Wonder Women TV has announced the launch of a year-long mentoring programme to empower the next generation of diverse leaders with mentoring delivered by top female execs in British Television.
Mentors include Naked Television MD, Fatima Salaria, BBC’s Head of Talent for Content, Donna Taberer, Douglas Road Productions MD, Angela Ferreira and Channel 4’s Head of Creative Diversity, Babita Bahal
The 17 candidates will take part in monthly 1-2-1 mentoring sessions and master classes taught entirely online by industry professionals to support their on-going development.
The programme aims to elevate the next generation of diverse leaders into senior leadership roles in the TV sector and Creative Arts.
Mentoring Programme Director & TV Presenter, Ria Hebden comments: “Women need champions in the workplace now more than ever. The pandemic has hit the Television industry and the Creative Arts significantly and we know that women have been affected disproportionately, so I’m delighted that we’re able to offer such a diverse range of candidates this brilliant opportunity to learn from such incredible women in these challenging times.”
The 2021 Mentees of the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme are:
- Avril Evans
- Cara Bowen
- Chloe Seddon
- Dershe Samaria
- Dorsa Nam
- Emb Hashmi
- Emma Hardie
- Kavino Nagulendren
- Marverine Cole
- Sharon Ezzeldin
- Siobhan Lowrey
- Sidra Khan
- Stephanie Chlond
- Tanya Rai
- Tara Nolan
- Tasnim Nazeer
- Vicky Holden
The Wonder Women Mentoring Programme is an extension of the Wonder Women TV brand, which Ria Hebden created in 2016 as a way of championing women who work in Television and the Creative Arts. Other content produced by Carpe Diem Media Productions – the indie which Ria owns includes; the talk show Wonder Women TV, the Wonder Women podcast and live events such as Wonder Women Live!
Head of Talent, BBC Content – Donna Taberer comments: “Everyone should have a mentor at some point in their career. Women supporting women is critical in our industry. I’m thrilled to be part of this mentoring programme with such a fantastic line-up of professionals.”
Channel 4’s Head of Creative Diversity, Babita Bahal also comments: “We all need to step up and nurture our future stars. It’s an honour to be part of the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme and share career advice, actively sponsor and hold open doors to help more talented people rise to the top in TV.”
Ria Hebden adds: “My hope is that the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme elevates the next generation of diverse leaders into senior leadership positions and in turn, diversifies the stories we get to tell on-screen, the decisions made at senior leadership level and the culture that we work in.”
The 2021 Mentors of the Wonder Women Mentoring Programme are:
- Amanda Lyons – Executive Producer, Voltage TV
- Angela Ferreira – Managing Director of Douglas Road Productions
- Anjani Patel – Head of Inclusion & Diversity, PACT
- Babita Bahal – Head of Creative Diversity, Channel 4
- Dawn McCarthy-Simpson – Managing Director of Business Development & Global Strategy, PACT
- Donna Taberer – Head of Talent, BBC Content
- Fatima Salaria – Managing Director of Naked Television
- Kat Hebden – Head of Development, ITV Studios
- Liz McIntyre – Film & Television Executive
- Lydia Shamah – Commissioning Editor, Scripted Content at Audible
- Lyndsay Duthie – Chief Executive Officer of The Production Guild of Great Britain
- Meera Thavasophy – Television Director, BBC
- Minnie Ayres – Chief Operating Officer, TriForce Creative Network
- Natascha Cadle – Creative Director, ENVY Post Production
- Sarah Asante – Commissioning Editor, BBC Comedy
- Seetha Kumar – Chief Executive Officer at ScreenSkills
Jon Creamer
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