50 Women to Watch in the Digital Entertainment Business 2025: Q&A
September 23, 2025
As part of our 50 Women to Watch in the Digital Entertainment Business salute, we asked select honorees to answer a series of questions pertaining to the impact of women in the entertainment industry. Edited responses appear in the September 2025 issue of the monthly Media Play News, available in both print and digital form. The complete responses are running online only.
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Secrets of Success
Advice to Future Leaders
Industry Support
An Exciting Future
What’s your secret of success?
Success has many dimensions. Whether in my personal or professional life, measuring progress, achieving set goals and making meaningful impacts are all benchmarks by which I hold myself accountable. At UPHE, I am constantly challenged to evaluate, innovate and embrace change. While revenue generation is the ultimate indicator of success, I also weigh our success by how well we collectively align on our vision and values in advancing our business objectives.
— Hilary Hoffman, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
My secret to success has always been rooted in the power of relationships — building trust, staying curious and staying connected. I prioritize being current on industry trends, emerging platforms, and future technologies. But what drives me most is championing women through Canon Club — creating space, sharing knowledge and building bridges for the next wave of leaders.
— Meri Hassouni, Giant Worldwide
After navigating the business for many years, the ability to spot trends early, connect the dots strategically, and foster a culture of curiosity and experimentation across my team.
— Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Television
The secret to my success has been a willingness to step up whenever something needs to be done. I said yes to new projects and challenges, even when they were outside my comfort zone — and that opened doors I never expected. Along the way, I’ve learned to think deeply, consider multiple perspectives, and make thoughtful decisions that gain trust and buy-in across teams and the organization.
— Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution
Staying curious, cultivating strong relationships, always thinking about the end consumer and combining data-driven insights with creative thinking.
— Jill Allen, Sony Pictures Television
Success has come from a blend of strategic vision, creative instinct, and a deep commitment to collaboration. At Paramount I’ve had the privilege of leading global marketing campaigns that connect iconic stories with audiences in fresh, meaningful ways. I’ve leaned into innovation — whether it’s experimenting with new digital-release strategies or reimagining how legacy titles find new life in today’s market. The real secret, though, is building and empowering teams who challenge the status quo and bring passion to everything they do.
— Alanna Powers, Paramount Home Entertainment
It’s important to surround yourself with talent that complements yours but doesn’t overlap. While cliché, it’s true there is no “I” in team. So, build a team of high performers with diverse skills, then listen to them. Give them the power to contribute and ensure they have a vested interest in the organization’s output.
— Amy Jo Smith, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group
Developing trust with clients. Really listening to them and their needs so that they are more open and responsive to ours.
— Flory Bramnick, Sony Pictures Television
I gravitate toward work that energizes me; environments where I can flourish and bring my strongest skills to the forefront. Early in my career, I was fortunate to recognize an emerging niche in streaming, and I’ve evolved in tandem with the industry’s rapid transformation. It’s also very important to me to invest in those around me: identifying their strengths, opening doors, and championing their achievements. Success is most fulfilling when it’s shared. I find that collective wins resonate far deeper than individual accolades.
— Naivasha Dean, Tubi
Relentless curiosity, paired with the discipline to execute. I’ve learned to balance vision with action — being willing to explore new ideas, but also committed to building the systems, teams and strategies that turn those ideas into tangible results.
— Paulette Pantoja, Blu Digital
My “secret” to success is no secret at all — it’s about being intentional. I’ve chosen a servant leadership style, which means putting the needs of my team and partners first. I believe in fully showing up — preparing, being present, and giving my best in every interaction. Trust is the cornerstone of every relationship, and I work hard to build and maintain it. Real success is only possible on a solid foundation: knowing your personal values, treating people right, and leading with integrity.
— Erica Marie Dionne, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
With the quickly evolving landscape of media, it’s important to understand the “why” of any task and team involved. As process, products and margins evolve, understanding the why helps to provide a framework of what solutions can look like, timelines and ways to successfully complete a task — or to propose or reframe solutions of what is possible back to key stakeholders. I am also constantly hungry to learn, and because of technological innovations, many previously silo’d areas are now all merging together. Therefore, learning about new technology and businesses lead to opportunities and faster growth.
— Laura Florence, Fremantle
For me, it comes down to three things: listening deeply, leading with clarity, and never losing sight of the fan. Every decision I make — whether it’s a brand evolution, a global simulcast, or a new localization strategy — starts with understanding the audience and how we can serve them better. I’ve also been fortunate to work with incredibly talented teams. Creating an environment where people feel empowered to bring their best ideas forward has been the single biggest driver of our success at Crunchyroll.
— Gita Rebbapragada, Crunchyroll
Not being afraid to try new things, being able to identify solutions quickly and moving fast to change rather than resist. It’s also about surrounding yourself with great people, listening, and knowing when to take risks.
— Michele Edelman, Cineverse/Matchpoint
Take the work seriously, but not yourself.
— Briana Larsen, Xperi
I think it’s important to remember most people do not have a career with a linear pathway. Embrace the zig zag of the journey. Each experience that feels like a detour does give you valuable insight and skills that will ultimately make you better equipped to get to where you want to go next. In that spirit, maintaining good relationships widely and being someone, people want to lob a casual call into and brainstorm an idea has ultimately led to unlocking a number of exciting partnerships throughout my career.
— Jonitha Keymoore, Radial Entertainment
What advice would you give to future female leaders?
Support one another. Cheer loudly for other women’s wins. Build a community, not competition. There’s real power in connection, collaboration and showing up authentically — even when the room doesn’t look like you. Be bold, be informed, and never forget that difference is a strength.
— Meri Hassouni, Giant Worldwide
First, believe in your personal and professional value — confidence is contagious. Second, don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve. And finally, remember that leadership is often about kindness, consistency, and being the most prepared and the most collaborative.
— Michele Edelman, Cineverse/Matchpoint
Build strong relationships with mentors — both women and men. Collaborate openly, stay transparent, be a team player and trust that good work gets recognized.
— Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Television
Recognize what you have to contribute, and walk into any room as a valued team member. Do not define your worth in the business world based on gender. Work smart and take time away from the office to refresh yourself.
— Amy Jo Smith, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group
Your perspective is your superpower — don’t diminish it to fit an existing mold. Speak with conviction, ask the hard questions, and trust your instincts. Seek out mentors, but also peers who will challenge you and push you to grow. And remember that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating the space for your team to thrive, take risks, and learn along the way.
— Gita Rebbapragada, Crunchyroll
Advocate for yourself. Speak up. But equally, learn how to advocate and speak up for yourself. Come from the proper perspective.
— Flory Bramnick, Sony Pictures Television
Claim your seat at the table before you feel “ready” — growth comes from stepping into challenges.
— Jill Allen, Sony Pictures Television
Be a leader by just starting to be one. Even someone who is only one to two years into a role can be a valuable mentor to junior employees on their team. Delegate work as appropriate, allow junior employees to shadow your work, explain your decision-making or offer post-mortem on calls or projects. Actions like this help you start to grow into a leadership role; help establish a positive team dynamic and will help you start to build a network.
— Jonitha Keymoore, Radial Entertainment
Trust your instincts — they’re often more accurate than you think. If you’re in the room it’s because you’ve earned your place. Speak up, contribute with confidence, and remember that your perspective adds real value to the conversation.
— Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution
Lead with confidence and surround yourself with great mentors.
— Briana Larsen, Xperi
I’d advise future leaders to be nimble. It’s so important to nurture relationships across disciplines, remain visibly receptive to new ideas, and commit to lifelong learning. Opportunities that can propel careers forward often arrive from the least-expected direction.
— Naivasha Dean, Tubi
Lean in, but make a difference! Strive to understand, listen and be proactive in learning and speaking with peers and counterparts. Don’t just do the task at hand but, for real growth, understand where your role fits within an organization and learn how to be a strong partner and to be accountable. You will start to see synergies within the company which in turn will offer more opportunity for growth or to optimize.
— Laura Florence, Fremantle
Own your seat at the table and your unique perspective. Don’t wait for permission to lead — start leading from wherever you are. Build a strong network of allies, keep learning, and remember that resilience is one of your greatest assets.
— Paulette Pantoja, Blu Digital
I’ve learned that working in an industry known for its unique challenges and ever-evolving nature requires constant creativity and adaptability, as well as a commitment to doing everything you can to keep teams inspired and motivated. To be successful, I believe it is essential to develop and support a positive work environment guided by communication, respect and empowerment, and to cultivate a work culture where everyone at all levels is informed, engaged and aligned in driving the business forward.
— Hilary Hoffman, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Focus on what you uniquely bring to the table, and lean into that, rather than trying to “fit the mold.” That authenticity and purpose will resonate with like-minded people and create a virtuous circle of feedback, support and advocacy that can be a superpower of sorts.
— Jerrlyn Iwata, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
It would be the same as I’d give to any future leader: Always seek out challenges. Step into spaces where you feel uncomfortable because that’s where growth happens and where you level up. Build relationships — they are your future. And be authentic; don’t replicate anyone else. The only way to truly stand out is to know who you are and live fully in that. I don’t believe in chasing someone else’s path or following a neatly paved road. Pave your own. When you’re on your own path, you’re only competing with yourself — your work, your luck, your decisions. And the beautiful part? As you build that road, you’ll be creating a new pathway for others to follow.
— Erica Marie Dionne, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
What can we as an industry do to better support women?
To support a woman in her career, listen actively, advocate for her contributions, and encourage her to pursue opportunities — even if she doesn’t meet every qualification. Give respectful and actionable feedback. Use your influence to open doors, not just offer advice. Celebrate her achievements, both privately and publicly. Most importantly, ask what support looks like for her and follow through with intention.
— Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution
Create spaces where women’s voices are heard and their ideas valued.
— Briana Larsen, Xperi
Being cognizant of biases is the best way to support all people, and this is everything from who keeps getting assigned to take notes on a call to who is allowed a seat in key meetings with decision-makers. Being mindful of our biases is not only the right or fair thing to do but ultimately will benefit a company since it ensures the strongest contributors can participate in driving corporate goals.
— Jonitha Keymoore, Radial Entertainment
Supporting our teams well should be a priority, regardless of the gender of team members. I think key elements in doing that are recognizing the current skill sets of team members at all levels and giving them the resources to grow; encouraging them to stretch in areas that are of interest to them and of value to the business; and guiding them to work smarter, not necessarily harder or longer. Male or female, everyone’s compensation should represent their contributions and value to the company, and I’m encouraged by how we’ve advanced in this regard. Let’s keep on pace.
— Amy Jo Smith, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group
We need to normalize inclusion at every level. Also, women who have navigated the system successfully need to guide the next generation so we create cultures where everyone taking big swings will be recognized not just for working hard, but for the impact they deliver.
— Michele Edelman, Cineverse/Matchpoint
Acknowledge that women and men communicate and relate differently. Respect the differences. Lean into them, and understand the benefit the differences bring to an organization.
— Flory Bramnick, Sony Pictures Television
We need to invest in mentorship, visibility and access. This means creating more pathways for women to step into leadership roles, celebrating their contributions publicly, and ensuring they have equal access to capital, resources and high-impact projects.
— Paulette Pantoja, Blu Digital
We need to start by recognizing that motherhood is not a detour; it’s a meaningful chapter in the leadership journey. When organizations offer robust paid leave, thoughtfully designed re-entry programs, flexible work arrangements, and sustained sponsorship that preserves career momentum, they transform talent retention into a powerful competitive edge.
— Naivasha Dean, Tubi
Mentorship can be time-consuming and often isn’t scalable, but with the right match, it can be incredibly impactful, and very fulfilling. I believe that making this a “must-do” (culturally speaking) instead of a “nice-to-do” among mid-level and senior executives could provide talented early- and mid-career women with valuable perspectives and connections, and help create career inflection points.
— Jerrlyn Iwata, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Ensure women have a seat at the table and equal access to leadership pipelines, mentorship and high-visibility opportunities. Representation matters and it must be intentional.
— Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Television
Go beyond mentoring and actively sponsor women into visible, high-impact leadership roles.
— Jill Allen, Sony Pictures Television
I think it’s a mixture of continued mentorship programs, transparent growth processes within companies and with leadership teams, and support — especially for working parents offering flexibility for scheduling — childcare and healthcare support. Working moms are so impressive with the ability to multi-task, prioritize and have a deep sense of empathy, which are such critical skill sets to have within a workplace.
— Laura Florence, Fremantle
Representation matters at every level. That means actively building pipelines for women in creative, technical, and executive roles — not just hiring at the top. It also means creating cultures where women can speak up without fear of being sidelined, and where their contributions are recognized and rewarded equitably. Mentorship programs, transparent pay structures, and family-friendly policies are all essential, but equally important is ensuring women have real decision-making power.
— Gita Rebbapragada, Crunchyroll
We need to be intentional about creating pathways for women to lead, across all disciplines. I’ve seen the impact of mentorship firsthand, and I believe we need to institutionalize those practices across the industry.
— Alanna Powers, Paramount Home Entertainment
Panels and conversations are valuable—but we need to put those discussions into action. Through Canon Club, we’re committed to turning inspiration into impact by creating space, support, and community for women in digital media. Industry-wide, that means hiring women, promoting them into leadership roles, and intentionally building diverse teams where different voices and perspectives are not only welcomed but prioritized. It’s about moving beyond visibility to meaningful inclusion—where women are empowered, trusted, and elevated to lead.
— Meri Hassouni, Giant Worldwide
I feel very fortunate to have built my career in home entertainment. You can see by the number of talented women celebrated in Media Play News that the contributions and impact women have had on this business are far reaching.
— Hilary Hoffman, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
What excites you most about the future?
The future holds so many opportunities — technology is leading the charge in democratizing creativity and empowering storytellers from every corner of the globe to bring their lived realities to life. I’m inspired by an entertainment landscape that increasingly reflects the richness of its audience and welcomes a chorus of diverse voices to the stage. From cloud-based editing platforms to cinema-grade cameras, tools once reserved for major studios are now within reach of nearly anyone, dismantling barriers of cost and access, and bringing creators and fans closer than ever before.
— Naivasha Dean, Tubi
The opportunity for more learning and the evolution of how people experience new media! New AI and technology, TV and social media innovations, advertising, e-commerce and gamification — all these areas are coming together in such a rapid fashion — so, understanding and rebuilding the framework of how the space works together is really exciting.
— Laura Florence, Fremantle
We’re at a moment where anime is truly a global cultural force — and we’ve only scratched the surface. I’m excited by the possibilities of reaching fans in new ways, whether that’s through emerging technology, new storytelling formats, or expanded accessibility in every corner of the world. More than anything, I’m energized by the fact that anime brings people together across cultures, languages and generations. That kind of connection is powerful, and I believe it will only grow stronger in the years ahead.
— Gita Rebbapragada, Crunchyroll
The next generation. I’m especially inspired watching my two daughters begin their own journeys in entertainment. They represent a future that’s more inclusive, more connected, and more innovative. The energy, the ideas, the sheer drive — it’s contagious. I’m excited for what’s next and proud to help shape it.
— Meri Hassouni, Giant Worldwide
Knowing that there is constant evolution of the industry and with every shift comes new opportunities for growth, innovation and engaging audiences worldwide.
— Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Television
What excites me most about the future is the pace of change. Technology is evolving so quickly that much of how we operate today will look completely different in a few years. Tech will make us smarter, faster and more nimble — enabling us to solve problems in ways we haven’t yet imagined. And perhaps even more exciting is the next generation. They’re growing up immersed in this tech-driven world, and they will challenge everything my generation has built. They’ll reimagine processes, question assumptions and bring forward innovations that will push us all to level up. As André Gide is credited saying, ‘You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.’ I can’t wait to see the next gen exploring unexplored places, creating new futures — and how we’ll evolve together.
— Erica Marie Dionne, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
The convergence of creativity and technology. As AI, automation and cloud infrastructure continue to evolve, we have an unprecedented opportunity to reshape how content is created and distributed — making global storytelling more efficient, inclusive and accessible than ever.
— Paulette Pantoja, Blu Digital
The talent that is primed to take the lead in the next phase of our business.
— Flory Bramnick, Sony Pictures Television
The possibilities at the intersection of technology and storytelling, and how they’ll transform the way audiences experience content.
— Jill Allen, Sony Pictures Television
What excites me most is the acceleration of innovation — and the opportunity to build a more efficient, transparent and accessible ecosystem for content. Being part of that evolution, and helping shape it through platforms like Matchpoint, is energizing. The future isn’t about continuing on and keeping up — it’s about leading the change, and we are doing that at Matchpoint.
— Michele Edelman, Cineverse/Matchpoint
We are in an era where the rules of the past are called into question. With that I am excited to see more people and companies break away from legacy patterns that no longer serve us. I am excited to see interesting new deal shapes, organically structured workflows and unique business models.
— Jonitha Keymoore, Radial Entertainment
What excites me is the pace of change and the possibilities it brings. Media is evolving faster than ever, and that means we get to constantly rethink how we connect with audiences. At PBS Distribution, we exist to serve the public media system and advance its mission. Our team is incredibly smart and passionate, and that gives me confidence that whatever changes come, we’ll adapt and thrive. While the future is unpredictable, the one thing I do know is that our business will continue to evolve to meet consumers where they are with the high-quality content they expect from public media.
— Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution
It excites me that we are moving toward a new era of ease for consumers to find and access the premium content they want — including entertainment, sports and other live content — through innovation in technology and business models.
— Amy Jo Smith, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group
With technological advancements and shifting consumer demands, we are reshaping the distribution landscape faster than ever before. This poses challenges but also opportunities, and I personally am excited to offer audiences new and immersive ways to engage with entertainment.
— Julie Dansker, Radial Entertainment
Having the chance to shape an industry that’s always evolving.
— Briana Larsen, Xperi
What excites me most about the future is helping to build something as big as electricity was to the 20th century. The industrial revolution changed how we work, the internet changed how we connect, but AI — AI is changing what it means to be human.
— Teresa Phillips, Spherex