Women in Technology: Hollywood’s (WiTH) annual SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit returns Nov. 8, with the theme “Together WiTH.”
Co-located with the Infinity Festival at the famed AVALON Hollywood nightclub and events space, the full-day event promises a full house of a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, presentations and panel discussions, with thought leaders in entertainment technology tackling the industry’s evolving landscape of leadership, diversity, accessibility, and more.
The annual SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit serves as the tent-pole fundraiser for WiTH and its associated charities, with this year’s event being dedicated to Cass Warner, the visionary and influential granddaughter of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner. A renowned filmmaker, author, and advocate for women in the industry, Cass Warner dedicated her life to preserving the Warner family legacy and championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. She passed away March 14, at the age of 76.
“Cass Warner’s passing left a profound void in our community, and WiTH is honored to recognize her contributions by dedicating this year’s SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit to her memory,” said Christina Aguilera, president of the WiTH Foundation and VP of product and enterprise technology at Crunchyroll. “Her passion for storytelling and her relentless pursuit of equality set a powerful example for all of us, and her impact on the industry will be felt for generations to come.”
Among the highlights of the Summit is the 7th Annual WiTH Leadership Awards, which recognizes outstanding leaders and advocates in the entertainment technology sector.
These individuals not only excel in their professional roles but also embody WiTH’s principles through their work, community engagement, mentoring, and networking. Past recipients of the award include industry luminaries like Vicky Colf, Nancy Faginas-Cody, Cristina Mancini-Jones, and Theresa Miller.
Last year’s summit at Nya Studios attracted more than 400 attendees, with more than 70 percent representing the media, entertainment, and tech-adjacent industries.
WiTH, founded in 2014, plays a pivotal role in advancing women in entertainment technology.
The WiTH Foundation Board of Directors, responsible for selecting Leadership Awards winners, comprises representatives from prominent organizations such as AMD, Crunchyroll, Microsoft, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and The Walt Disney Company.
This year’s SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit is sponsored by Fortinet and Microsoft, with the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) and EIDR serving as association partners. For inquiries about sponsorship, please contact [email protected].
For more information about the WiTH Leadership Awards and the organization itself, contact [email protected].
To register for the event, click here.