Meet the 2025 International RLP Participants

Zaynab Beekawa is a Programme Manager at BritBox International, where she leads large-scale, complex initiatives that turn the BritBox’s strategic priorities into tangible results. Collaborating with cross-functional teams across product and technology, programming, commercial, and creative, she is recognised for creating clarity, building momentum, and guiding programmes from initial scoping through to successful delivery and implementation. Her structured, solutions-focused approach enables her to navigate ambiguity and drive meaningful organisational outcomes.

Zaynab began her career as a Secondary School Teacher with Teach First, an experience that shaped her strengths in communication, empathy, and resilience. Teaching instilled in her a deep appreciation for bringing people on the journey —values that continue to influence her work today. After transitioning from education, she moved into Consulting for a few years. Working with clients across multiple sectors has allowed her to experience a broad range of organisational challenges and understand their impact to data, people, process.

She has since delivered a significant portfolio of projects, from embedding organisational values to go-to-market plans, consistently championing collaboration and a people-centred approach.

Throughout her career, Zaynab has focused on building environments where people can work confidently, openly, and effectively. She believes that clear communication, fairness, and trust are the foundations of strong teams, and she works to ensure that these principles guide how she leads and delivers change.

Katarina grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, where she began her journey in technology by studying signal processing. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Multimedia Networking in Paris, France, before moving to England to pursue her career in the video technology industry.

She started as a software developer at Hawk-Eye Innovations, part of Sony Sports, focusing on video processing in sports applications. She then joined V-Nova as a Research and Development Engineer, contributing to cutting-edge video standards and compression technologies.

With over seven years of experience in high-end video engineering, Katarina now works as a Senior Picture Quality Engineer at Sky UK. Her role centers on optimizing picture quality and tuning display modes for devices developed by Sky and Comcast. She is particularly passionate about video quality, compression, and processing, and works primarily in C++ and Python.

Outside of work, Katarina enjoys taking salsa lessons and is currently studying Spanish.

Emma Godden is an experienced business development and project management professional with more than a decade of experience driving strategic transformation and digital innovation across the media, consulting, and education industries.

Currently serving as Senior Business Development Manager at BritBox, Emma leads initiatives that expand market reach and commercial partnerships for the rapidly growing streaming platform. She brings a strong background in programme delivery and stakeholder engagement, having previously worked as Senior Project Manager at BritBox, where she oversaw major technology and partnership initiatives supporting the service’s international growth.

Before joining BritBox, Emma was a Technology Delivery Lead and Associate Manager at Accenture, guiding complex delivery programmes that bridged business strategy and technical execution for clients in the public sectors. Her leadership focused on delivering scalable digital transformation and enhancing operational efficiency.

Emma’s earlier career was spent at Teach First, where over nearly seven years she held several project management roles, including leading digital transformation, recruitment strategy, and technology modernisation. Her work helped streamline national education programmes and improve digital engagement with teachers and partners across the UK.

With a proven record of leading multidisciplinary teams through periods of change, Emma combines strategic vision with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach. She is passionate about leveraging technology and collaboration to create meaningful impact—whether in education, consulting, or media innovation.

I was born in Madrid the same year the city hosted the World Cup, 1982, and although I once imagined living elsewhere, Madrid has always offered everything I needed, becoming the place, I proudly call home.

I pursued an Artistic Bachelor’s at Ramiro de Maeztu, one of Madrid’s top public institutions. Those two years were particularly meaningful, filled with creativity, learning, and artistic exploration. I graduated with Highest Honors and achieved top marks on the Spanish University Entrance Exams.

I continued my academic path at Complutense University, studying Advertising and Public Relations. During the final years of my degree, I completed several internships in PR and marketing agencies, eventually joining RICOH’s Marketing department, where I gained valuable commercial and negotiation experience.

A year later, I joined AMC Networks in the marketing department. After two years, I was promoted to Web Product Manager in the newly created New Media team, a role I held for eight years. It allowed me to innovate, think creatively, and build digital products from scratch. I was later promoted to Marketing Manager for Portugal, a role that strengthened my leadership and gave me a comprehensive 360° perspective of the market.

Today, as Senior Marketing Manager for Spain and Portugal, I lead a 12-person team covering all marketing and digital operations, working closely with PR, Creative, Programming, Legal, and Finance departments.

I’m an innovation leader, with 20 years of experience delivering product innovation and digital transformation. I enjoy solving operational problems whilst keeping a strategic perspective to ensure that long term goals are achieved. I have a strong foundation in AI technologies and agile practices. I’m currently focusing on the automation of customer support for Virgin Media O2 through the use of chatbots and AI technologies. I focus on value creation through the harmonization of tech development, people management, and process improvement. I’m a certified agile coach and ILM 5 mentor.

I’m Lucy Lisamore, Head of Production at AMC Networks International UK. I joined the company in 2008 as a Presentation Scheduler and have since grown into a leadership role that bridges creative ambition with operational precision.

Over the years, I’ve worked across a diverse portfolio of channels, including entertainment, lifestyle and factual programming. My current role centres on designing workflows and solutions that take creative projects from ideation through to delivery. I operate at the intersection of creative services and operational functions, managing multiple resources and encouraging collaboration across teams. I apply critical thinking to streamline processes and ensure we consistently deliver high quality results.

My leadership style is open and hands on. I lead by example, offering guidance and support while empowering my team to problem solve independently. I believe in fostering a culture of trust, adaptability and continuous learning.

I studied Psychology, Criminology and Criminal Justice at university, a background that’s proved unexpectedly useful while working on our True Crime Channel.

Outside of work, I’m a passionate knitter, baker and bookworm. These hobbies keep me grounded and enhance my patience, creativity and attention to detail, qualities I bring into my professional life every day.

Laura MacFarlane is Director Financial, Planning & Analysis for Liberty Global. She is responsible for leading the financial strategy, forecasting, and performance management process for Liberty’s Corporate, Services & Growth businesses. She joined the company in 2016, and prior to this role worked in various Finance roles across Europe in the Liberty Group, including four years in the UK in Virgin Media O2.

Originally from the Cotswolds, she holds a degree in Economics, Politics and International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London. Outside of the office, Laura enjoys playing various racket sports, and spends most of her time with her young son, who keeps life fun & very busy!

I was born in southern Spain and grew up with a public education. At 18, a serious car accident left me on crutches for months, but I refused to let it stop me. I started a degree in Physics, went to Germany to finish it, and graduated top of my class. Back in Spain, I completed a Master’s in Nanotechnology—again ranking first—and began a PhD in the same field. Financial responsibilities and a growing family led me to leave academia and work to support my loved ones.

After a period of translating for British expats, I relocated my family 650 km to join a solar company developing high-concentration solar cells. When the company went bankrupt, I transitioned to automotive optics, designing lighting systems for four years. Seeking better opportunities, I moved my family to the UK with nothing but backpacks—a decision that changed everything.

I first worked on tracks and trailers lighting before joining Sky as an Optical Engineer. There, I built a lab and testing facilities from scratch, formed an optical team, and delivered Sky’s first-ever camera device. When the project ended, I was promoted while welcoming my fourth child. Today, as Principal Optical Scientist, I lead the Optical Department, providing expertise across multiple teams and developing optical skills within the organization.

My journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and a passion for innovation—qualities that continue to drive me forward.

Anastasija Remović is a Global Talent Acquisition Leader specializing in strategic HR innovation, change management, and data-driven talent solutions. Based in Amsterdam, she brings extensive international experience across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Currently serving as Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at Liberty Global since January 2025, Anastasija leads end-to-end recruitment strategies for technology, strategy, legal, and commercial operations. Previously, at Scandinavian Tobacco Group, she revolutionized the TA function by implementing an RPO model, pioneering data quality analytics, and championing Diversity & Inclusion initiatives.

Her career spans diverse industries and roles, from tech talent acquisition at Mindvalley and Gorillas to enhancing her career in recruitment and employee experience initiatives at Hyperoptic Ltd. in London. Earlier experience at Air Serbia and Transcom in Belgrade provided foundational expertise in employee engagement, operations, and recruitment.

Academically accomplished, Anastasija is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Belgrade. She holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Management from Beogradska bankarska akademija and a Bachelor’s degree in Banking, Insurance and Finance. Her certifications include credentials from the London School of Public Relations, PROSCI Change Management Practitioner, HR Business Partnering, and Talent Optimization.

Her international journey from Belgrade to London and now Amsterdam has shaped her passion for organizational culture, behavioral dynamics, leadership, mentorship, and Diversity & Inclusion. Anastasija is dedicated to leveraging AI and HR technology to transform how organizations attract, hire, and retain top talent globally.

Dení is a Delivery Manager at Sky with 18 years of experience leading technology teams and bringing innovative products to life. With a strong track record in Delivery, she excels at uniting teams, driving clarity, and moving ideas from concept to reality. Known for her enthusiasm and pragmatic approach, she thrives on improving products, enhancing customer experiences, and solving complex problems to make meaningful outcomes happen.

Originally from Mexico, she’s also spent time living in Italy before settling in the UK. Outside of work, you’ll usually find her baking something sweet, getting stuck into a good book, or chatting with friends at her local book club. She lives in London with her two young kids and their dog.

Katalin Szabó-Hegyi is an experienced marketing leader with a strong background in brand strategy, communications, and business development. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Pécs, which laid the foundation for her data-driven yet creative approach to leadership.

Currently serving as Head of Marketing at AMC Networks International, Katalin oversees marketing operations across Poland, Romania, and Hungary. Her role spans from managing small-scale social media activations to delivering fully integrated 360° campaigns for AMC’s linear TV brands and SELEKT streaming service. She is passionate about aligning brand strategy with business objectives and driving measurable results in diverse and competitive markets.

With extensive experience in strategic campaign development and cross-market execution throughout Central and Northern Europe, Katalin has a proven ability to scale marketing initiatives in dynamic environments. She leads a core team of three direct reports and coordinates a broader network of internal colleagues, freelancers, and external agencies, ensuring seamless collaboration and impactful outcomes.

Katalin is committed to fostering innovation, engagement, and inclusive leadership. Her approach combines analytical precision with creativity, empowering teams to deliver campaigns that resonate with audiences and strengthen brand presence. She strives to inspire others through collaboration and continuous growth.

Alexandra is a material scientist and R&D manager currently working at Sky, contributing to the company’s longer-term roadmap. She brings in 5 years of academic research experience focused on materials for solar energy and 7 years of industrial R&D experience in the biotechnology and consumer electronics sectors, focused on thin layers for multiple applications. Her innovation output is demonstrated by 10 publications and 12 patent applications.

As a technical leader, she has led global project teams to deliver innovation enabling new product features, managed projects with over $300k / year budget from conception to delivery, initiated and managed multiple internal and external collaborations and stakeholders simultaneously. As a people manager, she has hired, onboarded, coached and promoted future generations of scientists on their journey to mature from recent graduates into innovation leads.

On the strategic side, she has been contributing to and influencing innovation roadmaps on the 3–10-year timescale at two companies, influencing longer term decisions on future product features and R&D directions.

Thriving in interdisciplinary settings, she is keen on further developing her leadership skills to increase her company- and industry-wide influence and impact.

I’m a passionate hardware design engineer, with just over six years of experience in the industry now. I’ve always been an electronics hobbyist, and have a creative streak that complements my technical side well. Throughout my degree in Electronic Engineering, I balanced theoretical study with the hand-on design work to create innovative projects, which lead me to explore a wide range of topics.

In my current role, I’m fortunate to work in an environment that constantly challenges and develops my problem-solving and critical-analysis skills. I’m driven by efficiency – whether in time, design, or resources – and take pride in delivering work that is thoughtful, robust, and well-crafted.

I would describe myself as an aspiring leader – although I’m still relatively early in my career and I don’t expect myself to know everything yet, I’m committed to continual self-development. I hope to learn more about myself and lean into my own leadership style as I progress, and I’m excited to pursue new opportunities to put these ideals into practice.

I thoroughly enjoy working with and mentoring the newer members of my team at work; providing guidance, and helping them develop their own confidence and capability. I hope this course will help me to identify areas for improvement, so I can continue progressing in this regard.

Andrea Whyte is a content acquisitions specialist based in London, where she currently works as Senior Commercial Manager, Content Acquisitions at Virgin Media O2. In this role, she leads deal negotiations with major content providers including UKTV, Warner Brothers, Hearst Networks, Disney, and MUBI for linear channels, FAST, VOD, and apps for Virgin’s TV platform. She also sits on the Leadership Team of the Virgin Media O2 Women’s Network.

Previously, she was Director of Acquisitions and Commercial Content Strategy at Spafax, a content services agency that provides inflight entertainment for international airlines. In this role she led commercial strategy for film acquisitions, negotiated multi-territory output deals, and oversaw international film acquisition and programming teams. Prior to moving to London from Toronto, she programmed and licenced Air Canada’s inflight entertainment and ran the Air Canada enRoute Film Festival, a film festival for emerging Canadian filmmakers. She started her career in the programming team at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Andrea has presented on content strategy and film distribution at global events including SXSW, the Airline Passenger Experience Expo, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. She currently sits on the nomination committee for the British Independent Film Awards, on the international jury for the Banff Media Festival Rockie Awards, and is a voting member of the Film Independent Spirit Awards.