By Nate D'Agostino, FN alum '22 In July, San Diego Comic-Con 2022 unveiled a huge assortment of content from brands like Marvel and DC, proving that there’s still a solid foundation and industry faith in growing existing intellectual properties. Marvel—returning for their first post-Covid convention—pounced in with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which looks to elegantly handle the tragic death of titular star Chadwick Boseman and promises strong performances from Angela Bassett and Danai Gurira. They also premiered an extended look at the upcoming Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, welcoming a suited-up Daredevil (Charlie Cox) to the MCU. Marvel and Disney easily won Comic-Con with not only their trailers, but announcements for Phases Five and Six, culminating in not one but two monumental Avengers films in 2025: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. DC came prepared, too, promoting the films Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Rock’s passion project, Black Adam. Their slate paled in comparison to Marvel’s, but Warner Bros. Discovery announced a 10-year plan to reshape the DC Universe that it expects will rival Marvel. These energizing new trailers inspire a fresh direction for these legendary heroes that could finally offer some serious competition. On the television front, Comic-Con fans were treated to new looks at USA and Syfy’s Chucky season two; AMC Networks’ newest series from The Walking Dead universe, Tales of The Walking Dead (an episodic anthology and refreshing new approach to the series); as well as new trailers from dueling fantasy epics House of the Dragon on HBO and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video, which will both air this fall. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power follows a young Sauron on his rise to power, whereas House of the Dragon takes its cue from George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, following the infamous Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. It’s hard to say which series will fare better, but both have the expectation of redeeming their respective franchises. It’s no secret that many fans were outraged with the disappointing final season of Game of Thrones and the rushed character arcs that ensued. Lord of the Rings fans were less than enthusiastic with Peter Jackson’s prequel Hobbit series with its over reliance on CGI and bloated narrative. Can these dueling fantasy epics redeem their once towering franchises? Not all has been well, however, with these franchises. A recent report in Vulture tells of toxic work culture at Marvel, including grueling conditions and unreasonable demands. The details provided by a visual effects artist (done anonymously to avoid blacklisting) in the article are astonishing and eye-opening. Sidebar: Warner Bros. Discovery canceled TBS’ Full Frontal with Samantha Bee after a seven-season run and quietly pulled six original HBO Max films from streaming. Less under the radar was the sudden news of the HBO Max DC movie Batgirl being canceled. The film was set to feature a lesser-known lead actress, Leslie Grace, in the title role. This is yet another sign of the new direction DC seems to be heading in as the studio also announced the theatrical date for Joker: Folie à deux, introducing Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn on October 4th, 2024. The coming weeks will be interesting with fall premieres and international film festivals debuting several Oscar-hopeful features. Stay tuned to FUTURE NOW for more news you can use. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Instagram, and connect with us on LinkedIn to access internship and job opportunities and learn about our upcoming events.

By Anna Harrison, FN alum '21 Attendees of the 2022 FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference had the privilege to listen to Star Trek: Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green share her experiences in the industry as she discussed playing the first Black woman to captain a ship in the Star Trek universe. Martin-Green’s character, Captain Michael Burnham, seems worlds away from her small-town Alabaman childhood, but Martin-Green’s faith and perseverance have kept her grounded as she has worked her way to success. Initially, Martin-Green wanted to be a psychologist, and while that may seem very different from her current vocation, Martin-Green sees the two as connected: “I was fascinated with human behavior, and of course that feeds directly into my craft as an actor.” It was in tenth grade after auditioning for a play when Martin-Green found her calling. “I felt this warmth that came from the top of my head down through my body. Like, ‘Woah. This is what I’m supposed to do with my life.’ …This is what makes my soul happy,” she said. Following the advice of her director, Martin-Green applied for a theater scholarship at the University of Alabama. She thought she completely bombed the audition and that her career was over before it even started, but she got the scholarship. “It was all about potential,” she explained. “The story is never done. Never.” The rest, as they say, is history—though Martin-Green credits much of her success to her strong faith. “[God] is what keeps me grounded. That is what keeps me balanced,” she said. For Martin-Green, her professional life has its roots in faith, too: “All of us would be remiss to say that we don’t struggle with the idea of fame and fortune,” but Martin-Green has realized that “the pursuit of [fame and fortune] pales in comparison to the pursuit of art…. There’s such a divinity in artistry.” By framing her work as something spiritual rather than a means to fame and fortune—Martin-Green remains true to her values, though it’s not always been smooth sailing. “I went through the phase of wanting so desperately to be good… I spent so much time trying to be good [and] it was for the approval of other people. It was still self-centered.” Now, Martin-Green strives to be “moment-centric” and focus on the present rather than what accolades her work may bring, linking everything back to the power of storytelling. “If you’re called to this industry, no matter where you are in this industry, I believe it’s a high calling because storytelling is one of the major spheres of influence in our society and it can change people’s lives, it can change what they believe, it can change the world for the better.” When asked about how she chooses parts, Martin-Green mused, “I have to be moved by it in my spirit. I have to agree with the prevailing message,” and that message should be one with the capacity for positive change. It’s not always an obvious choice, though, and requires no small amount of reflection on Martin-Green’s part. “Everything in art, I now know, requires stillness… Sometimes it’s a word from somebody else, it could be a song or a billboard—it could be anything that comes to you, or it could just be a sort of knowing, deep down.” Of course, not everything works out all the time, but Martin-Green puts a positive spin on failure and rejection: “It’s important to experience [rejection]… and be honest about it and feel the pain, but then, redefine it because it really isn’t rejection. It’s strategy. That means the position truly was not meant for you.” Her perspective on failure comes from a grab them by the horns mentality: “Any piece of life that you can take in, take it in, whether it’s art or history or your community…. Take it in, so that your imagination grows, and then your perspective… is now wholly different than anybody else’s… so the way you approach your artistry is now different than anybody else.” “In an industry dedicated to telling the lives and stories of others, having a wide variety of perspectives to inform your own is key—“it gives you a competitive advantage,” Martin-Green said. “You have to understand that you have nothing to prove, only something to offer… Straining and stressing to prove yourself only makes you smaller. You really want to be as big as you possibly can [and] come in with a generous heart, with a heart of service, because that’s what we’re doing in this industry. We are serving. It is an industry of service. We are allowing people the opportunity to see themselves… at their highest potential, to see themselves struggle.” To wrap up, Martin-Green emphasized the importance of training. “You’re always a student,” she said. “I will be a student for the rest of my life. It’s really about getting involved with workshops, getting involved with classes, introducing yourself to people in this industry…. You need to find a community.” And if you attended the FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference, you’re off to a good start.

By Anna Harrison, FN alum '21 Just a few weeks ago, the FUTURE NOW Media Foundation, Inc. held the sixth annual FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference. Over three days, FUTURE NOW hosted panels and keynotes from industry leaders to usher in the next generation of talent in the entertainment industry, giving them the tools to help them succeed and the means to help them grow. Day One kicked off with a conversation between FUTURE NOW CEO and Founder, Peggy Kim, and Adriana Waterston, the Chief Revenue Officer and Insights and Strategy Lead at Horowitz Research, a leading consumer insights agency. Waterston, true to her job title, shared keen insights on the state of the industry as the landscape continues to shift. “Change is imminent,” Waterston said. The decline of cable and the rise of streaming has changed the way the entire landscape works, from ad sales to production, and international shows like “Squid Game” have proven that formerly “unprofitable” markets can succeed out of their home country. “Before, ‘mainstream’ was code word for white, non-Hispanic… Now, mainstream media is becoming much more diverse,” Waterston remarked. “Real, honest representation in media… matters. Your stories matter,” she continued. “Hopefully, you all will bring [your own stories] to the table when you enter this media world… You have great value to this media industry that we’re in, and I welcome you to bring that to the table as you enter your future careers—today, tomorrow, and every single day.” With those words, we moved onto other moderated panels including “The New Creator Economy,” about new avenues of content creation, and “Emer-Gen-Z: What I Learned in My First Five Years,” a panel featuring Gen Z perspectives on the media landscape. Other keynotes were with Kris Hayden, the first Black woman to win a national diving title, and Courtney Thomasma, the General Manager of AMC+, who reminded everyone that “failure is not fatal. It’s actually essential for continued growth and success,” a sentiment echoed by Hayden, who said, “Once I’m down, I learn from it. This is only temporary.” Day two featured some of the most anticipated events, including speed mentoring sessions and two more keynote speakers. Danielle Brown, Senior Vice President for Data Enablement and Category Strategy at Disney Advertising Sales, spoke about her own unique path—while she initially wanted to be a creative, she found herself drawn to data and analytics, though “it took a while for me to showcase my abilities in a way that wasn’t just doing the work… Being my own cheerleader was a challenge for me.” Brown ended her keynote by encouraging listeners to “put yourself out there, take risks, and try new things.” That afternoon, Star Trek: Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green dropped by to discuss her journey to become the first Black female captain of a starship in the Star Trek universe. “My mind was blown,” she said of her casting. “I had no idea where I was going to go next [after The Walking Dead], but I had faith that it was going to work out.” Faith has been a constant for Martin-Green, who grew up in Alabama thinking she wanted to be a psychologist until she auditioned for a play in the tenth grade. “I felt this warmth from the top of my head to the bottom of my body and I felt like, ‘Woah. This is what I’m supposed to do with my life,’” she said of her first performance. After getting a theater scholarship to the University of Alabama—despite bombing her audition—Martin-Green’s career began in earnest, and through her success, she has remained grounded, something she attributes to her faith. [God] is what keeps me grounded. That is what keeps me balanced,” she said. On the final day, Kristina Shepard, Head of Agency Partnerships and National Brand Team Lead at Roku, told listeners to “lean into your mistakes [and] always be learning [from them].” In her closing remarks, Peggy Kim imparted thought-provoking words on the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion with a quote from iconic director Federico Fellini: “You have to live spherically—in many directions. Never lose your childish enthusiasm—and things will come your way.” “We have a responsibility in this,” said Kim. “If you think about your own circles… and the circles that you are running in and who makes up your community, are you limiting yourself or are you extending yourself so that your community… is diverse also? …We can’t expect some corporate entity to do this if we ourselves are not doing this in our own individual lives… I want to challenge you to take this quote and apply it to your life and lead—lead in your own life, be the example and demonstrate the thing that you want to see happening on that larger scale.” While the media and entertainment industry might seem daunting, FUTURE NOW has shown us once again that there is a whole host of people out there willing to help you if you show up and put your best foot forward. It is not an exaggeration to say that FUTURE NOW has changed my life—here’s to it changing yours, too.

By Anna Harrison; graphic by Karina Delgado Fernandez 1. “For early career roles, it’s really important to read the job description.” -Mariah Ramirez, Paramount This may sound self-explanatory, but it’s good to read, re-read, and re-read the job description so you know exactly what skills a company is looking for—be sure to get specifics. When you arrive, be prepared with specific examples from your own life that are applicable to this job. Are they looking for someone with Excel experience? Mention all the times you have specifically worked with Excel—don’t just say a blanket, “Yes, I’ve worked with Excel.” 2. “Apply to as many jobs as possible just to get your resume seen.” -Michelle Liu, Roku When you’re early in your career, it’s important to get your name out there. Even if you don’t have all the skills or experience necessary, it never hurts to apply, and someone may file your name away for future reference. 3. “Look for how [your] current skill set can apply to the roles.” -Mariah Ramirez, Paramount Once you read the job description, look to your own skills to see which ones carry over to this new role. If something isn’t a one-to-one match, can you still apply it in some way? Just because you don’t currently have the exact same skillset doesn’t mean you don’t have any transferable skills to bring to the table. Do you know anyone at the company you’re applying to? Ask them to take a look at your resume. Ask a friend of a friend if they know anyone. 4. “Separate yourself from the crowd.” -Jim Molloy, Spectrum Reach There’s good standing out and there’s bad standing out—be sure to do the former. Put effort and passion into your application, let the company know how interested you are, and follow up. 5. “Stay in touch.” -Michelle Liu, Roku Even if you aren’t chosen for a job, stay in contact with anyone you talked to. Don’t nag, but check in every so often to see if there’s something new. Eventually, the wrong place, wrong time can become the right place, right time. 6. “It’s about being proactive.” -Jim Molloy, Spectrum Reach If you know someone who works for a company, ask if they can look over your resume. Ask a friend of a friend if they know anyone—you might be surprised at how big your network is if you reach out.

By Cole Friedman Graduating into a global pandemic is not something I would ever recommend. Finishing my studies at Tufts University in the Fall of 2020, I found myself unemployed, stuck at home, and disconnected from the work I wanted to do in media. How was I supposed to make connections and find community when I couldn’t meet people in-person? As luck would have it, a networking group I was in posted about the then upcoming 2021 FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference, which piqued my interest. An opportunity to get face time with working professionals in the media and entertainment industry? Sign me up! I quickly put together an application using script coverage I had written for a previous internship and an essay that spoke about my dream of working in television and hit submit. When I heard that I was accepted, I was elated. The Conference seemed like the perfect place to learn more about the field I wanted to work in. As the week of the Conference approached, I combed through the bios of every speaker, fascinated by the diversity of paths each person had taken throughout their careers. As someone who only knew the names of writers and directors in TV and film, it was stunning to realize the breadth of people involved in bringing these stories to life; all the programming executives, advertising assistants, and consulting groups involved. The Conference taught me that there was more than one or two jobs available within the media and entertainment landscape for recent graduates. Attending the Conference virtually, I was also surprised by how a digital community was fostered. Having the chance to break out into smaller rooms with other attendees allowed me to meet students from across the country who had similar stories to mine. Chatting about the isolation we were feeling and the aspirations that felt just out of reach really made me close to these strangers in a beautiful way. After the 2021 FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference, I felt both less alone and more engaged than I had been previously with the industry. Knowing that there were other students searching and that there was more than one door for us to enter through gave me some peace of mind as I moved forward in my job search. Now that I’m employed, no longer living at home, and a part of this vast media landscape, I’m so excited to connect with more students this year at the 2022 FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference. Apply now!

By Cole Friedman, FN alum '21 Are you looking for mentorship? Someone to help you get a better understanding of the media industry, provide guidance, and help you navigate your career journey? A few weeks ago, I participated in a FUTURE NOW Speed Mentoring Event, one of many events that FUTURE NOW puts on throughout the year, and it exceeded my expectations. If you missed it, don’t worry. There’s still time to apply to attend the 2022 FUTURE NOW Media & Entertainment Conference, where you will have the chance to participate in mentoring sessions with industry professionals and make valuable connections. Here’s how the speed mentoring worked: the mentees were broken out into small groups for twenty-minute sessions with mentors from the industry; you could ask any questions or seek advice about specific career issues or challenges you are facing. There were thirteen (13) mentors, hailing from companies like AMC Networks, Disney, Paramount, Sesame Workshop, MediaLink, and others, who fielded questions from over sixty-five (65) mentees, creating intimate groups of five people for each session. In the first round of mentoring, I was paired with Zuri Rice, SVP, Head of Video Development and Content Strategy for Hearst Magazines. After everyone briefly introduced themselves, Rice told us how she started her career in unscripted television before taking on roles in children’s television and digital media content, emphasizing how she followed her interests every step of the way. “What do you want out of your career,” Rice asked us to consider, which kicked off a round of great discussion amongst the group, as several members were fascinated by her continual career shifts. I personally really appreciated hearing her story, especially as someone with multiple interests across the media and entertainment industry. After our session with Rice ended, the entire group reconvened to share what we learned from our respective mentors. Hearing the advice of “retaining the spirit of a child” from those who spoke with Louis Henry Mitchell, Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Workshop, and the importance of “making sure that people believe what you’re saying” from attendees who spent time with Giovanna Noguera, Account Executive at Discovery US Hispanic, was wonderful, especially since I didn’t have the chance to interact with those mentors during my sessions that day. In the second session, I was in the group with Lauren Morrissey, SVP of Platform Distribution at The Walt Disney Company. Morrissey, like Rice, highlighted her winding career path. She graduated from college with a degree in religious studies, and landed roles in book publishing and ad sales by networking and following her interests. I especially enjoyed hearing Morrissey talk about her current role in Distribution, where she oversees third-party media sales for all Disney properties, as it was an area of media, I knew little about previously. To close things out, we regathered with the larger group, where this time, some of the mentors shared about common themes they heard in both sessions. Lisa Bull, VP of Marketing at Paramount recapped discussions about how to showcase leadership skills as an entry-level professional and how to be proactive and additive. Louis Henry Mitchell’s groups talked about how not to get jaded and to have fun. Mitchell shared, “Play is serious business with children. We got to remember how to keep playing." More than one person noted the varied backgrounds of the mentors, finding it freeing to know that many of them didn’t know what they wanted to do upon graduation, but eventually found their way into the careers they now enjoy. Such valuable (and comforting) lessons can only be learned when professionals can share what they know with students at events like these…something that FUTURE NOW specializes in. Getting involved with FUTURE NOW as a volunteer after my experience at the annual conference last year has helped me become more knowledgeable about the industry and be a part of the media community. So, why not do the same for yourself? Apply to the upcoming Conference; attend the Leadership Talks, workshops, and events; and sign up to Volunteer. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

By Anna Harrison Applying for jobs can be stressful and overwhelming for anyone, especially if you’re a graduating senior and don’t know where to begin. FUTURE NOW is here to help. Recently, FUTURE NOW had special Info Sessions with recruiters from Spectrum Reach, Spectrum Networks, and Publicis Media. Here are some great tips and insights they shared on how to move forward with confidence: 1. RESEARCH the company you are interested in. Hiring managers want to know WHY you’re interested in working at THEIR COMPANY. Having a vague answer will not help your cause. So, take the time to research the company, get clarity about WHY you want to work there, and get specific. 2. SHOW ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM! This doesn’t mean you have to be a chatterbox and an extrovert but show energy in your voice, posture, and expression. Be proactive and curious. Demonstrate your interest by sharing what you’ve read about the company’s latest news and announcements and asking smart questions. It can go a long way and shows that you would be a dedicated employee. 3. CONSIDER DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES. It’s okay to apply for different jobs at the same company. Be open to possibilities but be thoughtful and tailor your resume and/or cover letter to the job you’re applying for. 4. APPLY, APPLY, APPLY. Even if you don’t think you’re a 100% match for a job, because you’re missing a few of the qualifications, apply anyway. Go for it—there’s no harm in trying, and there’s no reward without a bit of risk. And, in the meantime, work on getting the qualifications! That’s you being PROACTIVE and that’s impressive! 5. FOLLOW YOUR PASSION. That passion will be visible to others, and that will help you get to where you want to go. You may have all the technical skills, but without passion and purpose, what’s the point? Recruiters want to hire people who care about what they do, are driven, and thus, will put effort into their work. If you care, it will show.

By Anna Harrison, FN alum '21 The spring semester of my senior year was, frankly, terrible. My classes were virtual, my internship was rapidly draining both my sanity and patience, and what little social interaction I had came either from my horses or my Dungeons and Dragons group, which probably says a lot about me. I was a semi-regular with my career counselor, but my job applications went unanswered, and my frustration only mounted. I felt unmoored and was searching for a lifeline. (We’ve all been there.) After someone in Emory’s Film Studies department forwarded an advertisement for the FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference, I decided to apply. It wasn’t quite a lifeline, but it was something—a little bit of flotsam to hold onto. I had very little idea of what would actually go on at the Conference, only that it was the first organization I had seen aimed at who I was—an upcoming graduate passionate for the media and entertainment industry but struggling to figure out how to break in and get a job. To know that there was a group dedicated to helping students and soon-to-be graduates like me was an enormous comfort. The Conference itself turned out to be illuminating, dynamic, and practical, running the gamut from panels and talks about the industry to skills workshops to info sessions with recruiters to speed mentoring sessions where student attendees connected with mentors from the industry. But to me, the most valuable take away from the Conference was the knowledge that I was not alone in my floundering and the realization that there were paths for me out there that I didn’t even know existed: program development, production, ad sales, gaming, sports, the list goes on. Suddenly, my dreams seemed more attainable. I learned that there is no one singular path that works for everyone, and that there are actually more paths than I had ever thought possible. That realization, more than the cover letter tips or even the conversation with Tina Fey, was what has stuck with me the most. In an industry as seemingly vast and hard to break into as this one, you might feel like the smallest fish in the biggest pond, but the perspective that FUTURE NOW has given me has proved invaluable. Transitioning from college to the “real world” comes with its own unique set of anxieties, especially for those who want to go into the media and entertainment industry, but the FUTURE NOW Conference was like a tonic—not a guarantee of anything, but a reassurance that you can do it and break in and that they are there to support your journey. Of course, in many ways, the Conference is what you make of it. You can skate through with your computer on in the background, scribbling the occasional note, or you can commit. That doesn’t just mean actively listening, it means engaging…asking questions, reaching out to the speakers, connecting with alums, and more. (Don’t worry if you’re shy about talking to people—one benefit of a virtual setting is that no one will be able to see your face or hear your voice, so don’t worry if your ears turn red.) The only reason I have a job right now is because I stumbled upon the jackpot that is FUTURE NOW and I followed up—don’t let this opportunity pass you by. It has quite literally changed my life, and yours could be next.

By Anna Harrison, FN alum '21 Last month, Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson sat down for a talk with FUTURE NOW’s CEO and Founder, Peggy Kim. Laguerre-Wilkinson’s storied career has included a 15-year stint at 60 Minutes, which garnered her the Peabody and the Emmys that now adorn her office. Today, she is the Vice President of News Programming at Nickelodeon and the Executive Producer of Nick News. Laguerre-Wilkinson’s career path was formed from a young age. “I came from a very politically active Haitian family, so growing up there was always a radio on or a newspaper stacked up,” she explained. Shows like 60 Minutes were her “background noise.” And so, it was no surprise when after her freshman year of college, she landed an internship at a Fox 5 station in New York that quickly became a permanent job. “Just being in that really electric environment… that was it. I was sold. I loved it,” Laguerre-Wilkinson said. Every day brought new challenges, and she met them head-on. After working at Fox 5 for several years, she moved on into positions at MSNBC and NBC before landing at 60 Minutes, where news legends like Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Morley Safer, and Bob Simon walked the hallowed halls. Laguerre-Wilkinson traveled the world jumping on planes at a moment’s notice to cover stories and lived the journalist’s life of long days and sleepless nights. But, after having her first child while working at NBC, she had to rethink her career. “My move to 60 Minutes was both the realization of a dream…and also [rethinking] how we’re going to do this thing called parenthood and have a career at the same time,” she told listeners. While last-minute flights to cover developing stories became (slightly) less common, Laguerre-Wilkinson took a title demotion and a pay cut to spend more time with her family. Still, her days of gallivanting to far-off places were far from over—Laguerre-Wilkinson made the hard decision to cut her maternity leave short to be the one to interview Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, with whom she had fostered a professional relationship over several years. “I left a barely six-week newborn in New York [and] I took a breast pump with me,” Laguerre-Wilkinson admitted. “Is this really all worth it?” she wondered. “This is madness.” But she “did it again about a month after in Venezuela,” and has always strived to maintain both her career and her family, even if it has sometimes been a hard balance to strike. Has she had any desire to switch fields after so many years working in such a demanding arena? Laguerre-Wilkinson’s answer was equal parts practical and poetic. “I have a husband and children and a family depending on me,” she pointed out. But, more than that, she added, “Every time my mind wanders off to this next thing that I would do, it always circles back to this.” It’s stories like Joy in the Congo, which she produced, that remind her of why she does what she does. It was that piece that netted her the awards perched on her desk (Laguerre-Wilkinson’s Peabody acceptance speech can be seen here) and the story remains one of her proudest accomplishments. She pitched the segment to her boss after learning about an orchestra in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that was conducted by a former airline pilot. The pilot couldn’t sight-read music when he started, but now, he was leading a full-fledged orchestra. “We just knew we had something when we came back,” Laguerre-Wilkinson recounted. At the first screening, “there wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” and Joy in the Congo would go on to touch the hearts of the Peabody and Emmy voters as well. When she was presented the opportunity to become Vice President of News Programming at Nickelodeon, Laguerre-Wilkinson was excited to take on the challenge of serving a different and much younger audience. “There is no guidebook to either job,” Laguerre-Wilkinson admitted, but her years at 60 Minutes had prepared her well. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here—it’s pretty much the same thing. It’s just the language and the delivery [is] done in a different way.” Part of her success at Nickelodeon stems from the fact that she doesn’t shy away from heavy topics. If adult news stations discussed the death of George Floyd and resulting cultural shifts, so would Nick News. Laguerre-Wilkinson also spearheaded a segment on environmental racism, and though some accused Nickelodeon of “indoctrinating kids,” she is adamant that “there is never opinion in anything I do.” “There’s always going to be somebody unhappy out there… but I’m not making it up,” she said. “We’re telling the story. We have people living there and dealing with these things.” The integrity of the journalism profession has come under fire in recent years as cultural divides have grown, and the line between journalism and punditry or commentary has become more blurred. “There used to be a time in news…where there was commentary at the end of a program, and [the channel] would call it that.” Laguerre-Wilkinson told listeners how critical it is to keep that distinction clear. As the conversation turned towards leadership, Laguerre-Wilkinson described her style as very hands-on and emphasized the importance of mutual respect. “I’ve always known through the years what I won’t do [as a leader], because I think that an unhappy person gives you poor results by denying people a chance or not respecting what some of their personal situations might be,” she said. Having been subject to poor leadership at times throughout her career, Laguerre-Wilkinson works hard to be the type of leader she would want to be led by. Good leadership through empathy and understanding “makes people a bit inclined to do more,” and as a result, her staff “are coloring out of the lines in a good way… they want to be a part of this.” Looking back at her younger self, Laguerre-Wilkinson had two pieces of advice: pick your battles and don’t say yes to everything. “There are certain things you can put your foot down about,” she said. Doing too much too fast may lead to burnout, even if it’s hard to say “no” when just starting out in the industry. But being a “yes man” may create more stress down the road. “I’d rather do three things at 100%... then say yes to 15 things that are all just going to be ‘meh’ or ‘mediocre,’” she said. Wise words for our future leaders…100%!

By Yasmina Cabrera Burnout is the result of chronic workplace stress, it can lead to feelings of cynicism and exhaustion. Here are some tips to take better care of yourself and avoid burning out. Take Breaks. When you feel yourself becoming tired or frustrated, step away from your tasks. Go for a walk, or engage in other stress-relieving hobbies. Prioritize. When you come back to your tasks with a fresh perspective, tackle them in a different order. This can keep you from feeling stuck. Ask for help. When you begin to feel stressed ask for help from a friend or colleague. They may be able to help with your workload, or offer much needed advice. Unplug. Know when to stop working and turn away from your screen at the end of the day. This can help you to prevent overstimulation. Get Good Sleep. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is the best way to avoid burning out. Sleep guarantees that you will start the day refreshed, and with enough energy to take on your work.

By Anna Harrison Louis Henry Mitchell, the Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Street Workshop, has the honored distinction of being the only FUTURE NOW speaker to have his own page on the Muppet Wiki. This honor, of course, did not appear out of thin air, but as a result of years of dedication and hard work, and in a Leadership Talk last month with FUTURE NOW Founder and CEO Peggy Kim, Mitchell gifted the audience with some of the things he has learned along the way. Mitchell was around nine years old when Sesame Street began airing, and while he was initially blasé about it, “as time went on, I saw these people of different colors. That’s a Black guy there! It was really kind of shocking, to be honest, because you didn’t see that that often.” Inspired by the inclusivity that Sesame Street promoted and intrigued by the mechanics of the puppets, Jim Henson “became not just my hero, but like a mentor. You don’t always have to connect directly with [mentors]—you can read about them; you can study them.” Though Mitchell had yet to meet him, he followed Henson’s career, and eventually got a call from the Sesame Workshop in 1992. But, just how did Mitchell get to Sesame Street? Mitchell spent his childhood immersed in art of all kinds. Though his father wanted him to join the army and was more concerned about the practical necessities of life like free medical coverage, his mother encouraged his creative talent. She bought him his first sketchpad when he was eight. “It blew my mind,” Mitchell confessed. “She thinks I’m worth a sketchpad?” That moment was like a “seismic jolt of lightning” that spurred Mitchell onward in his creative journey. He even taught himself to play piano by ear. “My visual artwork, my musical artwork, and I also write a lot too, they all come from the same place,” Mitchell explained. Mitchell credits much of his drive to his mother, who “kept encouraging me towards this creative life.” Her wisdom and faith in her son ensured that, even if he had doubts, “The naysayers never got a vote in my life. She made me bulletproof inside. Whenever I had to go and do something, that sense of security that she put in my heart, inside, was like armor and I was able to reach out for so many different things.” The self-confidence that she inspired helped Mitchell make it all the way to the Sesame Workshop, where he says that “I haven’t worked a day in 30 years.” At Sesame Street, Mitchell oversees “the characters to make sure they’re being represented correctly, whether it’s an illustration [or] it’s three-dimensional with puppets.” He has been the driving force behind the creation of characters like Julia, a girl with autism, and Ji-Young, a Korean American girl whose existence was spurred by the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes the past couple of years. Mitchell doesn’t necessarily see himself as an activist; rather, he sees and responds to what the culture needs, and he emphasizes that these characters are not created as a knee-jerk reaction to current events, but come from thoughtful recommendations from the education and research departments. “We really, really do care about the communities we represent,” he told the audience. This means that Mitchell does a lot of his own research as well, as Frank Oz did before him. He and his teams will talk to people and artists from the groups they are aiming to represent, creating a collaborative atmosphere—as he said, “I have to vanish and become those characters.” So, it’s vital to learn about their cultures. “It’s really important to anchor real life to what’s going on here, because we’re not just entertaining,” Mitchell explained. “There’s entertainment involved, but it’s really about connecting to the culture and the people you’re talking to.” All of this collaboration means that Mitchell has cultivated and grown his leadership skills over the years, and he guides his team “with a gentle hand, but definitely with a very strong conviction.” Citing Tom Peters’ In Search of Excellence and A Passion for Excellence as inspiration, he tries to live by example and let humility be his guide. To Mitchell, that means understanding that “It’s not about you. When you have to lead other people, if ego gets in the way, you start getting distracted.” With both his team and the characters he creates (though they may be puppets held together with cloth and string), Mitchell always keeps “humanity [at] the forefront of everything.” While characters like Ji-Young confront issues in our society, Mitchell wants to “address humanity… mostly towards encouragement, not so much dealing with problems. There’s always a problem, but I’d rather shine a light on the possibilities of what human beings are capable of.” Even when his team wrestles with heavy topics and have to find a way to make issues like racism approachable for preschoolers, Mitchell’s approach is to celebrate the creativity and kindness of people at their core. As he says, “Human beings, we really are sensational.”