In this issue: 

• 2023 Global Board of Directors Announcement
• Meet Our 2023 ELP Keynote Speaker: Lori LeBas, EVP, The Walt Disney Company — Registration Now Open!
• The WICT Network Announces 2022 Chapter Award Honorees and 2023 Incoming Chapter Presidents and Advisors 
• The Application Period for the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute Closes Wednesday, February 1
• Signature Awards Luncheon Presented in Partnership With the Motion Picture Association: We're Now in LA!
• Rocket Your Potential Webinar Recap: Watch the Recording on Demand in Our Online Learning Library
• Save the Date for Our Senior Executive Summit at Stanford (Participation by invitation only)
• Let's network! Follow and like us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

The WICT Network recently announced the members of its 2023 Global Board of Directors.

Communications consultant Leigh Woisard, elected in 2022 as Vice Chair, has now stepped into her role as Chair for 2023. Having completed her term as Board Chair in 2022, technology executive Sandra Howe will serve as the Immediate Past Chair in 2023.

New At-Large Members of the Board of Directors are Samira Bakhtiar, Director, Global Media, AWS; Roy Cho, EVP, Distribution, AMC Networks; Patty Donaldson, Regional Director, Cisco; Sara Hinzman, SVP, Distribution & Strategy, A+E Networks; Kia Painter, EVP & Chief People Officer, Cox Communications; and Laura Peterson, North America Communications, Media & Technology Industry Practices Lead, Accenture. In addition, Soraya Loerts, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Liberty Global, will serve a one-year term as Chapter Leader Designee.

The WICT Network Global Board is a subset of its 10,500 members. Each board leader brings deep industry experience and astute business perspectives to ensure The WICT Network remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving media landscape. Meet each of the members of the Global Board of Directors here.

Lori LeBas

EVP, Platform Distribution Operations

The Walt Disney Company

The WICT Network is pleased to announce our 2023 Executive Leadership Presence (ELP) Keynote Speaker, Lori LeBas. As head of the business operations team for The Walt Disney Company’s Platform Distribution segment, Lori supports the development and distribution of products and services that create meaningful value for the company, its partners, and consumers. She is focused on the design and implementation of business processes for efficient management and operation of all media distribution including linear networks, SVOD/AVOD/TVOD, transactional, syndication, audio and direct-to-consumer products. Lori also leads the creation of cross-functional business requirements for new products, as well as oversight of all post-sales processes for content distribution across all platforms.

The ELP program — one of two distinct learning opportunities for mid-career professionals offered as part of our Executive Development Series (EDS) — was designed to empower participants to develop their leadership presence as a means to inspire confidence, engage and influence others, and maintain productivity while increasing visibility and career mobility.

This two-day program will be offered twice in 2023:

• April 12-13 at The Kimpton Brice Hotel in Savannah, GA **Registration now open!**
• October 11-12 in San Diego, CA

The WICT Network announced its 2022 chapter award recipients and its 2023 chapter presidents and advisors this week.

The WICT Network chapter awards measure important aspects of the Model Chapter Business Plan (MCBP), where chapters earn points for performance that can meet or exceed guidelines provided in the MCBP. The WICT Network presents the Chapter of the Year award to the top performing chapter(s) as measured by MCBP scores in areas such as programming, marketing and communications, governance and membership.

For 2022, The WICT Network: Greater Texas earned the most possible points and received the Chapter of the Year award. The WICT Network also recognized the Chapter President of the Year, The WICT Network: Southern California's Jennifer Miles, Executive Director, Branding Marketing at Disney/ESPN; and the Chapter Advisor of the Year, The WICT Network: Heartland's Anne Harris, Senior Director, Marketing & Client Solutions at Cox Media.

Accepting Applications: Betsy Magness Leadership Institute — Apply by Wednesday, February 1!

The Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI) is a highly sought-after opportunity that accelerates career success by developing executive leadership skills, offering unmatched industry networking and the capacity to create more inclusive workplace cultures.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• VP or Senior Director level, and above, or equivalency thereof
• At least 8 years of executive management experience
• Substantive work experience and significant direct accomplishments
• Approved and supported by senior management for participation in BMLI
• Current member of The WICT Network

While participants are from diverse backgrounds, they each demonstrate common attributes, including a commitment to new ideas, an affinity for calculated risk taking, and support for the development of other women within their companies and across the media, entertainment and technology landscapes.

2023 Signature Awards Luncheon Will Be Presented in Partnership With the Motion Picture Association: We're Now in LA!

Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Location: Beverly Wilshire Hotel - Four Seasons, Los Angeles, CA

The WICT Network has formed a strategic partnership with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) in support of the 2023 Signature Awards Luncheon. The luncheon will take place in Los Angeles, California, marking the first time the event has been held on the West Coast in over a decade. The partnership with the MPA underscores The WICT Network’s dedication to fortifying its new, more inclusive name and brand. The luncheon’s new West Coast location will allow greater accessibility to entertainment and technology professionals — a critical and growing sector of The WICT Network. Read our December 13 press release to learn more and be sure to save the date on your calendar to join us for the luncheon!

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, we were fortunate to have Phyllis Ehrlich, author of Rocket Your Potential: A Career Handbook for Rising Stars & Future Women Leaders, and Beth Plummer, SVP & Chief Officer at Spectrum Reach lead the #RocketYourPotential webinar as part of our general webinar series.

In our discussion, Ehrlich and Plummer shared valuable career lessons and insights they have learned to help us accelerate our professional trajectories. They engaged in a Q&A discussion that inspired countless comments in the chat, covering a variety of topics like:

• How embracing change led to career opportunities
• How to be successful when having different bosses
• How to build strong relationships with your co-workers

If you miss it, not to worry! The recording is now available for on-demand viewing in our Online Learning Library.

Save the Date for Our Senior Executive Summit at Stanford University

*By invitation only*

Dates: June 11 – 14, 2023

Location: Knight Management Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

The WICT Network Senior Executive Summit is an invitation-only learning opportunity designed exclusively for top-ranking women in media, entertainment and technology. Presented in collaboration with the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), this master class program combines the power of The WICT Network’s proven leadership development programs with the excellence of Stanford’s top-rated business school.

The four-day summit gathers the industry’s most accomplished women to focus on issues relevant to strategic leadership and executive-level development. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Candidate is among the highest-ranking leaders within her company
• Candidate has at least 15 years of executive management experience
• Candidate is Senior Vice President to C-suite title, or equivalency thereof

This is an invitation-only program. Please reach out to Jason Brown, AVP of Program Operations, at jbrown@wict.org if you are unsure of your eligibility or are eligible and wish to receive an invitation to attend. 

Follow @WICTHQ on social media (we’re active on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) for the latest news on gender diversity in the workplace, leadership development and productivity tips, programming updates, and diversity, equity and inclusion data.

Below are sample posts from LinkedIn (left) and Twitter (right). Make sure to follow us online for more valuable tips and updates.