The WICT Network Announces Betsy Magness Leadership Institute Classes 50 & 51

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2024

CONTACT:
Amanda Sawney
asawney@wict.org

The WICT Network Announces Betsy Magness Leadership Institute Classes 50 & 51

Washington, DC – The WICT Network is pleased to announce the members of Classes 50 and 51 of the 2024-2025 Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI). Renowned as the premier leadership development program for women in senior roles within media, entertainment and technology, BMLI has been shaping industry leaders since 1994, with over 1,200 top executives having completed the program.

The 2024-2025 BMLI Classes will experience a transformational leadership journey that includes six training sessions over the course of nine months. They will start their year with a week of training at The Center for Creative Leadership’s global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, and will conclude their year in May 2025.

The WICT Network gratefully acknowledges Charter Communications as the premier sponsor and Comcast NBCUniversal as the supporting sponsor of the upcoming classes. 

Members of Class 50 of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute are:  

  • Aimee Akhlaghi, Global Sales Leader, Amazon Web Services
  • Susan Anable, VP, Phoenix Market, Cox Communications
  • Rebecca Black, VP, Business Affairs, Platform Distribution, The Walt Disney Company 
  • Valerie Brown, Regional Sr. Director, Plant Maintenance, Charter Communications
  • Trista Caldwell, VP, Strategic Planning, Comcast
  • Liz Carrasco, SVP, Engineering, Paramount Streaming, Paramount Global
  • Caitlin Crawford, VP, Marketing, U.S. Networks Distribution, Paramount Global
  • Chelsea DeGiacomo, VP, Programming Finance, AMC Networks
  • Denice DiCarlo, VP, Finance & Accounting, Comcast
  • Kristi Flood, VP, Finance, Comcast
  • Carmela Fournier, VP & General Manager, Data, Comcast Advertising
  • Kathleen Griffin, GVP, Marketing Communications, Spectrum
  • Kate Jackson, VP, Production, ESPN
  • Krista Kauffman, VP, Accounting, Cable One
  • Julia Lucas, VP, Content Services & Production Management, UP Entertainment
  • Alexandra MacDowell, SVP, Production Management, A+E Networks
  • Heather Manning, VP, Business Operations, Residential Marketing & Sales, Cox Communications
  • Tamika McClung, VP, Credit Services & Fraud Operations, Charter Communications
  • Grace McLean, SVP, Measurement Operations, Paramount Global
  • Alicia Niedzielski, VP, Channel Marketing, Comcast Business
  • Marietta Obfenda, Executive Director, Finance & Accounting, Comcast
  • Amy Oliver, VP, Operation Solutions, Comcast
  • Dana Ortiz, VP, Platform Marketing & Emerging Brands, A+E Networks
  • Kianta Prince-Bryant, VP, Project Planning & Implementation, Comcast
  • Rose Roth, VP, Service Delivery, Project & Program Management, Comcast 
  • Ingrid Simunic, Ph.D., VP, Transformation Management Office, Spectrum Reach
  • Lori Spencer, Chief People Officer, CableLabs
  • Nicole Tragesser, Global VP, Human Resources, Freewheel, a Comcast Company
  • Rebecca Tyrrell, VP, Engineering & Technology, Comcast
  • Shabana Walker, VP, Customer Experience, Comcast

Members of Class 51 of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute are:  

  • Yasmine Abdillahi, Executive Director, Security Risk & Compliance, and BISO, Comcast
  • Sissy Abraham, VP, Technology Experience & Services, Effectv
  • Karen Babcock, VP, Strategy & Partnerships, Comcast Advertising
  • Renee Balducci, VP, HR, Paramount Advertising, Paramount Global 
  • Mary Kate Callen, VP, Marketing & Cultural Intelligence, Paramount Global
  • Brenda Dodson, VP, Strategic HR Solutions, Cox Communications
  • Kristie Fox, VP, Public Relations & Employee Communications, Comcast
  • Heather Frugoli, VP, Integrated Communications, Comcast Advertising
  • Justine Gaeta, VP, Finance, FreeWheel, a Comcast Company
  • Amanda Gagliardi, VP, Digital Self-Service, Charter Communications
  • Amanda Gifford Lockwood, VP, Production, ESPN
  • Adayna Gonzalez, VP, App Strategy & Engagement, Comcast
  • Catie Haelig, Global Design Director, Comcast
  • Tina Hamilton, VP, Content Sales & Broadcast Syndication, The Walt Disney Company
  • Dayana Hoffman, VP, Advanced Advertising Sales, AMC Networks
  • Katie Horne, AVP, Cybersecurity, Cox Communications 
  • Brooke Johnson, VP, Platform Distribution Sales, The Walt Disney Company
  • Pooja Kapadia, VP, Customer Growth & Loyalty, Xfinity, Comcast 
  • Madelyn Marino, GVP, Human Resources, Customer Operations, Charter Communications
  • Jennifer Miles, Sr. Director, Multiplatform Partnerships, The Walt Disney Company 
  • Amanda O’Brien, Executive Director, Global Device Experience, Comcast 
  • Suzy Oh, Sr. Director, Systems Integration, Charter Communications 
  • Shaina Panos, VP, Business Development & Partnerships, Peacock, NBCUniversal
  • Yana Podroubaeva, Sr. Sales Account Leader, Amazon Web Services
  • Lauren Reynolds, VP, Executive Editor, Universal Coverage Group & Content Strategy, ESPN
  • Erin Rich, Sr. Director, Industry Trade Partnerships & Programming, Paramount Global
  • Kelli Riggs, VP, Marketing, Northeast Division, Comcast
  • Jenn Sullivan Hanks, Executive Director, Customer Experience Strategy, Innovation & Optimization, Comcast 
  • Fang Xu, VP, Talent Acquisition & Diversity, A+E Networks
  • Virginia Zigras, VP, Legislative Affairs, Charter Communications

Bios and photos for each participant may be found here: Class 50 and Class 51.  

The Institute’s Founding  

Established by The WICT Network in 1994 with a generous grant from TCI’s Bob Magness and J.C. Sparkman, the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute is named in honor of one of the industry’s most charismatic leaders, a cable pioneer who combined business acumen with compassion. Betsy Magness was instrumental in transforming TCI, later AT&T Broadband and Internet Services, and now Comcast, into one of the nation’s most prominent and influential cable and telecommunication companies. Through The WICT Network’s access to the nation’s top ranking learning institutes, BMLI provides a powerful, year-long program consisting of five tailored sessions focusing on distinct leadership competencies.

About The WICT Network – Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment & Technology

The WICT Network is a global organization whose mission is to create women leaders who transform our industry. We do this by providing unparalleled professional development programs, commissioning original gender research, and supporting a B2B network that helps advance women. For more than 40 years, The WICT Network has partnered with media, entertainment and technology companies to help build a more robust pipeline of women leaders. Founded in 1979, and now nearly 10,000 members with 24 chapters globally, The WICT Network is the largest and oldest professional association serving women in media. Charter CommunicationsComcast NBCUniversalThe Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery are The WICT Network’s Strategic Touchstone Partners. Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICTHQ on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X for more information.

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