Executive Elevation Mentorship Program

The Executive Elevation Mentorship Program aims to diversify the landscape of television's top decision makers. Mentees will be paired with top television, new media and digital executives of color in hopes of moving their projects - and careers- forward.

Since the inaugural year of the Executive Elevation Mentorship Program in June 2020, this initiative has provided a unique opportunity for emerging executives of color to network, learn from their mentors and hone their skills. The SeriesFest team partnered with six mentors whose executive skill set covered a wide range within the tv industry. The program's inaugural mentors include: Cheri Barner (Talent Manager, CMB), Elsie Choi & Wei Chen (Producers, Rideback Studios), Chiké Okonkwo (Independent Producer), Shaunese Zenon (Marketing at COMCAST) and Terry Washington (CEO, Zane Ryder Management). SeriesFest diligently combed through an overwhelming number of applications to interview and curate finalists for each of the mentors to select his or her own mentee to work with over a six month period.

Mentorship Cycle 2

For the second cycle of the Executive Elevation Mentorship Program, SeriesFest aims to curate a group of 6-8 mentors with a special focus on Creative Leaders such as Showrunners, Directors, Writers, Costume Designers and Production Designers. Mentees will be matched with established leaders of color for a mentorship around the creative authority and responsibility for a television program's success. Mentees and mentors meet at least once (virtually) per month for mentors to advise mentees on various aspects of their career - workshop resumes, provide counsel on career choices and help create networking and/or internship opportunities. Mentors will work with their mentee for 6 months.

Mentee Eligibility

Mentees for the Executive Elevation Mentorship Program must be people of color, at least 21 years old and interested in furthering their career in the TV/ film/media industry or looking for a career change. Applicants can be students or working professionals. 6-8 mentees will be selected by SeriesFest and an established entertainment executive mentor for a one-on-one mentorship for a duration of at least 6 months starting in June 2020.