Industry Elites and Screen Royalty Gather to Honor Women’s Achievements and Giving

On Wednesday night, a crowd gathered at the Beverly Hills Hotel for Variety’s Power of Women event, which brought together a full roster of talent and industry executives. The occasion honored female empowerment and philanthropy, uniting leaders across the whole of Hollywood — studios, streaming platforms, finance, and sports alike.

Inside the ballroom and at the cocktail reception outside it, Channing Dungey, chairman at Warner Bros. Television Group, circulated with a host of other executives. Disney, Amazon, Netflix, Paramount and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were all represented among the business guests, joined by a roster of notable stars including Paige DeSorbo, Stassi Schroeder, Karen Pittman and Paula Patton.

The Four Honorees

The evening was held under the hosting of comedian Iliza Shlesinger and honored Jennifer Hudson, Pearlena Igbokwe, Melissa McCarthy and Sharon Stone for their philanthropic work. It also celebrated the several dozen women recognized in Variety’s annual Women’s Impact Report.

The Ballroom Full of Women

The audience showed how far the entertainment business touches people. Warner Bros. sent Dungey and Karen Pittman, the actress and writer whose work spans stage and screen. Disney added Debra OConnell, chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, and Yvett Merino, producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The delegation from Amazon included Kelly Day, who serves as VP and head of international at Amazon Prime Video, along with Sue Kroll, who leads global marketing at Amazon MGM Studios. From Netflix, Pamela Levine, VP of marketing – UCAN at Netflix, and Tracey Pakosta, VP of comedy original series, UCAN/UK at Netflix, were part of the group. Jennifer Dodge, president of Paramount Animation, was also on hand.

Disney Kids & Family’s president Ayo Davis was present, along with Jennifer Davidson, who serves as chief marketing, communications and content officer for both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The representation from major studios included Tahra Grant, chief communications officer at Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Gina Balian, president of FX. Michelle McGuire, chief data and AI officer for Deloitte’s U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Partnership, added a sports angle to the mix.

Ryan Pauley, president of PMX, and Dea Lawrence, who serves as co-president and publisher at Variety, were both present. Yvett Merino, a producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Cathleen Taff, president of entertainment studios and consumer products for Walt Disney Studios, stood in for Disney’s leadership.

Disney Entertainment Television chairman Debra OConnell and Sylvia Dong, Disney Entertainment CFO and Corporate Transformation executive VP, represented Disney. Alex Stapleton, director and founder of House of NonFiction, added a creative voice from outside traditional media.

Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna

Several writers whose work defines modern television attended the event. Aline Brosh McKenna, the screenwriter behind “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” was among them. Her credits span comedy and drama, and her presence added literary weight to a gathering otherwise dominated by executives.

The work of Brosh McKenna has long been a mainstay of the industry, and her presence at the Beverly Hills Hotel made clear that the night was about more than just power — it was also about the stories that power creates.

The Stars of the Evening

A number of celebrities with accomplishments outside acting were honored at the gathering. Among those recognized were Elaine Frontain Bryant, who serves as VP of non fiction and alternative programming at A&E Television Networks, and Paula Patton, an actress and producer. Emily Longeretta, Variety’s director of features, and CNN entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister reported on the occasion.

Paige DeSorbo and Stassi Schroeder, television personalities, podcasters and influencers, were also in attendance. Selma Blair and Waymo’s Suzanne Philion, with Blair’s dog Scout, added a celebrity touch to the evening. Martha Morrison, marketing chief at Disney Entertainment Studios, and Cathleen Taff, president of entertainment studios and consumer products at Walt Disney Studios, represented Disney’s corporate leadership.

The Beverly Hills Setting

This gathering at the Beverly Hills Hotel was not your typical industry event. It was packed with executives from every major studio and streamer, joined by a select group of actors, writers and influencers, all gathered during the cocktail hour and the ballroom reception.

The atmosphere transformed the gathering. A hotel used to hosting many industry events had something distinct about it this time. The combination of power — studio chiefs, platform leaders, network presidents — alongside stardom — Hudson, McCarthy, Stone — produced a chemistry that few other gatherings can match.

A Night of Connections

This kind of assembly brings together executives from competing firms, putting them face to face so they can exchange ideas on the challenges they all share and the prospects they hold in common. The worth of such an occasion rests precisely in that connection.

The women honored in Variety’s Women’s Impact Report were given visibility at the event. Being named in the report is one matter, while being seen is quite another. The occasion attached faces to the names found within its pages.

The Women’s Impact Report

The evening was tied to Variety’s annual Women’s Impact Report, which recognizes several dozen women across the industry. The report’s inclusion at the event gave the evening a concrete anchor beyond the usual glad-handing.

The report’s continued publication signals there is still distance to cover. The women honored represent progress, but the report’s existence suggests the work is not finished.

Source material: “Variety Power of Women: Industry Leaders Mingle With Stars to Celebrate Female Empowerment and Philanthropy,” Variety.

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