Featured MEdia
Supply Chains

In the notable 15-year journey of The Hollywood Reporter‘s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program, several mentor/mentee partnerships have proven to be enduring.

One particularly remarkable pairing is that of Paola Franco and Jennifer Salke from the 2013-14 cohort. At the time of their match, Salke, who now leads Amazon Studios, was the president of entertainment at NBC, while Franco was a student at City Honors Preparatory High School in Inglewood. “Experiencing Jen in her element was truly transformative for me,” Franco reflects on her time with Salke in the program, which is run by THR in collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. “It may sound cliché, but it’s true: To envision it, you first need to witness it. Shadowing her during the program provided me with an insider’s look not only at a powerful leader but also at an industry I had previously been unaware of.”

With Salke as her role model, Franco attended Loyola Marymount University and gained experience at Amazon and UTA, eventually becoming an executive on Netflix’s drama development original series team. “I’m fortunate to have a creative role, offering feedback on scripts, hearing pitches, and engaging with writers,” Franco shares about her position at Netflix.

Salke’s mentorship extended beyond professional boundaries; in 2020, she officiated Franco’s wedding. “It has been a true privilege for me to witness Paola’s continuous growth and success,” Salke expresses. “She serves as an inspiration and role model, and I take great pride in all she has achieved.” Franco encourages this year’s mentors and mentees to “lift as you climb, always,” and she aspires “to one day be someone’s Jen.”

THE MENTEES

Andrea Theodore Roosevelt High School

Elisa John F. Kennedy High School

Gloria Roybal High School

Jazlene Carson High School

Kaylee John F. Kennedy High School

Leah John F. Kennedy High School

Michelle Birmingham Charter High School

Stacy City Honors High School

Luna Lawndale High School

Angie Animo Inglewood High School

Melanie Lawndale High School

THE MENTORS

Jill Brody NBCU, executive vp global partnership marketing

Fanshen Cox California Film Commission, DEIA initiative manager

Zoe Fairbourn Candle Media/Hello Sunshine, head of branded entertainment

Jordan Jacuzzi EIF, senior vp operations, communications and governance

Martine McDonald Practice Wonder LLC/Seed & Spark, film curator

Leah Medrano California Film Commission, deputy director, tax incentives

Bianca Nepales Lionsgate, vp diversity, equity and inclusion

Chelsey Summey Warner Bros., corporate PR executive

Kinga Vasicsek Lucasfilm Ltd., development executive

Marjorie Williams Skydance Sports, senior vp/ head of business and legal affairs

Viviana Zarragoitia TPC, senior vp film/TV finance

This article appeared in the Dec. 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

Person

Paola Franco, Jennifer Salke, Franco, Jill Brody, Fanshen Cox, Zoe Fairbourn, Jordan Jacuzzi, Martine McDonald, Leah Medrano, Bianca Nepales, Chelsey Summey, Kinga Vasicsek, Marjorie Williams, Viviana Zarragoitia

Company Names

Amazon Studios, NBC, City Honors Preparatory High School, Loyola Marymount University, UTA, Netflix, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, NBCU, California Film Commission, Candle Media, Hello Sunshine, EIF, Practice Wonder LLC, Seed & Spark, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., Lucasfilm Ltd., Skydance Sports, TPC

Titles

Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.