TheWrap is pleased to announce that Universal Television President Pearlena Igbokwe, Producer Monica Owusu-Breen and Creator and Executive Producer Jason Katims will join NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke for a discussion titled “Embracing Inclusion: Telling Stories that Champion a New Narrative” at the Power Women Breakfast LA on Thursday October 26.
Pearlena Igbokwe oversees creative programming for one of the country’s most successful production companies, Universal TV. She is involved in developing a diverse slate of comedies including “Master of None,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and dramas such as “Shades of Blue” and “Chicago Fire.”
Monica Owusu-Breen is an executive producer and showrunner on NBC’s supernatural thriller “Midnight, Texas,” a show about outsiders coming together. Her credits also include a co-executive producer role on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and and the cult genre classic “Fringe.”
Jason Katims is the creator, executive producer and showrunner of the upcoming new drama “Rise” a musical set in a working-class high school drama program. He has won numerous accolades for critically acclaimed series including “Friday Night Lights” and “Parenthood.”
They will discuss how they are creating change through developing, writing and producing stories of inclusion that encourage understanding. The breakfast will also offer a courageous group of sexual assault victims including actress Claire Forlani, Fox 11 news anchor Lauren Sivan and others to be named who will talk about how to encourage a gender-balanced landscape where women can thrive. The founder and CEO of ID, Kelly Bush Novak, will also join the conversation.
The day will also feature rising star Brooklynn Prince, actress “The Florida Project” and Courage in Journalism Award-winner Saniya Toiken of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakhstan, where journalists are routinely threatened, beaten, or killed because of their work.
The speaker program will be followed by a special #MeToo Town Hall that will be live streamed and moderated by Producer Hilary Shor and Producer, Director and Photographer Jeff Vespa. An expert panel will offer actionable steps for dealing with difficult situations of sexual assault and harassment in the workplace and an open forum for sharing stories in a safe environment. Confirmed speakers include Greenberg Glusker Partner Priya Sopori and Women in Media Executive Director Tema Steig and others to be announced.
A live auction to benefit the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organization aiding women victims of sexual violence will take place during the event. Founded by Mariska Hargitay, their mission is is to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever.
TheWrap in 2017 has brought its successful Power Women franchise to DC, SF, NY, and now LA, building a broad network and community of professional women who are decision-makers and mothers, leaders and wives, innovators and activists.
The Scene With Kerri Walsh Jennings, Yara Shahidi at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast San Francisco 2017 (Photos)
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," with TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Sharon Waxman, Lisa Sugar, Yara Shahidi, Kathleen Grace, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Kerri Walsh Jennings at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast San Francisco.
Photographed by Margot Duane
From left: Dolby Laboratories Global Communications VP Jennifer Bowcock; Lisa Sugar, Founder and President of POPSUGAR and TheWrap CEO and Editor in Chief Sharon Waxman.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
From left: Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, "black-ish" actress Yara Shahidi and Brain Trust CEO Kendra Bracken-Ferguson.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Lisa Sugar and attendee at Silent auction at TheWrap's Power Women's Breakfast in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "Black-ish," far left.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," attends the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "Black-ish," attends the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
A glimpse of the scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Bob Borchers, CMO Dolby and Sharon Waxman Power Women Breakfast San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Filmmaker Tiffany Shlain joins the Power Women breakfast
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Evie Silvers, of TheWrap, with attendees at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
The Power Women Breakfast franchise now takes place in four cities: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
A glimpse of the scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Here's a glimpse of the scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
A glimpse of the scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Auction items included volleyball balls signed by Kerri Walsh Jennings and spa packages.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
TheWrap's Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman greets the crowd at The Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
A glimpse of the scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Dagmar Dolby and Sharon Waxman at Power Women Breakfast San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
The buffet breakfast included eggs, mascarpone crepes, tartines and a variety of fruit.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Keri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, at the Power Women Breakfast in San Francisco on May 25.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Dagmar Dolby, wife of Dolby founder Ray Dolby, at right, with Dolby Chief Scientist Poppy Crum
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
The scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Auction items included volleyball balls signed by Kerri Walsh Jennings.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
The scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
The scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
The Power Women Breakfast series brings together influential women of entertainment, media, technology and brands in key cities to network and connect.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Keri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, speaks with TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast in San Francisco on May 25.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Sharon Waxman and Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, speak at the Power Women Breakfast in San Francisco on May 25.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, Kerri Walsh Jennings, speaks with TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast in San Francisco on May 25.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball Keri Walsh Jennings speaks with TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast in San Francisco on May 25.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jenningscspeaks with TheWrap CEO and Editor in Chief Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco on May 25.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," speaks to TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," speaks at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," speaks at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Yara Shahidi and Sharon Waxman auction rare photos to benefit Bay Kids Mission.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
TheWrap also auctioned photographs of Bruce Springsteen and Joni Mitchell shot by Joel Bernstein.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
A glimpse of the scene at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Panel discussion at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Panel discussion at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
Panel discussion at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
From left: Sharon Waxman, Kathleen Grace, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Lisa Sugar.
Photographer: David Dines - Instagram @__dines
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Women leaders in San Francisco’s entertainment, media and business communities converge at annual gathering held at Dolby Laboratories
Yara Shahidi, star of "black-ish," with TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at the Power Women Breakfast 2017 in San Francisco.