In this issue: 

• 2023 Leadership Conference Opening Session Announced; It's Not Too Late to Register!
• Registration is Open for Both Programs in the Fall Executive Development Series (EDS) - Seats are Filling Quickly!
• BMLI Alumnae, Join Us for the 2023 Betsy Magness Graduate Institute: Empowering Industry Leaders to Reach New Heights
• Save the Date and Learn More About the 2023 Tech It Out Conference
• Download The WICT Network Member App, Available on All Mobile Devices
• Let's Network! Follow and like us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

The WICT Network is excited to announce that Maria Taylor, Host of Football Night in America, will open the 2023 Leadership Conference in a keynote conversation with Val Boreland, EVP, Content Acquisitions, NBCUniversal Entertainment, with special introduction by Dalila Wilson-Scott, The WICT Network's Woman of the Year - Operator, and EVP & Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation, and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. Read the full press release here.

We are thrilled to once again kick-off Diversity Week with an action-packed Leadership Conference. Preview some of our highlights below or browse the complete agenda to meet the top executives, academics, journalists, entrepreneurs and sports figures we will convene. In addition, be sure to check out our list of things to review before the event, Monday and Tuesday, September 18-19, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Maria Taylor

Host & Producer

NBC Sports

Val Boreland

EVP, Content Acquisitions

NBCUniversal Entertainment

Dalila Wilson-Scott

EVP & Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast Corporation, and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian & Pulitzer Prize-winning author, will help us frame current workplace developments in a historical context during the Touchstones Luncheon.
• Journalist and best-selling author Joanne Lipman will share insights into the power of reinventing ourselves.
• Learn how to bring fun back to the workplace with Catherine Price, author, consultant and award-winning science journalist.
• World-class athletes and sports personalities will share the strategies that deliver peak performance under pressure during Profiles of Champions.
• Pearls of Wisdom, an empowering session of mini-keynotes, returns with a fresh lineup of inspirational voices.
• Leadership Perspectives: Envisioning the Future in a Changing World will feature a panel of top industry executives discussing how we can embrace developments that affect our industry. 

In addition to the exciting features outlined, we are thrilled to offer Executive Roundtable Sessions, which will take place during the conference – and are open to anyone who is registered. View our LinkedIn feed to read the complete list of industry leaders, providing practical guidance to take with you in your career journey. Note that seating for the roundtables is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

In order to make the most of your experience, here are a few things participants should review before the event:

1. Download The WICT Network Member App - Click this link to access. This is how attendees can view the schedule, access online resources and swap business cards with others.
2. Review the agenda on the app or on our website.
3. Bring a notebook - or a device where you can take notes - to capture insights from sessions.
4. Take pictures - and don't forget to share and tag us on social media (@wicthq). We can’t wait to see you in New York!

The Executive Development Series (EDS), our premier professional development opportunity for mid-career professional women in media, entertainment and technology, is a building block for members of The WICT Network. Comprised of two distinct programs, our Executive Leadership Presence (ELP) program (offered twice per year) and our Leading with Power and Authenticity (LWPA) program (offered once per year), offers industry professionals the opportunity to learn, connect and thrive in various sessions with like-minded individuals.

Curious about the two programs in our fall Executive Development Series? Preview the examples below from our past agendas, such as our April 2023 ELP program and our October 2022 LWPA program.

Executive Leadership Presence

• The Three Elements of Personal Power and Executive Presence
• Power Mindset: Managing Verbal and Non-Verbal Elements
• Managing Second Impressions and Beyond
• Presence: Command of Self
• Presence: Confident Casual
• Identifying Your Personal Focus Areas for Finishing Strong

Leading with Power and Authenticity

• Unique Characteristics of Women Leaders
• Creating Your Leadership Vision
• Activating Your Vision: Organizational Power & Interpersonal Power
• The Woman’s Journey: Discovering Our Uniqueness as Women Leaders
• Past to Present: Drawing Our Life Journeys

***

The EDS programs have distinct curriculums designed to complement one another, providing participants with the practical skills and actionable plans they need to ensure success at the director and VP level—all while forming a powerful peer network.

Register now for ELP or LWPA. We look forward to seeing you there!

Reserve your room today, starting at $259/night (plus tax, while supplies last). Rates expire Friday, September 8. Guest rooms and rates are subject to availability.

Visit the Rancho Bernardo Inn website to reserve your room.

Join us for the 2023

Betsy Magness Graduate Institute:

Empowering Industry Leaders

to Reach New Heights

We are thrilled to invite you to the highly-anticipated Betsy Magness Graduate Institute (BMGI) – a program designed to empower industry leaders and Betsy alum, like you, to reach new heights. Our program team designed the content with input from your peers to create an experience that delivers what you enjoyed most about the Betsy experience – networking, self-reflection, diversity of thought and perspective, new learning and personal growth.  

RECEPTION – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Your BMGI experience starts with a tradition we know and love, the opening reception, where you will reconnect with classmates and alumnae while welcoming the newest Betsy class members.

DAY ONE - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16

The Center for Creative Leadership will lead you in an exploration of vertical development, which aims to amplify your thought processes by drawing from the collective wisdom of previous experiences. Evolving as a leader requires a deep understanding of how our past shapes our current behavior and influences future decision-making. By actively participating in this transformative journey, you will refine your capacity for critical and strategic thinking, empowering you to navigate the complexities of today's dynamic workplace with confidence and seize the abundant opportunities that lie ahead.

DAY TWO - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17

Industry experts will cover two distinct areas of leadership and legacy. We will begin the day with a panel session titled A Seat at the Table: Pathways to Board Leadership. This session will be led by subject matter expert Fran Helms, Senior Client Partner and Co-Lead, Media and Entertainment, Korn Ferry. Fran will moderate a session with a panel of glass ceiling shatterers: women who have been placed on one or more publicly traded boards. 

The concluding component of your program features Jeff Benton, CEO and Founder, Paragon Performance Evolution, who will lead The Optimal Performance Workshop: Intelligent Energy Management 2.0. Jeff will share evidence-based tools and techniques rooted in decades of peer-reviewed research in the areas of neuroscience, psychology and physiology. You will learn how to achieve, and sustain, an optimal operational state (coherence) in all aspects of life, paving the way for significant improvements in mental clarity, decision-making, communication and overall performance.

We look forward to reconnecting with you at BMGI 2023!

DATES AND LOCATION

• November 15 - November 17
• Los Angeles, CA

The program will open with a welcome reception at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, November 15, and conclude by 12:30 pm on Friday, November 17.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a graduate of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute

The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills will host the 2023 BMGI program. Room rates start at $229/night (plus tax, while supplies last) and are subject to availability. Visit the Sofitel website to reserve your room by Monday, October 30; enter the code WICT23 in the “Preferential Code” field to obtain our discounted rates.

The WICT Network is proud to partner with The WICT Network: Southeast Chapter to co-host this year’s Tech It Out program on generative AI. Participants will hear from inspiring leaders who play critical roles in shaping the media landscape through cutting edge advancements in technology. Save the date and watch for registration and program announcements coming soon!

Unlock the full potential of The WICT Network with our cutting-edge member app, now available for download on all major mobile operating systems. Created to amplify the strength of our network, the app empowers members spanning the media, entertainment, and technology sectors to foster powerful connections with their peers on a global scale.

The app has several features designed to help you easily form connections, and make the most of your member benefits, including access to our Events & Registration, Webinars, Calendar, Groups and other Resources.

Follow @WICTHQ on social media (we’re active on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) for the latest news on gender diversity in the workplace, leadership development and productivity tips, programming updates, and diversity, equity and inclusion data.

Below are sample posts from LinkedIn. Make sure to follow us online for more valuable tips and updates.