Spotlighting the Leaders Shaping the Future of Media, Entertainment and Advertising
The 2026 Cynopsis Top Women in Media Awards honors an extraordinary class of executives, innovators and trailblazers driving the future of media, entertainment and advertising.
Representing organizations including FOX Sports, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, Warner Bros. Discovery, Roku, The Trade Desk, Audacy, National Geographic, WPP Media, CBS Television Stations, Horizon Media and many more, this year’s honorees are advancing the industry through bold leadership, breakthrough thinking and meaningful impact.
Join us on November 4 in New York City as we celebrate the 2026 honorees at the Cynopsis Top Women in Media Awards Gala, where they’ll be recognized alongside the most influential women in media, entertainment and advertising today.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Honors a woman whose leadership has set the standard for excellence in the industry.
Anna Bager
CEO & PresidentOut of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA)Honorees
Ad Sales Superstars
Honoring individuals whose contributions consistently exceed business goals.
Lauren Albin
VP Sales, Central RegionLocalityAmanda Barroca
Director, Integrated MarketingAMC Global MediaEmilee Cavis
Vice President, Sports Brand Partnerships, FOX SportsFox CorporationJoelle Fleming
SVP Pricing & Inventory BET NetworksBET NetworksJessi Fulkerson
SENIOR DIRECTOR, CLIENT SERVICESTEGNAAllison Gries
Account ExecutiveAMC Global MediaMandie Kijinski
Vice President, National Agency SalesExperianJordana Montague
Director of Sales, East CoastViamediaAmanda Salazar
Sr. Manager, Content IntegrationsFOX SportsAisha Shaw
SVP, Direct Response and Advanced TV, Advertising Sales and MarketingTV One NetworksCierra Simpson
Director of SalesThe VolumeJulia VanTuyl
SVP, Ad Sales and MarketingTV One NetworksAndi Wilson
SVP, AgencyDatonicsFallon Zatorski
Sr. Director, SalesLG Ad SolutionsAd Tech Innovators
Honoring innovators on the leading edge of creating software and tools to help agencies, brands and programmers target, deliver, and analyze digital advertising.
Taylor Ash
Vice President of Inventory PartnershipsThe Trade DeskMelissa Burdick
President & Co-founderPacvueJenny Chau
Chief Solutions OfficerChannel FactoryCarly Crittenden
Chief Revenue OfficerVidmobLara Koenig
VP, Global Strategy & PartnershipsMiQAmy Leifer
Chief Advertising Sales OfficerDIRECTVSarah Martinez
Chief Commercial OfficerTracerJennifer Newman
Director of Product ManagementCognitivChesney Payne
Vice President of Linear OperationsViamedia.aiMarie-Lou Penin
CMODanAdsRose Schneider
Sr. Director of Technical OperationsShowSeekerMaria Tullin
SVP Managing Director, Performance AudioHorizon MediaMelinda Han Williams
Chief Data ScientistDstilleryCorporate Visionaries
This category honors senior leaders whose strategic decisions have shaped the direction of their organizations, and the industry at large. They combine their wealth of business experience with foresight to steer their organizations into the future.
Alia J. Daniels
Co-Founder & COORevryDolores Fernandez Alonso
President & CEOSouth Florida PBSMelanie Fletcher
Partner + CEO of North AmericaDone+DustedKaren Greenfield
SVP, Inclusive Content & Factual ResearchNational GeographicVeronica Hart
Chief Growth OfficerRWS GlobalLisa Holme
Head of ContentRokuOksana Korsakova
COOJamloopAgnieszka Kwiecien-Janiec
Senior Vice President of StreamingNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesLeila Hormozi
Co-Founder and Executive ChairwomanAcquisition.comJennifer Mitchell
President of CBS Television StationsCBS Television StationsBlair Murav
Vice President, Human ResourcesFOX SportsReta Peery
President and COOUP EntertainmentMichelle Rice
President, TV One and CLEO TVTV One NetworksLauren Russo
EVP Managing Partner, Innovation & Performance AudioHorizon MediaDeal-Making Directors
Those in the prime of their careers whose stellar commitment to organizational goals results in outstanding oversight and execution of business objectives. From external deals to internal projects, they consistently drive results and exceed business goals.
Montana Accavallo
Senior Vice President of Programmatic and Client StrategyScreenverseStef Arteaga
Director, Streaming Platform Sales & DistributionAMC Global MediaKathy Argyriou
Head of Activation, DSP & Integrated DemandFreeWheelRegina Breslin
Vice President, Global Content DistributionRokuMeghan de Andrade
Sr. Director, On-Air PromotionFOX SportsDeAnna Fraietta
Director, Agency & Client PartnershipsAMC Global MediaPrentiss Fraser
President FOX Entertainment GlobalFox EntertainmentDiane Hanley
Group Director, DR/Performance MediaActive InternationalMadeline Kissel
VP Business DevelopmentViamediaDonna Lyons
VP, InvestmentsXACTVKarol Ottley
Director of SalesRembrandKirsten Santiago
VP of Business DevelopmentOmaha ProductionsEden Wilbur
Product Marketing DirectorExperianRobin Wong
VP, Sales- West & Data Monetization StreamingLocalityGame Changing On-Air Talent
Honoring personalities who entertain, inform, and inspire their audience.
Carmen Boquín
Sports HostNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesIsabella Echeverri
Sports ReporterNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesRebecca Lowe
Host, FIFA World Cup 2026, FOX Sports; Host, Premier League, NBC SportsFOX Sports & NBC SportsAdriana Monsalve
Sports AnchorNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesVeronica Rodriguez
Sports AnchorNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesCarlota Vizmanos
Sports HostNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesIndustry Catalysts
Honors top leaders in media whose courageous leadership has guided their organizations through periods of significant transformation — whether navigating industry disruption, cultural shifts, or organizational reinvention.
Rachael Donnelly
CMOExperianMaureen Francisco
Executive ProducerNW Productions LLCGina Patel
Senior Vice President and Managing Director of LIVE·TEAM North AmericaTHE·TEAMNicolina O'Rorke
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial OfficerPlayfly SportsIndustry Leaders
Those who aren't afraid to take decisive action, break down barriers, invent new solutions, and apply unusual and creative thinking to resolve complex issues. This category honors women with job levels Senior Director and above (or company equivalent).
Betsy Ayala
President, Food NetworkWarner Bros. DiscoveryBess Barnes
Vice President, ProgrammingCBS SportsJudy Boyd
Executive Vice President, FOX Sports ProductionsFOX SportsLauren Boyer
CEOUnderscore MarketingKathi Chandler-Payatt
Head of Acquisitions, LG ChannelsLGJacqueline Corbeli
Founder and CEOBrightLineJoanna Drews
Cofounder + CEOHyphaMetricsSophie Goldschmidt
President & CEOU.S. Ski & SnowboardAdrienne Hall
Executive Producer & Co-FounderSound Off FilmsJanet Han Vissering
Senior Vice President, Program Development and Production at Nat Geo WildNational GeographicSarah Harms
Vice President, Advertising Marketing and MeasurementRokuSusan Henry
VP, Original Programming and ProductionTV One NetworksKristen Hilbert
VP, Distribution & Business DevelopmentAMC Global MediaKaty Katy Keohane
Associate General CounselSafeGuard PrivacyCathy Lewis
VP, Partner Growth & ManagementAMC Global MediaMicki Love
CEO & Presidentcj AdvertisingRichelle Markazene
Head of AudioOmaha ProductionsChristina Mizzi
VP, Operations & Production at All The Smoke ProductionsAll the Smoke ProductionsKaty Mullan
Partner + Award-winning Executive ProducerDone+DustedAllison Page
President of Magnolia NetworkWarner Bros. DiscoveryElizabeth Parks
President and CMOParks AssociatesIoanna Protogiannis
Senior Director of Measurement & Reporting SolutionsLG Ad SolutionsRoma Roth
Founder, Executive ProducerReel World ManagementJennifer Shapiro
SVP, Partnership Development, StreamingLocalityAngela Steele
Chief Client Officer, WPP Media U.S.WPP MediaGermaine Sweet
Head of Content Acquisitions and SalesPBS DistributionJulie Taylor
Chief of Content Strategy & Insights, US NetworksWarner Bros. DiscoveryNerissa Valdellon
SVP Media SolutionsChannel FactoryEve Wulf
Producer, Current SeriesOmaha ProductionsKelly Martin Walsh
Head of Talent, General ManagerThe VolumeYing Wang
General ManagerXumo/Comcast AdvertisingMarketing Trailblazers
Those who aren't afraid to take decisive action, break down barriers, invent new solutions, and apply unusual and creative thinking to shape how media brands show up in the world. They oversee the crafting of narratives, finessing creative, and optimizing performance to build lasting audience loyalty, cultural relevance and ultimately winning new customers. This category honors women with job levels Senior Director and above (or company equivalent).
Chelsea Amaro
Senior Product ManagerNBCUniversalCharnelle Anderson
Senior VP Marketing, Marketing & Creative ServicesTV One NetworksKaren Bronzo
Chief Global Marketing Officer, US NetworksWarner Bros. DiscoveryKathryn Bullough
Chief Marketing OfficerPicklrClaudia Chagui
EVP, Marketing & CreativeNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesAlena DeSalvo
SVP, Head of MarketingSightlyNadia Gonzalez
CEOENCsquaredAbbey Greendyke
Director of Media + InsightsHelen + GertrudeJulie Haaland
VP Creative Director of CBS News MarketingParamountCristina Hoffman
VP, CBS Sports MarketingCBS SportsValerie Jennings
CEOJennings Social Media & MarTechBecky Jones
Chief Marketing & People OfficerViamedia.aiSarah O'Dwyer
VP, Marketing StrategyAMC Global MediaDelila Penson
Senior Director, RevenueThe VolumeMarissa Maguire Quaglia
Senior Director of MarketingExperianTamara Ratliff
Vice President, Monumental Sports NetworkMonumental Sports & EntertainmentShannon Stilson
VP Of Sports Marketing & MediaUSPA GlobalMedia Executives of the Year
Recognizes senior leaders whose strategic vision, bold decision-making, and transformative influence have driven measurable impact across their organization and the broader media landscape.
Alessandra Catanese
CEOSmoshHayley Gilbert
Director of Digital Strategyinitiate-itJess Haley
Managing Director, EMEA & APACKeplerRachel Jacobson
CEOReachTVNicole Luber
Vice President of Revenue MarketingTNT Sports, Warner Bros. DiscoveryTina Perry
President, OWN: Oprah Winfrey NetworkOWNJen Simons
Chief Content OfficerInitial DigitalRachel Stockman
PresidentLaw&CrimeMaggie Summers
Chief Experience Officerdentsu XNew Media Groundbreakers
Honoring those who push the industry forward by experimenting with new forms of content creation and distribution. Through innovation how they produce content and where they distribute and promote that contnet, they generate excitement, boost engagement and challenge the status quo.
Aiman Ahmed
Vice President, Social MediaNational GeographicVeronica Bornacelli
Director, Streaming ProductionsNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesMichelle DeVylder
Senior Manager, LG Channels, Programming and Promotion StrategyLGAudrey Martin
Senior Coordinating ProducerBleacher Report, TNT SportsMichelle Martinelli
Deputy Editor, Soccer & College SportsFOX SportsNeta Reich
Head of Creative StrategyOverwolfBrynn Whitaker
VP, Head of Audience GrowthInitial DigitalDzifa Yador
Head of DigitalHOORAE MediaNora Zimmett
President, News and Original Series, Weather GroupThe Weather ChannelOperations Front Runners
Honoring those who regularly search for and integrate operations breakthroughs to advance their businesses
Dana Collins
Senior Manager Sales ProgrammingBleacher Report, TNT SportsEllen Farmer
Chief Operating Officer, Executive in Charge1895 FilmsRita Franklin
SVP, Production - Creative ServiesFOX SportsValarie Kerekes
VP, Client Success, StreamingLocalityKristen McDonnell
Chief Operating OfficerViamedia.aiHannah Melton
Manager, Revenue Operations & MonetizationTEGNAVictoria Pisarri
VP of Client OperationsBrightLineDevon Romo
Business Operations ManagerATTN: Inc.Erin Schechter
Manager, Studio OperationsFOX SportsTracy Schoenadel
COOVisionAlexis Sweeting
Director, Sports OperationsNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesElizabeth Wright
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Direct-to-Consumer SegmentParamountProduction Pacesetters
Spotlighting professionals who seek out new techniques and tools to create better, more modern products, from programming to back-end solutions.
Elizabeth Deichl
Creative DirectorAMC Global MediaNatasha Desai
Vice President of Product ManagementKargoAnne Marie Huntington
ProducerMonumental Sports & Entertainment, Monumental Sports NetworkJulie Keryc
Senior Director and Coordinating ProducerCBS SportsDaniela Jeffries
Senior Vice President, Programming & SchedulingFOX SportsAnn Lutzenkirchen
Live Studio ProducerTNT SportsMarissa McBride
Head of Production + Executive ProducerInitial GroupSari Skier
Head of Production OperationsOmaha ProductionsAbby Stolz
Senior ProducerBleacher Report, TNT SportsMichelle “Meesh” Upton
Senior Vice President, Production ManagementNational GeographicSonja Wajih
Stunt Performer & Stunt CoordinatorWajih Action Inc.Public Relations Gurus
Honoring professionals who are masters of the message — building and protecting brand narratives through traditional and earned media, press strategy, and communications that cut through the noise and keep clients in the spotlight. They design and execute campaigns that don't just generate buzz but move the needle on revenue, audience growth and bottom-line results.
Casey Blossom
Vice President, Brand & MarketingNew England Sports NetworkClaudia Franklin
Senior Vice President, Publicity & CommunicationsNBCUniversal Telemundo EnterprisesJean Guerin
Head of Publicity, Corporate Communications & Talent RelationsFox EntertainmentJennifer Inglesino
Director, Media RelationsFOX SportsMarisol Smith
VP, Public RelationsAMC Global MediaRising Stars
Spotlighting the assistants, coordinators, and newly minted managers and directors as they work toward becoming top leaders in the industry. Their fresh perspectives and innovative thinking propels them towards excellence.
Brianna Biancardi
Sr. DirectorCBS SportsMadison Burgess
Manager, Marketing StrategyAMC Global MediaNadia Kim
Sr. Manager, Brand Marketing & StrategyFOX SportsSophia Larizza
Media AssistantInvolved MediaPolly Marino
Producer, Digital MediaFOX SportsIleana Miscia
Senior Manager, Brand & Content MarketingViamedia.aiJenny Moreno
Production Coordinator (Production Department)ATTNMorgan Newman
Digital Product, SEO & Growth MarketingINSP & Western Bound NetworkKathryn Ory
Director, Digital Media Revenue OpsPGA of AmericaJennifer Paulett
Director, Corporate CitizenshipESPNSofia Perri
Manager, US Rights SalesTHE·TEAMMeghan Rock
Project ManagerFOX SportsAmerica Segura
Manager, Partner ManagementAMC Global MediaKatie Settos
Senior Client Success ManagerCognitivTracey Lynn Snyder
Senior Manager Talent RelationsTNT SportsLauren Spheeris
ANALYSTTKOSukhleen Suri
Media DirectorRPASydney Tullai
Associate ProducerFOX SportsChelsea Waddell
Sr. Coordinator, Social Media Content StrategyINSP & Western Bound NetworkJasmine Walden
Senior Manager, Social and Digital MarketingTV OneLauren Walsh
Publicity CoordinatorAMC Global MediaAwards Gala
When
The Top Women in Media Awards
6:00 - 9:00pm (ET)
Where
The Lighthouse
Pier 61 Chelsea Piers
New York, NY 10011
This sophisticated event venue is located within New York’s iconic Chelsea Piers.
Pricing
INTRODUCING THE TOP WOMEN NETWORK
Part of something larger.
This year’s honorees join the Top Women Network.
The Top Women Network is a year-round, cross-industry platform uniting leaders across media, marketing, ad tech, PR and publishing. Honorees gain access to ongoing programming, thought leadership opportunities, and connections to senior decision-makers across the ecosystem.
The Network comes together in person at the Top Women Leadership Forum — a one-day experience built for women leaders who are ready to connect, lead and move the industry forward. Expect candid conversations, actionable insights and real connection with the women defining the industry alongside you.
The 2026 Forum takes place on November 4 at The Lighthouse in New York City, the day after the Awards Gala.
SPONSORSHIPS
Interested in aligning your brand with influential women shaping the future of media? Sponsorship opportunities are available across the Cynopsis Top Women in Media Awards and the broader Top Women Network, offering visibility and engagement before, during, and after the awards celebration. Contact Kelly Mahoney at kmahoney@accessintel.com for more information.
TITLE SPONSOR
SPONSORS
Contact
Questions?
Email Mary-Lou French at mfrench@accessintel.com for assistance.
Interested in Sponsorship Opportunities?
Email Kelly Mahoney at kmahoney@accessintel.com.