SeriesFest

A Celebration of Episodic Storytelling

Executive Elevation Mentorship

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Applications Closed for 2024

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Dates & Fees
Entry Materials

Current Mentors
Previous Mentors
Previous Mentees

Submission FAQs

Get matched with your industry mentor.

Since 2020, SeriesFest’s Executive Elevation Mentorship Program has fostered enriching connections between executive mentors and aspiring leaders—who are all people of color. The program aims to increase the diversity of leadership circles in the television industry by bringing together the most passionate leaders and rising stars to invest in a more equitable workplace.

How It Works

Once accepted into the program, each participant is paired with an executive mentor based on their individual career goals. The pair meets virtually, at least once per month, over a six-month period where the mentor provides tailored resources including:

  • One-on-one career coaching
  • Networking and/or internship opportunities
  • Resume workshopping

In addition to the one-on-one mentorship, mentees participate in regular check-ins with SeriesFest and industry guest speakers to further their connections.

We are proud to partner with Cherokee Film

To highlight our commitment to bringing diversity to leadership roles in the television industry, we’re partnering with Cherokee Film. Together, we aim to level the playing field for aspiring executives of color.

“There is a significant flaw in the current Hollywood system of developing film and tv projects for major distribution. The severe lack of diversity in the role of film executives is a major reason Native Americans have historically been misrepresented and left out of the film and television industries all together. We need more voices from under-represented communities in these roles. The SeriesFest Executive Elevation Mentorship is a great step in the right direction in creating remedies to this problem and Cherokee Film is proud to be a partner.”

—Jennifer Loren, Senior Director of Cherokee Film

KEY DATES & FEES

Submissions closed September 9, 2024.

Early Bird Deadline
07/26/24

Fee
$20

Regular Deadline
08/23/24

Fee
$30

Final Deadline
09/09/24

Fee
$40

Submissions are open, and listed prices are available through 11:59 PM (local time) on the date shown.

ENTRY MATERIALS

Completed Application
(see below)

Entry Fee
(see above)

About the Participants

Mentees

We review all applicants and select aspiring leaders who are open to being coached by top professionals in their field. Our mentees have gone on to work in their desired field at companies such as CAA, Comedy Central, Hulu, Peacock, and more.

Previous Mentees: Chidinma Agbo | Kate Chamuris | Cheyenne Fogg | Dajae Gillard | Salonica Hunter | Tracy Ip | Kim Ortiz | LeLe Park | Tansu Philip | Driadonna Roland | Danielle Solomon | Harold Abrams | Corey Wooten | Aden Yaregal

Mentors

We curate mentors for the Executive Elevation Mentorship Program who are talented and accomplished executives with a strong desire to invest in the mentees’ long-term success.

Rashidi Hendrix

Partner – Producer / Manager, Independent Artists Media

rashidirara

Nicole Harjo

SVP of Development, Paramount TV Studios

nicole-harjo

Jason Hiro Kim

VP, Good Karma Productions

jasonhirokim

Kendall Wright

Development Executive

kendall-wright

Jhane Meyers

Producer

jhane-meyers

Previous Mentors

Diallo Riddle

Emmy-nominated writer, producer, Showrunner (Sherman’s Showcase, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

diallo

Aaliyah Williams

Producer and Founder, Just A Rebel (Netflix’s Gentefied first-look deal with CBS)

theliyah

Samantha Militante

Director of Current Series at FX

Samantha-Militante

Erich C. Smith

Agent at TCA

erichcsmith

Eric Upshur

Emmy-nominated writer, producer, Showrunner (Sherman’s Showcase, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

Ming Lee Howell

Producer and Founder, Just A Rebel (Netflix’s Gentefied first-look deal with CBS)

Elise Choi

Executive Director, Rideback Studios

Shaunese Zenon

Marketing Manager, Comcast

Wei Chen

Incubator Program Manager, Rideback TV

Cheri Barner

Manager, CBM Management

cheribarner

Chiké Okonkwo

Co-Founder, Mansa

chike_okonkwo

Terry Washington

Owner / CEO, Zane Ryder Management

zanerydermanagement

Mentor Testimonials

To use a very British expression, I’m so chuffed to have met all of the great creatives who applied for this mentorship and am excited to work with Corey Wooten, as he makes his way in the beginnings of his career as a Writer/Producer. Corey is very singular in his mission to make shows that inspire awe and push POC storytelling into uncharted territory and has had a singular focus on training himself to those ends. I have been very lucky to have been mentored by some of the very best in the business, and I hope to be able to support Corey in similar ways, to achieve his goals, as they are goals that I share, and that I know are eminently achievable in this brave new world.

Chiké Okonkwo

Co-Founder, Mansa

After speaking with both of them (Kim Ortiz and Harold Williams) I was really impressed by their awareness and trust to bet on themselves. Both possessed some of the obvious skill sets needed to advance in their chosen field. But I also sensed a fearlessness and curiosity in both as well, something I personally am attracted to as it pertains to making an impact on anything you’re passionate about.

Terry Washington

Owner / CEO, Zane Ryder Management

Ready to elevate your career? Start your application.

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Thank you to our partner

Cherokee Film

The mission of Cherokee Film is to reclaim Cherokee and Native narratives by increasing representation across film and media while creating an ecosystem that supports production and drives economic activity in the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Film is owned by Cherokee Nation Businesses — the board-governed holding company of the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. One-hundred percent of the company’s profits support future business investments and the well-being of the tribe’s citizens through health care, education and job creation, ensuring better lives for Cherokees today and tomorrow.

Since 2020, our Executive Elevation Mentorship Program has provided a unique opportunity for emerging executives of color to network, learn from top industry leaders, and hone their skills.

Since 2020, SeriesFest’s Executive Elevation Mentorship Program has fostered enriching connections between executive mentors and aspiring leaders—who are all people of color. The program aims to increase the diversity of leadership circles in the television industry by bringing together the most passionate leaders and rising stars to invest in a more equitable workplace.

View previous mentors

Apply

How It Works

Once accepted into the program, each participant is paired with an executive mentor based on their individual career goals. The pair meets virtually, at least once per month, over a six-month period where the mentor provides tailored resources including:

  • One-on-one career coaching
  • Networking and/or internship opportunities
  • Resume workshopping

In addition to the one-on-one mentorship, mentees participate in regular check-ins with SeriesFest and industry guest speakers to further their connections.

We are proud to partner with Cherokee Film

To highlight our commitment to bringing diversity to leadership roles in the television industry, we’re partnering with Cherokee Film. Together, we aim to level the playing field for aspiring executives of color.

“There is a significant flaw in the current Hollywood system of developing film and tv projects for major distribution. The severe lack of diversity in the role of film executives is a major reason Native Americans have historically been misrepresented and left out of the film and television industries all together. We need more voices from under-represented communities in these roles. The SeriesFest Executive Elevation Mentorship is a great step in the right direction in creating remedies to this problem and Cherokee Film is proud to be a partner.”

—Jennifer Loren, Senior Director of Cherokee Film

KEY DATES & FEES

DATES

SUBMISSIONS OPEN
June 25, 2024
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE
July 26, 2024
REGULAR DEADLINE
August 23, 2024
FINAL DEADLINE
September 9, 2024

SUBMISSION FEES

EARLY BIRD: $20
June 25–July 26
REGULAR: $30
July 27–August 23
LATE: $40
August 24–September 9

Use local date/time.
Submissions are open and listed prices are available through 11:59 PM on the date shown.
Dates/times are subject to change.

Mentees

We review all applicants and select aspiring leaders who are open to being coached by top professionals in their field. Our mentees have gone on to work in their desired field at companies such as CAA, Comedy Central, Hulu, Peacock, and more.

Previous Mentees: Chidinma Agbo | Kate Chamuris | Cheyenne Fogg | Dajae Gillard | Salonica Hunter | Tracy Ip | Kim Ortiz | LeLe Park | Tansu Philip | Driadonna Roland | Danielle Solomon | Harold Williams | Corey Wooten | Aden Yaregal

Mentors

We curate mentors for the Executive Elevation Mentorship Program who are talented and accomplished executives with a strong desire to invest in the mentees’ long-term success.

Additional mentors will be added as they are confirmed.

Rashidi Hendrix

Partner – Producer / Manager, Independent Artists Media

rashidirara

Nicole Harjo

SVP of Development, Paramount TV Studios

nicole-harjo

Previous Mentors

Diallo Riddle

Emmy-nominated writer, producer, Showrunner (Sherman’s Showcase, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

diallo

Aaliyah Williams

Producer and Founder, Just A Rebel (Netflix’s Gentefied first-look deal with CBS)

theliyah

Samantha Militante

Director of Current Series at FX

Samantha-Militante

Erich C. Smith

Agent at TCA

erichcsmith

Eric Upshur

Emmy-nominated writer, producer, Showrunner (Sherman’s Showcase, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

Ming Lee Howell

Producer and Founder, Just A Rebel (Netflix’s Gentefied first-look deal with CBS)

Elise Choi

Executive Director, Rideback Studios

Shaunese Zenon

Marketing Manager, Comcast

Wei Chen

Incubator Program Manager, Rideback TV

Cheri Barner

Manager, CBM Management

cheribarner

Chiké Okonkwo

Co-Founder, Mansa

chike_okonkwo

Terry Washington

Owner / CEO, Zane Ryder Management

zanerydermanagement

Mentor Testimonials

To use a very British expression, I’m so chuffed to have met all of the great creatives who applied for this mentorship and am excited to work with Corey Wooten, as he makes his way in the beginnings of his career as a Writer/Producer. Corey is very singular in his mission to make shows that inspire awe and push POC storytelling into uncharted territory and has had a singular focus on training himself to those ends. I have been very lucky to have been mentored by some of the very best in the business, and I hope to be able to support Corey in similar ways, to achieve his goals, as they are goals that I share, and that I know are eminently achievable in this brave new world.

Chiké Okonkwo

Co-Founder, Mansa

After speaking with both of them (Kim Ortiz and Harold Williams) I was really impressed by their awareness and trust to bet on themselves. Both possessed some of the obvious skill sets needed to advance in their chosen field. But I also sensed a fearlessness and curiosity in both as well, something I personally am attracted to as it pertains to making an impact on anything you’re passionate about.

Terry Washington

Owner / CEO, Zane Ryder Management

Ready to elevate your career? Start your application.

The form may take a few seconds to load. Click here to view in a new tab.

“After speaking with both of them (Kim Ortiz and Harold Williams) I was really impressed by their awareness and trust to bet on themselves. Both possessed some of the obvious skill sets needed to advance in their chosen field. But I also sensed a fearlessness and curiosity in both as well, something I personally am attracted to as it pertains to making an impact on anything you’re passionate about.”

Terry Washington

Diallo Riddle

Emmy-nominated writer, producer, Showrunner (Sherman’s Showcase, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

diallo

Aaliyah Williams

Producer and Founder, Just A Rebel (Netflix’s Gentefied first-look deal with CBS)

theliyah

Samantha Militante

Director of Current Series at FX

Samantha-Militante

Erich C. Smith

Agent at TCA

erichcsmith

Eric Upshur

Emmy-nominated writer, producer, Showrunner (Sherman’s Showcase, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

Ming Lee Howell

Producer and Founder, Just A Rebel (Netflix’s Gentefied first-look deal with CBS)

Previous Mentor

Previous mentor’s title

socials

Previous Mentor

Previous mentor’s title

socials

“To use a very British expression, I’m so chuffed to have met all of the great creatives who applied for this mentorship and am excited to work with Corey Wooten, as he makes his way in the beginnings of his career as a Writer/Producer. Corey is very singular in his mission to make shows that inspire awe and push POC storytelling into uncharted territory and has had a singular focus on training himself to those ends. I have been very lucky to have been mentored by some of the very best in the business, and I hope to be able to support Corey in similar ways, to achieve his goals, as they are goals that I share, and that I know are eminently achievable in this brave new world.”

Chiké Okonkwo

In Partnership With

Cherokee Film

The mission of Cherokee Film is to reclaim Cherokee and Native narratives by increasing representation across film and media while creating an ecosystem that supports production and drives economic activity in the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Film is owned by Cherokee Nation Businesses — the board-governed holding company of the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. One-hundred percent of the company’s profits support future business investments and the well-being of the tribe’s citizens through health care, education and job creation, ensuring better lives for Cherokees today and tomorrow.