
communication – written, verbal and
non-verbal – are crucial. She knows while it is important
to have the skills needed to advance in your career, your
choices in wardrobe, as well as personal appearance,
are equally important and count as “non-verbal
communication.” She is a Style Coach for Prostyle
Speaks that helps women business owners dress for
amazing success and as a result attract more clients,
land more deals and look sensational, no matter what
anyone says. She is also a member Toastmasters for
Public Speaking and a Committee Member of NYWICI
High School Outreach Program to help girls attend
college and begin their careers in communications/
media.
TAYLOR TRUDON, Life Lead, MTV News
@taylortrudon
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient 2010
Taylor Trudon is the Life Lead at MTV
News. Previously, she was senior
editor of Young Voices at The
Huffington Post, where she provided
a platform for thousands of talented
teens and millennials to talk about
what’s really happening in their lives
—
socially,
academically
and
culturally. Taylor is passionate about communitybuilding, advocating for young voices and using social
media as a catalyst for starting conversations. As a 2015
TEDxTeen speaker, she spoke about the power of the
written word and how to amplify your story in today’s
technology saturated world. Taylor studied journalism
and women’s studies at the University of Connecticut,
during which she was a two-time New York Women in
Communications, Inc. scholarship recipient. She
currently serves as co-chair of Scholar Relations on the
NYWICI Foundation Board and is a volunteer journalist
fellow for the News Literacy Project, a national
educational program that teaches middle and high
school students how to navigate media in the digital
age. She was named one of the Most Influential Young
Women of 2015 by Teen Vogue.
KRISTEN ELISE BROWN, Founder of Gold Label
Cosmetics and co-star of B.O.R.N. to Style
@goldlabeler
Beauty entrepreneur Kristen Elise
Brown is setting a new standard in
luxury beauty by encouraging
women everywhere to celebrate their
beauty on their own terms with Gold
Label Cosmetics. As Founder and
Creator of the luxury cosmetics
brand Gold Label Cosmetics (www.
goldlabelcosmetics.com), Kristen’s beauty philosophy
is about feeling amazing about yourself when you’re
done, “I believe in affirmations, beauty and luxury, and
Gold Label Cosmetics is the marriage of those three
ideals,” said Kristen. “I believe in speaking things into
existence and genuinely loving yourself. It’s easy to love
your beauty when you find a place that celebrates it.”
SHARRA DADE, Founder, 3-D Platform Public
Relations | @sharradade
Sharra Dade is a successful Entrepreneur
and creative professional with over
a decade of experience in Marketing/
Public
Relations
and
Business
Administration. Having worked with
C-­
Level Executives in Finance, high
profile celebrities in entertainment,
lifestyle brands, and in Real Estate as
a Consultant and Salesperson; Sharra is adept in crafting
high impact communication strategies and managing
the various aspects of a successful operation. As a
continued
12
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
ENTREPRENEURSHIP PANEL continued
Marketing Professional and Publicist, Sharra’s previous
client lists include A List celebrities and brands that
have been featured within countless top tier media
outlets including MTV, Billboard Magazine, CBS, NBC,
and Black Enterprise, to name a few. As mom to a rising
star, Sharra also manages appearances and other Public
Relations opportunities for her 6-year-old daughter,
who was featured in a major film alongside Dakota
Fanning and has several commercials on Nickelodeon.
Sharra’s strong communication skills and innate ability
to effectively develop and execute short and long term
planning, while cultivating meaningful relationships,
keep her in high demand as a consultant to various
lifestyle brands and entertainment professionals.
JANEL MARTINEZ, Journalist and Founder,
AintILatina.com | @janelmwrites
Janel Martinez is a millennial
multimedia journalist. She is the
founder and editor-­
in­
-chief of
AintILatina.com, an online destination
created by and for Afro­
Latinas.
Inspired by the lack of representation
in mainstream media, as well as
Spanish ­
language media, Martinez
created a space where millennial Latinas can celebrate
their diversity. Her work and insights have appeared on
various media sites including Cosmopolitan for Latinas,
NPR’s Latino USA, Latina, NBC, HuffPost Live, Madame
Noire, Black Enterprise and The Root, as well as Arise
News. Named one of 11 Latinas to follow on Twitter by
Cosmo for Latinas, Martinez shares her daily musings
via @janelmwrites. She is a graduate of the S.I.
Newhouse School of Public Communications at
Syracuse University, where she received a bachelor’s
degree in magazine journalism and sociology and
minored in African-American Studies.
NYWICI SCHOLARSHIP PANEL
MODERATOR KARA IACONIS, VP, Sales & Marketing,
BBC Worldwide
Kara is currently Vice President of
Sales and Marketing of BBC
Worldwide. Previoulsy, Kara was Vice
President of Channel Marketing at
Scholastic where she oversaw the
development and execution of all
print and digital marketing initiatives,
including national exhibits planning
for over 20 premium education products.
In her role, Kara played an integral part in the development
and launch of READ 180 – today’s leading software for
literacy intervention and the cornerstone of Scholastic’s
Education division. She has since managed more than 10
launches into the education marketplace for acclaimed
programs such as System 44, READ 180 Next Generation,
iRead, Math 180, FASTT Math and more.
Prior to that, Kara spent 10 years managing catalogs,
promotions and merchandising initiatives and has
received several awards and recognitions for her
outstanding websites and catalog designs. She is a
strategic, creative leader who has the ability to maximize
resources and manage processes effectively. Kara’s
passion and commitment is reflected not only at the
office, but in her personal life as well, where she is a wife,
a mother to two teenage girls and a triathlon participant
in the tri-state area.
ALANNA MCCATTY, Intern, MedShadow Foundation
@alanna_mccatty
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2014
Alanna McCatty is a rising junior
at Pace University majoring in
Communications. In February of 2014,
she received the New York Women in
Communications Interpublic Group
Scholarship, which included an
internship with Weber Shandwick,
one of the world’s leading global
public relations firms. This opportunity aligned her with
an organization that possesses a network full of
resources and opportunities within the communications
industry. Receiving numerous opportunities from the
organization compelled her to serve as a board member
on their subcommittee, the High School Outreach
Committee, where she helps develop and organize
programs for the next generation of media mavens. She
also serves as a board member on the Women
Empowerment Network, where she educates freshman
women on how to maximize their first year in college.
During the summer of 2015, Alanna interned with Weber
Shandwick’s sister agency, DNA Communications, a
global healthcare agency. Alanna currently interns with
The MedShadow Foundation where she researches
articles about prescription drugs and their side effects,
and writes news teasers that are published on the
MedShadow website.
AMANDA MORRIS, Managing Editor, nywiciNEXT
@AmandaMoMorris
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2014, 2015
Amanda is a sophomore at NYU,
originally
from
Farmington,
CT,
and she is double majoring in
Journalism and Media Cultures and
Communication. She has been a twotime NYWICI scholarship recipient
and works as the managing editor of
NYWICI’s student blog. She also
volunteers on NYWICI’s student affairs committee. At
NYU she participates in WNYU – NYU’s news radio
show – and is a member of both the ballroom dance
team and the Women in Communications club. She
plans to study abroad in Prague this spring.
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
13
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR BIOGRAPHIES
CINDY NGUYEN, NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2015
In three words, Cindy describes
herself as personable, optimistic and
enthusiastic. She moved to New York
City two years ago from Watertown,
Connecticut to pursue her education
and career. Already, she has made a
name for herself in the fashion
industry and in the Pace University
community. While only entering her junior year of her
undergrad, Cindy has already completed 14 internships
in some of the most iconic fashion houses and companies
out there. Prada, YSL, Valentino, Christian Louboutin and
Seventeen Magazine are just to name a few. With her
experience and dedication to the fashion industry, she
founded Pace University’s first fashion business club and
titled it “Profashionals”. She executes bi-monthly
meetings and networking events to help students learn
about the industry and to place students with internships
in fashion. This honors student knows the balance
between work, school and numerous side projects that
come her way. She is the 2015 recipient of the Ruth
Whitney Scholarship sponsored by Glamour Magazine.
OPAL VADHAN, NBC Nightly News Intern, NBC News
@OpalVadhan (see biography page 9)
NYWICI Scholarship Recipient: 2013, 2014
PERSONAL BRANDING
JESSICA STYLES, Professional Coach and Founder of
The FAB Network | @StylesJ
Jessica is a graduate of Furman
University with a Bachelor of Arts in
Communication Studies. She moved
to New York from South Carolina to
pursue her passion for the fashion,
beauty and entertainment industry.
She spent a few years honing in on her
interests and strengthening her craft
at MTV Networks/BET Networks and Louis Vuitton Moet
Hennessey (LVMH). She served as an Adjunct Professor at
LIM College “Where Business Meets Fashion” in the
Experiential Education and Career Management
Department before being promoted to full-time staff,
where she is responsible for providing one-on-one and
group career exploration and employment advising to
current students and alumni, developing curriculum,
teaching career development courses and cultivating
relationships with targeted employer caseload. In addition,
she is the Founder of The FAB Network, a consulting
company fostering career and social opportunities for
students and professionals. Jessica is a public speaker for
conferences and universities and has been featured for
her expertise on FoxNews.com, New York’s Power 105.1,
CollegeBoard.com
and
Manhattan
Neighborhood
Network Television. She is passionate about helping
others find their passion and live with purpose.
14
POWER IN YOUR POCKET
DUPE AJAYI, Digital and Social Media Strategist
@theajayieffect
Dupe Ajayi believes in the power of
marketing for good. Known for her
simplified approach to launching
innovative marketing campaigns, she
raises the visibility of non-profit and
corporate pro-social initiatives. After
working as a producer at companies
such as MTV, ABC News and BET for
a number of years, she made a natural transition into
the non-profit arena as a branding and marketing
specialist. She has since consulted to and worked for
several corporate, non-profit and governmental agencies
including Burson-Marsteller, The City of New York, MSL
Group, BroadCause, Abyssinian Development Corporation,
Starbucks Corporation. Taproot Foundation, City Year,
Target, Mobile Commons, Mary J. Blige, Jazz Foundation
of America and more.
60 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH
JOANNE TOMBRAKOS, Founder and Chief Storyteller,
Joanne Tombrakos International | @ joannetombrakos
Joanne Tombrakos is the Founder
and Chief Storyteller at Joanne
Tombrakos International, a marketing
consultancy focused on helping you
and your brand optimize digital tools,
specifically social media and content
marketing. She is the creatrix of
YOUR DIGITAL YOU, an online and
onDemand course designed to build your personal
brand and improve your digital footprint. The author
of It Takes An Egg Timer, A Guide To Creating The
Time For Your Life and a novel, The Secrets They
Kept, Joanne is also a Speaker, Adjunct Professor at
NYU and above all a writer. For more information visit
www.joannetombrakos.com
LINK INTO SUCCESS
KRYSTLE DESANTOS, Campaign Manager, LinkedIn
@KrystleDeSantos
Krystle works as part of an account
team at LinkedIn that helps clients
find and engage the best talent using
the world’s largest professional
network.
She
has
experience
managing the post­sale process for
both marketing and recruitment
campaigns, ensuring her clients’
messages are delivered to the right audience at the
right time with the right creative. Krystle also teaches
the LinkedIn profile and resume model for Startup
Institute New York. When she’s not managing advertising
campaigns or mentoring, you can find her engaged in
decor, style and most recently wedding design.
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
NYWICI FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Each year, the New York Women in Communications
Foundation — a 501c3 — awards 15-20 scholarships to
graduating high school seniors and undergraduate and
graduate students who intend to pursue or further a
career in communications.
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY
LET NYWICI FOUNDATION HELP YOU FUND
YOUR DREAM COMMUNICATIONS CAREER!
• College undergraduate and graduate students who
are permanent residents of one of these states
The 2016 Scholarship Application process will be
open November 6, 2015! For more information, visit:
http://www.nywici.org/foundation/scholarships
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
Join our High School Outreach Facebook Community
page to stay current on college funding and education
and media developments to help you to become a
future communications and media star: https://www.
facebook.com/groups/nywicihighschooloutreach/.
NYWICI Foundation awards Scholarships based
on academic excellence, need and a demonstrated
commitment to the field of communications. New
York Women in Communications and its Foundation
are committed to inclusion and diversity. Scholarships
are generally in the amounts of $2,500, $5,000, and
$10,000.
In addition to our general scholarships, we offer
sponsored scholarships with specific qualifications.
Most are funded by corporations or foundations that
retain the right to impose qualifications, which may
include, but are not limited to, a candidate’s declared
major, area of study, or demonstrated skill; age or year
of study and personal background.
New York Women in Communications Foundation,
the philanthropic arm of New York Women in
Communications, Inc., cultivates leaders in our
field by providing financial support, opportunities
for professional development and mentoring, and
entrée to a diverse community of communications
professionals. We are the largest foundation for
women’s communications scholarships in the New
York-New Jersey-Connecticut-Pennsylvania region.
• U.S. citizens who are permanent residents of NY,
NJ, CT, or PA
• High school seniors who are permanent residents of
and attend a high school in one of these states and
will graduate in 2016
• Graduate students must also be members of New
York Women in Communications in good standing
(i.e., dues for the current year paid in full before
applying- no exceptions)
NOTE: As long as they fulfill the permanent home
residency requirements, applicants are eligible even
if they attend or plan to attend an accredited U.S.
college/university located outside of NY, NJ, CT, or
PA. This includes participation in a communicationsrelated semester or quarter abroad if still registered at
an accredited college/university in the U.S.
• U.S. citizens who are not permanent residents of
NY, NJ, CT, or PA, but who are currently enrolled in
a communications program at a college/university
in New York may apply. (NOTE: This excludes high
school seniors who will be enrolling as freshmen
and excludes college students who are applying
to transfer into a college or university in the five
boroughs.)
QUALIFICATIONS
An applicant must:
• be majoring, planning to declare a major, or
pursuing an advanced degree in a communicationsrelated field at an accredited college/university
in the U.S. Communications-related fields include,
but are not limited to, advertising, broadcasting,
communications, digital media, English, film,
journalism, marketing, public relations, or
publishing.
• have an overall GPA of 3.2 or better (or the
recalculated high school equivalent)
Past scholarship winners who are reapplying must
be NYWICI members in good standing (i.e., dues for
the current year paid in full, if applicable). NOTE: No
individual can receive the same named scholarship
twice or more than two scholarships in total through
the NYWICI Foundation.
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
15
FAQ
WHAT IS NEW YORK WOMEN IN
COMMUNICATIONS?
New York Women in Communications, Inc. is
the premier organization for communications
professionals in the New York metropolitan area.
We are a not-for-profit association 501(c)(6)
founded in 1929, and we operate in a city that
leads the industry and shapes the way people
communicate around the world.
OUR PURPOSE
To strengthen the role of women in all
communications professions, we strive to:
• Inspire women to achieve and to share their
success
• Promote leadership and professional
development
• Network for professional growth and support
• Nurture future leaders in communications
EXACTLY WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY “THE
COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY?”
The membership represents all facets of the
communications industry, including print,
broadcast and online journalism, public relations,
marketing, corporate communications, advertising,
digital media and book publishing. Our membership
consists of students, professionals at entry levels,
mid-career stages and top management, as well as
growing numbers of entrepreneurs.
WHY IS NYWICI IMPORTANT TO MY
COLLEGE AND CAREER FUTURE?
New York Women in Communications empowers
women in all communications disciplines at all
stages of their careers to reach their full potential
by promoting their professional growth and
inspiring them to achieve and share their successes
in the rapidly changing world of communications.
NYWICI Foundation gives away
more than $100,000 in college
scholarship funding each year to
young women like you who have
a passion and a desire to study a
communications-related discipline
in college. Could this be you?
16
I AM IN HIGH SCHOOL. HOW CAN MY
PARTICIPATION IN NYWICI EVENTS
GIVE ME AN EDGE IN MY COLLEGE
APPLICATIONS AND MY FUTURE
CAREER?
Each year, the New York Women in
Communications Foundation — a 501c3 —
awards 15-20 scholarships to graduating high
school seniors and undergraduate and graduate
students who intend to pursue or further a
career in communications. We also provide great
professional development opportunities such as
“behind the scenes” at media companies
WHO ARE THE NYWICI MEMBERS?
• 70% earn $50,000+ annually; 20% make
$125,000+ annually
• 70% range in age from 25 to 54
• 90% hold management positions in advertising
& marketing, corporate communications, digital
media, magazine and book publishing, and
public relations
• 10% own their business or function as chief
executives, senior executives, managing
editors, presidents and publishers within major
communications firms
• Students and young executives represent the
fastest-growing member segment.
COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA AND
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Black Girls Who Code
Black Girls CODE is devoted to showing the
world that black girls can code, and do so much
more. By reaching out to the community through
workshops and after school programs, Black Girls
CODE introduces computer-coding lessons to
young girls from underrepresented communities in
programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby
on Rails. Black Girls CODE has set out to prove
to the world that girls of every color have the
skills to become the programmers of tomorrow.
By promoting classes and programs, we hope to
grow the number of women of color working in
technology and give underprivileged girls a chance
to become the masters of their technological
worlds. http://www.blackgirlscode.com/
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
FAQ
Brooklyn Young Filmmakers Center
Brooklyn Young Filmmakers Center’s mission is
help low-income and working-class adults and
teens become part of Brooklyn and New York
City’s expansive media industry growth, by using
low/no budget filmmaking as a hands-on initiation
to the diverse careers in film. The Community
Filmmaking model is also a boot camp to promote
literacy, social skills, professional work ethics,
intergenerational collaborations, cultural exchange,
multi-tiered mentoring, research techniques,
and an initiation to the creative process and art
appreciation. http://www.wearebyfc.org/
Downtown Community Television PRO-TV
PRO-TV is the most successful youth media arts
training program in the nation. Offering free
training to the youth of New York City since
1978, PRO-TV provides positive creative outlets
for young people to address the issues affecting
their lives and their communities.
http://www.dctvny.org/youth
Educational Video Center
The Educational Video Center is a non-profit
youth media organization dedicated to teaching
documentary video as a means to develop
the artistic, critical literacy, and career skills of
young people, while nurturing their idealism and
commitment to social change. Founded in 1984,
EVC has evolved from a single video workshop
for teenagers from Manhattan’s Lower East
Side to become an internationally acclaimed
leader in youth media education. EVC’s teaching
methodology brings together the powerful
traditions of student-centered progressive
education and independent community
documentary. http://www.evc.org/
Emagination Computer Camps
Since 1982, Emagination Computer Camps
have offered day and overnight programs for
“Kilobytes” ages 8 to 10, “Megabytes” ages 11 to
13, as well as a program for teens in the 8th grade
and up. With five locations on college campuses
near Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York and
Philadelphia, the camp offers a wide range of
diverse tech programs for every skill level. It is not
just about the tech at Emagination. The camp’s
motto is “Where technology meets tradition,”
meaning that kids do get “unplugged.” Part of the
day is dedicated to sports like soccer, Ultimate
Frisbee, and tennis, or kids can take part in theater
workshops. Older teens can even satisfy their
high school community service requirements
by teaching tech skills to senior citizens. Like a
traditional camp, Emagination offers a leadership
program for 10th graders who become “program
assistants,” where they can assistant-teach one
workshop and take two others each day. PAs are
assigned to a counselor/mentor who participate
alongside them in skill training. http://www.
computercamps.com/computer/camps_about.html
Envision Experience
The National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF):
Digital Media, Film & Journalism in New York &
Los Angeles program, in partnership with the New
York Film Academy, is the nation’s foremost digital
media experience for outstanding high school
students who are passionate about exploring
career options in the digital media field.
A seven-day creative journey, this exciting summer
high school program puts you in the heart of New
York City or Los Angeles. NYLF Digital Media,
Film & Journalism inspires you to develop the
skills and knowledge you need to lead in a multimedia, digital world. Join your high-achieving
peers in workshops and simulations that give you
experience in digital production, journalism, film
editing, audio, and video broadcasts.
Experience life on a college campus at Manhattan
College in New York City or Occidental College in
Los Angeles, where you will reside at the program.
Return home from NYLF Digital Media, Film &
Journalism, more confident about your college and
career choices! http://www.envisionexperience.
com/explore-our-programs/nylf-digital-mediafilm-and-journalism
Ghetto Film School
Ghetto Film School operates three interrelated
programs; each year they educate 650 young
storytellers with South Bronx programming, and
over 100,000 nationwide and beyond through
strategic collaborations and an online Master Class
series. The Cinema School is a selective academic
high school that offers students a rigorous liberal
arts curriculum grounded in creative activity,
prepares students for the best colleges, and
pushes them to new levels of understanding of
themselves and the world. http://ghettofilm.org/
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
17
FAQ
Get Reel with Your Dreams
Since the launch of ‘Get Reel’ in New York City
in 2008, we’ve managed to introduce over
2000 inner city high school students to leading
professionals in television and film, allowing
them one-on-one access via in-depth workshops
held at Lincoln Center. By way of our Annual Get
Reel Video Awards, we have granted $110,000
in scholarships to date and plan to award an
additional $25,000 this year! Get Reel has also
expanded its reach. Starting with only five schools,
we are now allowing qualified students from any
participating public school in New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut - giving us even more
opportunity to expose them – teach them –
challenge them – and dare them to dream.
http://thegetreelfoundation.businesscatalyst.com/
Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum offers a wide variety of learning
activities — from drop-in workshops to multiweek courses — for young people and teens.
Some programs are offered in partnership with
specific schools and community organizations,
while others are open to the public. For more
information about the Museum’s tween and teen
programs, click on the descriptions below, visit
our education program Tumblr, or email us at
education@movingimage.us.
• Teen Digital Media Lab
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code programs work to inspire, educate,
and equip girls with the computing skills to pursue
21st century opportunities. Girls Who Code’s vision
is to reach gender parity in computing fields. We
believe this is paramount to ensure the economic
prosperity of women, families, and communities
across the globe, and to equip citizens with the
21st century tools for innovation and social change.
We believe that more girls exposed to computer
science at a young age will lead to more women
working in the technology and engineering fields.
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that by
2020; there will be 1.4 million computer-specialist
job openings. To reach gender parity by 2020,
women must fill half of these positions, or 700,000
computing jobs. Anecdotal data tells us that an
average of 30% of those students with exposure
to computer science will continue in the field. This
means that 4.6M adolescent girls will require some
form of exposure to computer science education
to realize gender parity in 2020. Girls Who Code
has set out to reach 25% of those young women
needed to realize gender parity.
http://girlswhocode.com/
Gotham Writers Workshop
Gotham teen classes are designed to foster
creativity and self-expression in a supportive
atmosphere. There are no grades, no exams, no
wrong answers—just creative writing. Each class
is taught by a faculty member adept at helping
young writers discover and develop their unique
voices. These classes are fun and pressure-free,
but students will develop thinking and writing
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skills that will prove valuable in school and
beyond. Better writers produce stronger college
applications, and an extracurricular writing class
is an impressive addition to any profile.
http://www.writingclasses.com/index.php
• Future Lab After School Program
• Media Camps & Courses
http://www.movingimage.us/education/teens
New York Film Academy
Through study and hands-on practice, students
are trained in the fundamental principles,
techniques, and craft of broadcast journalism.
This is accomplished through a combination
of lecture, demonstration, in-class hands-on
production, and the students’ own work.
Each student produces two projects, shot with
single-camera set-ups and edited on Final-Cut
Pro. This intensive workshop provides a strong
introduction to necessary digital and journalism
skills. Tuition: $4,200.
https://www.nyfa.edu/summer_camp/
Old School Films
Each filmmaker is paired with an experienced
mentor to make a documentary about a local
senior citizen. The filmmakers go through the
entire process of production from “pre” to “post.”
http://www.oldschoolfilms.org/home.html
Reel Works
Reel Works provides a free filmmaking program
continuum for NYC teens. Using a unique one-onone mentoring model, they challenge at-risk youth
to tell their stories and have their voices heard. In
turn, they build vital skills of literacy, leadership
and self-confidence to create productive futures.
http://reelworks.org/
Tweet during today’s program @nywici #NYWICIMediaDay
FAQ
Teen Huffington Post
Want to blog for the Huffington Post?
http://lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com/2012/
07/03/how-to-become-a-huffington-post-blogger/
Teen Ink
Welcome to Teen Ink, a national teen magazine,
book series, and website devoted entirely to
teenage writing, art, photos, and forums. For over
25 years, Teen Ink has offered teens the opportunity
to publish their creative work and opinions on
issues that affect their lives – everything from love
and family to school, current events, and selfesteem. Hundreds of thousands of students, aged
13 -19, have submitted their work to us and we have
published more than 55,000 teens since 1989.
http://www.teenink.com/
The Teen Producers Academy at the
Maysles Documentary Center
The Teen Producers Academy at the Maysles
Documentary Center was first launched in
2006 with the intention of bringing children
in the Harlem community access to the tools
and confidence they need to become creative
participants in digital media rather than passive
consumers of it. They take new students every
summer for an immersive program, and select
students to continue their work through the
fall and spring in our after school program.
http://www.mayslesinstitute.org/education/
teenproducers.html
Tribeca Film Institute Film Fellows Program
Each year, TFI selects 20 NYC youth filmmakers
(ages 16-18) to participate in its Tribeca Film
Fellows program. Programming includes
development of a personal creative project, panel
discussions, workshops, mentoring by Festival
film directors, screenings, and special events.
In the Summer Arts Institute, young filmmakers
collaborate with instructors and receive one-onone attention as they work towards completing
their final group and personal projects. This
rigorous program is designed for students who
have a media-making background. https://
tribecafilminstitute.org/
Urban Journalism Workshop
school juniors and seniors from the New York
City metropolitan area (the five boroughs of
NYC in addition to New Jersey, Connecticut and
Westchester) will be selected to spend 10 days
attending an intensive, rigorous journalism course
at the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institutes’s
new state of the art facilities in Cooper Square.
http://urbanjournalismworkshop.org/
WNYC Radio Rookies
Radio Rookies is a New York Public Radio initiative
that provides teenagers with the tools and training
to create radio stories about themselves, their
communities and their world.
Since 1999, Radio Rookies has been conducting
workshops across New York, in predominantly
under-resourced neighborhoods, training young
people to use words and sounds to tell true stories.
Upon completion, the Rookies’ documentaries
air on WNYC on WNYC’s Morning Edition and All
Things Considered.
Radio Rookies typically runs one or two workshops
a year, each lasting anywhere from four to eight
months. During the workshops, Rookie Reporters
learn everything about radio journalism: from how
to conduct an interview and develop a story to
how to craft a script and digitally edit their audio.
There is no fee, and the program provides all the
equipment and instruction needed.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/rookies/about/
Writopia Lab
Writopia Lab is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
founded in New York City in April of 2007. We run
creative writing workshops for kids ages 6 to 18.
All of our workshops have a maximum of seven
students and are led by a published author or
produced playwright who has been fully trained in
our time-tested methodology. In each of the past
six years, our students have won more recognition
for their writing than any other group of students
in the nation. (Recent honors include the most
regional and national medals from the Scholastic
Writing Awards in the nation; the nation’s top 2012
and 2013 Scholastic Awards Scholarships for Gold
Medal Portfolioists; the 2012 and 2013 NYC Teen
Literary Honor from New York Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg; a 2013 YoungArts Scholar Award.)
http://www.writopialab.org/
The Urban Journalism Workshop at New York
University is designed to encourage teens to
consider a career in journalism. Twenty high
Third Annual High School Careers in Media Day | October 17, 2015 | nywici.org
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IN-KIND SUPPORT
We thank the following companies for their generous support of the 2015 Careers in Media Day event:
OUR HOST
We thank the following companies for their generous support of the 2015 Careers in Media Day event:
GOODIE BAGS ITEMS
Meet the Class of 2015 NYWICI SCHOLARS
NYWICI FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
“It’s a joy to be able to say that the New York Women in Communications Foundation supported my education.
Each year, the New York W omen in Communications Foundation —a 501c3 —awards 15- 20
scholarships
to graduating hightheir
school seniors
and undergraduate
and of
graduate
students who intend to
The women involved were so supportive and welcoming. It truly felt like they
opened
arms
to all
us
pursue or further a career in communications.
who won scholarship awards.” —Kristen Carter, 2004 Scholarship Winner
Elena DeLuccia, Ithaca College | Amanda Morris, New York University, Carlozzi Family Scholarship | Naomi Ducat, Queens College, CUNY, Judy Corman
Memorial Scholarship from Scholastic | Leticia Moya, Southern Vermont College, Esperanza Scholarship | Salihah Evans, JR Masterman High School, Roz
Relin Scholarship | Cindy Nguyen, Pace University, Ruth Whitney Scholarship from Glamour Magazine | Erika Evleth, Syracuse University | Meg Omecene,
Ohio University | Nicole Gartner, Quinnipiac University, Ann Liguori Scholarship | Kia Robinson, Hampton University, Meredith Corporation Scholarship |
Aziza Kibibi McGill Ayinde, Essex County Community College | Taylor Sassman, Rutgers University, Hearst Scholarship | Kendal Nicole Lambert, Stockton
University, New York Women in Communications Alumna Award of Excellence Scholarship | Casey Silvestri, SUNY New Paltz | Ariel Litovsky, Syracuse
University | Leigh Anne Tiffany, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism | Julia Livesey, The College of New Jersey | Joanna Ventour, City
College of New York, Interpublic Group Scholarship
To become a member or to view our events calendar, visit: nywici.org
Join us on these social networks:
New York Women in Communications Foundation, the philanthropic arm of New York Women in Communications, Inc., cultivates leaders in our field
by providing financial support, opportunities for professional development and mentoring, and exposure to a diverse community of communications
professionals. We are the largest foundation for women’s communications scholarships in the New York–New Jersey–Connecticut–Pennsylvania region.
355 Lexington Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017 | 212.297.2133
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