BMLI Class 53

Vahini is a Senior Manager of Solutions Engineering in Sales, bringing deep expertise in AI datacenter infrastructure and software stacks for web and hyperscaler customers. She leads specialized teams that architect, deploy, and optimize advanced solutions for a broad spectrum of clients, including neocloud providers, hyperscalers, and web-scale customers. Leveraging a proven track record in scalable, next-generation datacenter architectures, Vahini’s teams consistently deliver innovative, secure, and efficient solutions that align with both customer needs and business objectives.

Based in San Francisco, Vahini holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication. She is dedicated to advancing the field of solutions engineering and fostering high-performing teams that drive impactful results across the dynamic and evolving web industry.

Michelle Antonello is a tenured finance leader having spent the past twenty years at NBCU and Comcast. For the past year, Michelle has led a team in the Comcast Advertising business focused on Financial Planning & Analysis, Capital & Procurement, and the newly launched Universal Ads business.

Prior to Comcast, Michelle was at NBCU, starting in the Financial Management Program (FMP). In this two-year program, she rotated through multiple businesses, gaining exposure to Ad Sales, Local Stations, Distribution and Post Production. After program, Michelle continued with the Ad Sales organization, focused on Financial Planning & Analysis and Pricing for the entire national NBCU portfolio. From here, she moved to a digital business and managed the integration of newly acquired NBC News Digital properties. She continued in this role as a finance business partner for the next 10 years, with ownership of the News Digital portfolio P&L, supporting Digital Editorial, Technology and Product for Publishing and Streaming. She partnered with the executive leadership team to bring News Digital to profitability and launch successful businesses like NBC News NOW and Today Commerce.

Michelle holds a B.S. in Finance and International Business from the University of Maryland. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.

Chris Asher is a seasoned executive currently serving as Vice President, Technical Operations at Spectrum Reach, the advertising sales division of Charter Communications. With a passion for building high-performing teams, she excels at driving operational excellence through process optimization and strategic leadership.

In her role, Chris oversees technical functions that support the delivery of advertising solutions across a national footprint. She is known for creating clarity in complex environments, fostering accountability, and championing continuous improvement. Her leadership style empowers teams to perform at their highest potential, aligning operations with long-term business objectives while keeping focus on the promise made to the customer.

Throughout her career, Chris has built a reputation for solving challenging problems, streamlining workflows, and nurturing a culture of innovation and collaboration. Her approach blends technical expertise with a people-first mindset. Beyond her core responsibilities, she is passionate about leadership development and is committed to helping others grow through mentorship and coaching.

Lael Beckwith has been with Charter Communications for over 20 years. As Vice President, Regional Field Service for Charter’s Northwest Region, she currently oversees Field Service policy across nine states, consistently maintaining top-tier performance. Previously, as Vice President of Construction on the corporate engineering team, she led the design of PRISM, managed business analysts and data engineers for executive reporting, and directed national construction processes.

Lael excels at fostering positive team dynamics and empowering her employees to achieve operational success in fast-paced, high-stress environments. Her career highlights include driving national policy and process for major initiatives like rural broadband deployments, and turning high-level goals into actionable steps, significantly improving compliance to corporate goals. With a Bachelor of Music from Houghton College, she has further honed her leadership skills through programs at Tuck Executive Leadership, WICT Rising Leaders, Georgia Tech – SCTE, and Villanova University.

Ally Berger Duran is a Vice President of News at Spectrum News, based in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. She leads Editorial Services, a strategic unit focused on strengthening the quality, clarity, and impact of local journalism. In this role, Ally works with newsrooms across the country to elevate storytelling, guide editorial strategy, and support producers and Multimedia Journalists (MMJs) in delivering thoughtful, well-executed coverage. Ally’s career began 30 years ago at 13WMAZ in Macon, Georgia, followed by time at WTLV in Jacksonville, Florida. She joined Bay News 9 in 1999 as a weekend producer and spent more than two decades helping shape its newsroom, eventually becoming Senior Director of News. During that time, she led coverage through hurricane seasons and election cycles, building a reputation for thoughtful leadership and deep editorial expertise. She also led the development and launch of Spectrum News+, the network’s cross-market streaming product, from initial concept through early execution.

A graduate of American University’s School of Communication, Ally believes strong journalism builds strong communities. She sees great leadership as a combination of clarity, consistency, and listening.

Outside of work, Ally shares life with her favorite person. He’s a fellow fan of live music and time on the water. She is also the proud mom of two sons, one a rising high school senior and the other a graduate student at Florida State University.

Stephanie Clark is a seasoned communications and branding executive with nearly 20 years of experience driving growth and visibility for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Paramount+, Pluto TV, Warner Bros, and Mattel. With deep expertise in strategic storytelling, brand development, and media relations, she has led the charge on major rebrands, product launches, and high-impact campaigns across entertainment, tech, and consumer products.

As Vice President of Corporate Communications at Paramount, Stephanie led the rebranding of CBS All Access to Paramount+, positioning it as the fastest-growing brand in 2021. She oversaw key initiatives such as the Walmart+ partnership, SHOWTIME bundle launch, and Super Bowl campaigns, while building an always-on communications engine that significantly increased brand visibility. Prior to that, she drove global communications for Warner Bros.’ Wizarding World franchise, spearheading campaigns that expanded the brand’s global reach and drove measurable business impact.

Stephanie’s foundation was built at top agencies like Edelman and Golin, where she revitalized legacy brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels through innovative, award-winning campaigns. She’s known for her collaborative leadership, cross-functional agility, and proven ability to shape narratives that resonate across media, partners, and consumers.

Stephanie holds a Master’s in Strategic Public Relations from USC and a Bachelor’s in Communication from UC Santa Barbara. She continues to be a trusted advisor and strategic leader in the evolving media and entertainment landscape.

Marsha Cooke is vice president and executive producer for 30 for 30 and ESPN Originals, overseeing development, production, strategy, and branding for all projects under the ESPN Original Content banner.

Before joining ESPN, Cooke was senior vice president of global news and special projects at VICE Media Group, where she led the company’s most ambitious news and entertainment initiatives across platforms. She spearheaded VICE News’ first live coverage of the 2020 Iowa Brown and Black Forum, which earned a national news Emmy, and previously led IMPACT at VICE, focused on social responsibility and community engagement.

Cooke spent 24 years at CBS News, holding several leadership roles including Asia Bureau Chief—the first Black journalist in that role—VP of News Services, and executive editor at CBSN. She also served as senior broadcast producer for CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, contributing to award-winning coverage and CBSN’s documentary storytelling. Her work earned her a News & Documentary Emmy and a Gracie Award.

She is a graduate of Temple University, where she received the Lew Klein Media Award, was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame, and honored in the Gallery of Success. In 2019, she was featured in O Magazine.

Cooke serves on the boards of Solutions Journalism, Capital B, The City, the Alliance of Women in Media, and is a founding member of The Meteor.

Based in New York City, she is a proud first-generation Jamaican-American, avid reader, devoted foodie, long-suffering NY sports fan, and passionate media leader.

Christine da Fonte is Senior Director of Programming & Tentpoles for NBCUniversal’s Platform Distribution & Partnerships team.

In her role, Christine oversees the execution of tentpole distribution strategy—including the Olympics and World Cup—on v/MVPD client platforms. She works closely with cross-functional teams, both internal and external, to build high-impact tentpole hubs that drive subscriber engagement and viewership.

Previously, she managed Content Distribution’s v/MVPD digital partnerships at NBCUniversal, executing new media deal terms and launching NBCU content across partner platforms.

Before joining the Content Distribution team, she spent eight years at NBCU cable channel mun2 (now known as Universo), where she led the day-to-day operations for the network’s website and TV Everywhere app.

Earlier in her career, she held roles in both digital and production, working on regional news, commercials, and music videos.

Christine lives in Los Angeles with her husband, 11-year-old daughter, and three cats.

Lynsey Dempsey is Executive Director of the Business Data & Analytics (BDI) team at Comcast Business. She leads the organization’s efforts to deliver impactful data insights that support strategic decision-making and drive business performance. Her team serves as a central partner to business units across Comcast Business, providing trusted data solutions and analytical expertise.

Over her 15-year tenure at Comcast, Lynsey has held several key roles across finance and reporting. She previously coordinated and consolidated monthly results for the Advertising segment—including forecasts, long-range plans, and budgets—while driving process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy. She also served in the Controller’s Group at Comcast Cable, where she oversaw reporting and analysis for the Cable segment. Her responsibilities included analyzing key financial and operational drivers and managing external reporting processes such as ACA, SEC disclosures, and MD&A reviews.

Before joining Comcast, Lynsey began her career at KPMG in the Audit practice, where she led the planning and execution of audit procedures and internal control testing.

Lynsey is passionate about leadership and mentorship and actively supports talent development as a mentor in various programs across the organization.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from Cabrini University, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and is currently pursuing her MBA at St. Joseph’s University. Lynsey resides in the greater Philadelphia area with her husband and two children. In her free time, she enjoys coaching youth soccer and spending time at the lake.

Vice President, Management Operations

Christie Dockman began her career at ESPN as a Studio Production Assignment Editor a week after learning about the job opening. Twenty-nine years later, she leads ESPN’s Management Operations department, which is responsible for the Personnel, Talent and Business Operations functional areas of ESPN’s Content division. Through workforce management, resource planning and workflow enhancements, Christie and her team ensure that ESPN’s Content business is operating to its fullest potential.

Previously, Christie was involved with planning and executing several large-scale international remote soccer events for ESPN. For the 2010 FIFA World Cup (South Africa), Christie brought her logistical and financial expertise to the complex project and led her team through all aspects of planning and on-site logistical execution of the award-winning event for ESPN. She continued working on major international soccer tournaments including the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup (Germany) and the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship (Poland/Ukraine). In 2013, Christie became part of the senior management team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (Brazil), ESPN’s most-watched FIFA World Cup, and held that same role for the 2016 and 2020 UEFA European Football Championships (France and Europe), and the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Championship (England).

Christie has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Penn State University and a certificate in British Media/Mass Communications from the University of Manchester in England. She is a well-respected ESPN leader who dedicates her time to mentoring others and volunteering in her community. Christie and her husband Bill enjoy empowering their three daughters to be everything they dream about.

Joelle Downes is Vice President, Creative Planning, Synergy Strategy & Solutions at ESPN, where she drives collaboration, innovation, and strategic alignment across The Walt Disney Company (TWDC). A seasoned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience, she specializes in bridging teams, integrating content and marketing strategies, and leading high-impact synergy initiatives.

As a member of TWDC’s Synergy Executive Committee, Joelle plays a key role in shaping and executing company-wide priorities. For more than two decades, she has led ESPN’s Synergy efforts, forging strategic partnerships across Disney Entertainment, Disney Studios, ABC, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Disney Experiences. She also works closely with major league partners—including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and College Football Playoff—to develop cross-platform initiatives that drive engagement and shared success.

In addition to her Synergy leadership, Joelle oversees ESPN’s Creative Planning team, which manages operational strategy for the Creative Studio. This includes budgeting, technology, global partnerships, and process optimization to enhance collaboration and ensure alignment across departments.

Joelle has been instrumental in ESPN’s Audience Expansion Priority and has led marquee projects such as Monday Night Football, the College Football Playoff, the ESPYs, and the launch of ESPN+. She also helped pioneer animated alt-casts, including the Emmy-winning Toy Story Funday Football. Previously, she led ESPN’s Content Integration and Ad Standards teams, aligning editorial, sales, and sponsorship while ensuring quality and compliance.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Originally from Livingston, NJ, Joelle lives in New York City with her husband, two daughters, and their yellow lab.

Sara Eaton is Vice President of Brand & Consumer Marketing at Paramount+, where she leads strategic marketing for the platform’s brand and content. With more than 15 years of experience in entertainment marketing, Sara has built and led high-performing teams across cable and streaming, with a focus on audience engagement, brand development, and creative innovation.

Since joining Paramount+ in 2021, Sara has helped shape the marketing strategy for marquee titles including 1883: A Yellowstone Origin Story, Dexter, Frasier, and Yellowjackets. She played a key role in launching the Paramount+ Originals Marketing function—establishing team structures, cross-functional workflows, and a results-driven culture during a pivotal phase of growth for the platform.

Previously, Sara served as Vice President of Marketing at Comedy Central, where she led campaigns for culturally influential series such as The Daily Show, Broad City, and South Park. She began her career at USA Network (NBCUniversal), contributing to standout campaigns for hit series like Psych, Suits, and Mr. Robot, while also helping shape the network’s early digital video strategy.

A graduate of The WICT Network’s Rising Leaders Program, Sara is passionate about developing talent and fostering inclusive, collaborative environments. Her work has been recognized by organizations including Adweek, Promax, the Clio Awards, and Cannes Lions.

Lindsey Green is responsible for licensing feature films, television shows, and sports content across domestic and global SVOD, AVOD, and FAST platforms, as well as West Coast-based cable networks.  She and her team also oversee the distribution of content to the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming services, including Hulu and Disney+ worldwide.  Her client roster features major platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, Roku, Tubi, and YouTube, among others.

Green joined Disney in 2005 in a content sales licensing role and has since held various positions in content distribution, including broadcast syndication, transactional licensing, app distribution, global airline distribution, and linear channel distribution. Most recently, she has focused on managing SVOD, AVOD, basic cable, and FAST content.  Green holds a Global Business degree from the University of Southern California.

Lori Hall is the Vice President of GCS Programming at A+E Global Media, responsible for driving strategy and execution across global content sales, international linear channels, and global FAST platforms. With over 20 years in the media industry, she brings a sharp focus on data-informed decisions, monetization, and measurable impact—successfully navigating an evolving content ecosystem across platforms like Samsung, LG, Roku, Vizio, Netflix, Dish, DirecTV, and Amazon.

Previously, Lori served as VP of Program Planning, Scheduling, and Acquisitions at Ovation, where she led programming including theatrical films, arts, and scripted content—delivering strong audience engagement and brand alignment. She also held key roles at TV Guide Network, leveraging original content and acquisitions to boost viewer retention and network performance.

Known for her strategic discipline and creative agility, Lori delivers results through cross-functional collaboration, decisive leadership, and a relentless commitment to growth. She thrives on turning ambiguity into opportunity and aligning content strategies with bottom-line goals.

Lori currently lives in Upper Michigan, where she recharges by spending time on the water with her family, practicing yoga, and reading her way through an ever-growing Kindle library.

Lucy Hansen is a customer experience and technology leader who has spent the last 10 years in telecommunications. She has lead design, research, technology, data and digital product teams through large scale changes including a major merger and numerous organizational shifts to enable innovation and scale. Prior to working at Charter, she worked for start-ups and agencies focusing on bridging the gap between design, customer experience and technology.

Lucy holds a B.F.A. in Design and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Iowa. She currently lives in Centennial, Colorado with her husband and three school-aged children. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, skiing and live music.

Josie Hermsmeyer is the Vice President of Internal Audit Services at Charter. A proven leader with more than two decades of experience as an internal auditor, Josie directs a team that provides independent and objective risk evaluations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Charter’s operations, working with Senior Leadership, as well as the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. As part of Charter’s Compliance Committee, Josie leads a team that investigates ethics-oriented matters and assessment of fraud risks.

Prior to joining Charter in 2007, she was with Ernst & Young, establishing her passion for internal audit. She has gained significant experience across all aspects of the company and developed relationships with a wide range of individuals. She finds joy in the variety and uniqueness that her role provides, and takes pride in simplifying the complex, gaining consensus and persuading others to take action. She engages regularly with senior leadership on critical initiatives to ensure an appropriate level of focus on existing and emerging risks.

A big advocate of work-life balance, Josie enjoys spending her free time creating art, golfing, swimming and seeing live music with her teenage daughter.

Elena Kilpatrick is the Regional Vice President of Technical Operations for Comcast’s Florida Region. She is responsible for overseeing all fulfillment and plant maintenance operations spanning the state including portions of Alabama and Georgia with over 3.5M business and residential customers and 1200 employees.

Elena started her career at Comcast in the Freedom Region on January 2020 as VP of Technical Operations and served as Vice President of Business Development, Project Management and Customer Experience whereby she developed the strategic plan to expand Freedom’s footprint to an additional 100K homes passed.

Elena brings extensive experience in telecom operations. During her 12+ years at Frontier, she served in several executive leadership roles such as National Vice President of Commercial Contact Centers and Operations, SVP Technical Operations and Regional SVP/GM roles focused on growth. Additionally, Elena held several key roles in sales and marketing with Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises and Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile.

Elena earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Montclair State University. She has served on several boards and enjoys spending time with her family. Elena, her husband Jim and Beckley (their Airedale terrier) relocated to the Treasure Coast.

Katherine Maggio is currently Vice President of Global Streaming Research and Insights at Paramount, where she spearheads research efforts to guide the company’s understanding of the competitive streaming landscape and to inform strategic decision making for Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

Joining Viacom in 2013, Katherine has steadily advanced through roles of increasing responsibility—starting as Senior Manager of Product Insights & Experimentation supporting research for Viacom’s 1st generation TV Everywhere apps, then moving on as Director of Global Consumer Insights for Paramount, supporting both streaming and corporate initiatives. Her leadership and consumer-driven insights have been pivotal in shaping Paramount’s evolving linear and digital strategies over the years.

A graduate of Princeton University, Katherine holds an A.B. degree in Psychology and brings more than 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Driven by a passion for understanding audiences and transforming insights into action, Katherine excels at blending analytical rigor with creative storytelling –-bringing research to life in a way that is both accessible and memorable.

Katherine currently resides in New York City with her husband, Philip, and their two young children, Maximilian and Juliet—who bring endless joy, a touch of chaos, and plenty of inspiration to her days.

Sue Pitsios is the Executive Director of High-Risk Retention for CX Strategy and Operations, Account Management.

In her role, Sue is responsible for the oversight of over 800 leaders and team members. She oversees the day-to-day operations and focuses on solving customer issues, selling our world-class products, and retaining every customer relationship. She also develops programs focused on improving the employee experience through career progression, reward and recognition, and building an inclusive workplace.

Sue has over 26 years of telecommunications experience, holding several leadership roles in customer care, sales channel strategy, and operations. She has led teams through numerous change initiatives, including site relocations, transition to a totally virtual work-from-home environment, and numerous strategic commission and incentive compensation redesigns. As a change champion, Sue helps to identify key operational impacts and creative communication tactics to ensure all stakeholders and impacted employees are brought along on the journey to ensure the success of the project.

Sue is passionate about supporting leaders who are focused on growth and progressing in their careers. She actively engages in monthly coaching sessions with leaders at all levels to develop from operational subject matter experts to more well-rounded strategic coaches and people leaders.

Sue graduated from Lesley University with a bachelor’s degree in education. As a lifelong learner, she has completed many leadership programs, including the Dartmouth SCTE Tuck Executive Leadership program, Women Unlimited LEAD program, and the UMass Boston Emerging Leader Program.

Sue resides in Chelmsford, Massachusetts with her husband of 33 years, Jim. They are proud parents of two adult children, Lexie and Andrew. In her free time, Sue enjoys all things by the water, including cruising with family and spending time at the beach or boating. She also enjoys cooking and testing new recipes with ingredients from local farmers markets.

Emma Powers is Vice President, Digital Experience of Comcast Business where she leads the digital and e-commerce experiences for Comcast’s B2B arm. Emma and her team develop prospect and customer journeys, digital merchandising and interactive content, and determine the creative design and product strategy to drive increased demand generation, sales, and revenue for the business.

Prior to her Digital role, Emma was Executive Director, Enterprise & Vertical Marketing at Comcast Business where she led the marketing of CB’s products and services to enterprises and to the public sector via industry marketing, client engagements, and partnerships & alliances.

Before joining Comcast, Emma led the Account Based Marketing team at IBM, first creating the data-driven, client-centric program in the Watson AI business, and then scaling it across all of the software units at IBM. She has also held internal strategy, market intelligence, and product marketing roles, as well as spent time on the agency side – driving forward earned media and digital programs for B2B and B2C brands while at Brodeur Partners.

Emma has an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management, and a B.A. in Psychology from Bowdoin College. She was recently 1 of 30 Marketing leaders named to The Marketing Academy’s U.S. program.

Jenny Prime is assistant vice president of regulatory affairs for Cox Enterprises. She is responsible for helping develop and implement the company’s public policy strategy and representing the company before federal government agencies.

Jenny joined Cox in 2014. Prior to joining Cox, she served as an attorney for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  She held a variety of roles at the FCC in the Wireline Competition Bureau, including Assistant Chief of the Competition Policy Division, Legal Advisor to the Bureau Chief, and Attorney Advisor.

Before joining the FCC, Jenny served as a staff attorney and teaching fellow for the Institute of Public Representation at Georgetown Law Center where she represented media justice, public health and children’s advocacy organizations before federal agencies and in federal courts of appeals.

Jenny lives in Washington, D.C. She is active in her local civic association and serves as an Ambassador to The WICT Network: Washington DC/Baltimore Chapter. She received her B.A. in history from Centre College, her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law Bloomington, and her LL.M from Georgetown University Law Center. She is admitted to the bars of Indiana and Kentucky. Jenny is CIPP/US certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Linda Schulz is vice president of production for ESPN’s National Hockey League, NCAA College Hockey and Tennis coverage. In her role, Schulz oversees all aspects of ESPN’s NHL event and studio production, including marquee events such as the 4 Nations Face-Off, NHL All-Star Game, Stadium Series, ABC broadcasts and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Schulz began working on NHL coverage as a Coordinating Producer when the sport returned to ESPN in 2022. Prior to that, she served as Coordinating Producer for ESPN’s College Basketball game coverage and was responsible for overseeing production of the NBA Draft.

A veteran of ESPN since 1995, Schulz began her career as a production assistant working on America’s Cup and IndyCar. She advanced through various live event production roles, including graphics, Associate Director, and ISO producer for IndyCar, NHRA and X Games. In 2001, Schulz transitioned to producing College Football, College Basketball and several NCAA Championships while based at ESPN’s Charlotte office.

In 2007, Schulz played a key role in ESPN’s return to NASCAR, staying with the property until its conclusion on ESPN in 2014. She was then promoted to Senior Managing Producer, developing and leading a team focused on creative content for SportsCenter. In 2017, Schulz was elevated to Coordinating Producer and returned to event coverage, focusing on College Basketball.

Schulz was promoted to vice president of production in 2024.

Hena Siddiqi is Vice President, Head of Product Design at AMC Networks, where she leads the vision for how audiences discover, engage with, and immerse themselves in the company’s portfolio of streaming products. For over six years, she has shaped customer journeys across AMC Networks’s direct-to-consumer platforms, combining strategic design leadership with a passion for storytelling, innovation, and user-centered experiences.

With more than 18 years of experience, Hena’s career began at a pivotal moment—when smartphones, apps, and streaming were just beginning to transform the digital landscape. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, she studied in the groundbreaking Integrated Design Curriculum, which combined visual design, psychology, and digital systems long before UX was widely recognized as a discipline.

She went on to lead UX and design at AT&T and DIRECTV, where she spearheaded the redesign of the NFL Sunday Ticket app, delivering a seamless and immersive experience for millions of fans. She also played a key role in shaping the connected TV space, designing for first-generation platforms like Roku, and helped lead the digital transformation during the AT&T/DIRECTV merger to unify and modernize the customer experience.

In a bold career shift, Hena co-founded NETLUXE, a digital fashion startup with a brick-and-mortar retail space in NYC’s West Village. There, she built the brand from the ground up, merging digital design, operations, and customer engagement in a real-world setting.

Hena lives in Brooklyn with her partner, son, and two spirited rescue poodle mixes. A big foodie and traveler, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and bringing creativity into all aspects of life.

Christine Soo is the Senior Vice President of Production Finance for Paramount Media Networks and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. In this role, Christine and her bicoastal team work closely with internal and third-party production partners to bring all genres of content to cable and streaming platforms while keeping a close eye on cash flows, budgets, tax incentives and the risks & opportunities that go along with producing content in a fast-paced and evolving landscape.

Originally from New York, Christine relocated to Southern California in 2011 to head up the Finance team at Nickelodeon’s Animation Studio, then transitioned into overseeing Production Finance across all cable networks for Paramount. She has focused on Paramount Media Networks and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios for the last several years. Prior to her 24 years with the organization, she spent time at NBCU/SyFy and Time Warner Cable.

Christine is driven by building respectful, inclusive teams that celebrate contributions at every organizational level, particularly recognizing behind-the-scenes contributors, producing diverse and uplifting content for broad audiences, and empowering others to align their careers with their personal and professional passions. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes approaching complex and intimidating challenges with curiosity, modeling empathetic communication while providing teams with straightforward guidance that balances adaptability with decisive convictions.

Christine holds a BA in Economics from Boston University and an MBA from New York University. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Torbjorn, two children, and their rescue dog. Christine enjoys movies and documentaries, traveling, cheering her children in their activities, and spending time with her family and friends.

Michele Vedo is the Executive Director of Platform Distribution Operations at The Walt Disney Company. She leads a team that provides technical and operational support to Disney’s Platform Distribution sales and strategy units, playing a vital role in driving business-led technology transformation. Michele collaborates with technology teams to develop tools that enhance workflows, improve operational efficiency, and enable global content distribution across traditional and emerging platforms. Her responsibilities include aligning stakeholders, building long-term system roadmaps, and prioritizing technology initiatives that strengthen Disney’s distribution capabilities.

Michele joined Disney through the acquisition of 21st Century Fox, where she served as Vice President of Worldwide Digital Distribution. In that role, she oversaw the end-to-end operational delivery of licensed content to global partners, while managing customer relationships and service-level expectations. She began her career at Fox as a temp in the Home Entertainment division and held positions in sales program management, customer service, and operations—including leadership of North American physical distribution.

An innovation-focused leader, Michele was instrumental in Fox’s supply chain automation initiatives, helping pioneer scalable digital content distribution processes.

Michele holds a B.A. in Communication Arts & Sciences from the University of Southern California and a professional certificate in Human Resources Management from UCLA.

A Southern California native, Michele enjoys visiting Disney Parks, cooking, reading, and cheering on her favorite sports teams—the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Orioles.

Allison Wagner is an Executive Director at Comcast, where she leads applied AI strategy and product development for customer experience. With over a decade of experience as a UX developer for global brands including Nintendo, Harvard, and Zappos, she blends technical expertise with product vision to deliver AI solutions at scale. Allison has been published in leading industry outlets such as A List Apart and NET Magazine, and has spoken at conferences including SXSW Interactive and Front-End Conf. She is passionate about transforming frontline work with AI-driven automation and building products that make complex technology feel simple and human.

Kristi Watson is the Senior Director of Program Management for Video Systems Operations at Charter Communications. Based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Kristi functions as the chief of staff for the VP of Video Systems Operations and is responsible for managing all aspects of the project portfolio including strategic planning, budget management, and project execution. She and her team are also responsible for monitoring and adhering to cybersecurity standards, deployment of code updates, and all levels of executive reporting.

Kristi began her career as a business analyst transitioning to project management. She has created multiple project management offices and is passionate about project management and process improvement. Prior to joining Charter, Kristi’s experience was in data security and financial services, both operations and software development. She joined Charter in 2017 and helped lead the implementation of the Spectrum Guide platform throughout the Charter footprint. She expanded her scope of work from Senior Program Manager to Director Program Management, Spectrum Guide to Senior Director Program Management, Video Systems Operations.

Kristi’s sense of accomplishment comes from helping others succeed and continue to grow. As a lifelong learner herself, she has both an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of Wyoming, is PMP certified from the Project Management Institute, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Business Administration. Outside of work, Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband and children.