International Woman’s Day
Finding My Voice in Rooms That Matter
International Women’s Day at JP Morgan Chase
One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been finding my voice and using it in rooms that matter. But if I’m being honest, it hasn’t always been a graceful process.
As I reflect on this International Women’s Day, I’m thinking about the architecture of those rooms. For much of my early career, the “room” felt like a place I had to navigate carefully, or a place I had to build myself because the existing ones didn’t have space for me. From the early days of founding the Bushwick Film Festival in my 20s to launching World + Me Films, the transition from observer to leader has not just been about titles. It has required the internal shift needed to speak up and stay heard.
Even after 20 years as a founder, the minutes before I walk in front of an audience are still a battle. The pit of my stomach shakes. I feel that slight dissociation, that sense of standing just outside myself while my brain runs through the script one more time. I overprepare so that when I show up, I can feel grounded enough to breathe.
You would think after two decades the nerves would have vanished. But they haven’t. The difference now is that I have learned to trust the process. I have realized that the shaking is not a sign that I don’t belong. It is a sign that I still care deeply about the message I’m delivering.
We often talk about representation as a numbers game. How many women are on a panel? How many female directors are in a lineup? But as a woman building in film, media, and community, I have learned that representation is about more than physical presence. It is about the quality of the space we take up.
It is about being visible, heard, and trusted to lead. Throughout my career I have moved through panels, classrooms, community events, and boardrooms for global brands. In each of those spaces I have seen the same truth. When a woman is empowered to lead the conversation, the energy of the room changes. The questions become more nuanced. The solutions become more empathetic. The vision becomes wider.
I am deeply proud of every opportunity I have had to speak, but I am equally moved by the opportunities I have had to listen. Sharing space with brilliant women across industries has taught me that finding your voice is not a solo mission. It is a collective effort.
When we share what we know, whether it is the technicalities of film distribution or the emotional hurdles of entrepreneurship, we are not just helping one person. We are creating a blueprint for everyone else in the room. I have found that being transparent about my journey creates a permission slip for others to do the same. There is a beautiful cycle in pouring into a community and watching how that honesty allows all of us to grow stronger.
On this International Women’s Day, my focus is on the conversations still ahead. I am excited about the films we have yet to make and the stories still waiting for a platform. But more than that, I am excited to see who steps into the room next.
Finding your voice is a journey that never truly ends. It evolves as we grow, as our businesses scale, and as the world changes. My goal remains the same: to use my platform to ensure that when the next generation of women enters the room, they do not feel like guests. They feel like the architects.
To every woman I have had the honor of speaking, listening, and growing alongside, thank you for being part of the narrative. Let’s keep talking.