In celebration of Women’s History Month, the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) hosted its second annual Conversations with Women in Media and Entertainment on March 25. This series of panels featured some of the city’s most influential trailblazers, who spoke about the future of their industries and the value of representation and sisterhood.
“It’s important for us to celebrate the women here in Washington, D.C. leading the charge,” said OCTFME Director LaToya Foster to the audience. “We have a woman at the helm here in our city, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and you know she always says, ‘When women are at the helm, things get done.’”
Foster moderated two of the event’s five panels. The first was a conversation about women’s impact in sports and entertainment with D.C. United’s President of Business Operations Danita Johnson and President of Live Nation’s Washington office Kelly Flanigan. The second featured Teresa Carlson, the founding president of General Catalyst Institute, who spoke about the future of women, artificial intelligence and the economy.
In both conversations, the panelists were incredibly transparent with their audiences regarding the trials and tribulations they’ve experienced throughout their careers, urging young women to remain confident and determined, no matter what obstacles are thrown their way.
“To make it in this, you’ve got to be decisive,” Johnson told listeners. “If you’re not gonna do the work, it’s not gonna move you forward.”
Making Space for More Women in Media, Lifting One Another Up
Before the event, Johnson shared her excitement about fostering connectivity and creativity through these conversations and the potential impact sharing her experiences can have. She believes such an environment can “elevate” the sports and entertainment industries.
“I think it’s also important to hear the voices of women and to hear the voices of us as minorities talking about the impact that we can have in these spaces,” she told The Informer. “It’s a great way for us to showcase what’s possible.”
Advocates are still working toward more women represented in media. The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film states that women accounted for 26% of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors and cinematographers for original U.S. films in 2022. Additionally, women only comprise 26.9% of executive positions in international sports federations, according to a 2023 survey by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance.
Statistics like these are why leaders like Johnson and Flanigan manage teams made up of mostly women. For example, Flanigan began her career at Live Nation almost 20 years ago as an intern, rose through the ranks and now leads a team that is 65% women.
A champion for solidarity between women, especially leaders in the District, Flanigan was one of the first people to call Johnson when she started her role at D.C. United, welcoming her and giving her insight to the opportunities she’d have access to.
“Help lift each other up and be the voice cheering each other on,” Flanigan said during the conversation. “It’s good when people around you are speaking up for you.”
Since starting her role in 2020, Johnson has witnessed the sheer sisterhood between women in leadership positions in the city and admires the innovative possibilities this mutual support offers.
“We have an opportunity to do things in a very different way, and I think these women bring so much to the table,” Johnson told the audience. “How we get the job done and how we execute– it’s just magnificent.”
Tapping Into Innovative Tools, Resources
During her segment, Carlson, a visionary leader in the technology industry, urged listeners to take charge of their destiny and remain receptive to new ideas and experiences, emphasizing the importance of pivoting and adapting when needed.
Carlson started her career as a speech pathologist but pivoted to technology when changes in healthcare made her job difficult.
Since working in this digital industry, she has held various leadership positions, including vice president of Federal Government businesses at Microsoft, president and chief growth officer at Splunk and vice president for Amazon Web Services’ worldwide public sector and industries businesses.
As a leader Carlson has always ensured women have a seat at the table, encouraging them to sit at the front of meetings so they know their voices deserve to be heard.
“It’s easy to be a listener, but you want to be a participant,” she said during her panel.
At General Catalyst Institute, she’s exploring the advantages of AI, but she understands many have reservations about advanced technologies. The large amount of energy and water consumed for training AI models and using data centers can contribute to increased carbon emissions.
According to the International Monetary Fund, data centers, including AI, could contribute to 6% of global electricity use and almost 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions by 2027.
“Everything’s about moderation– using less,” Carlson told The Informer. “If you’re using too much energy [or] if you’re not being environmentally conscious, that’s not a good business model.”
As the world becomes more digitized and reliant on technological advancements, Carlson is hopeful people will adapt to these mechanisms, using them to their advantage in their careers.
In addition, through her work and panels like Women in Media and Entertainment, she hopes her story inspires people to take control of their destinies.
“There’s always opportunities in your career to… pivot,” she said. “If you really feel like you want to achieve something different, it’s never too late.”
Not only seeking to inform, Women in Media and Entertainment also worked to serve as a source of inspiration and reassurance that anything is possible.
“My favorite [parts] of doing these types of moments is to create opportunities and access, and I hope this conversation does that,” Johnson told The Informer. “Know that we’re not that far away, that we’re not untouchable and that we could be a resource to the community.”
