4/20/21 HRTS Virtual | Spotlight: 3rd Annual How DE&I Drives Innovation

4/20/21 EVENT PAGE


FEATURED PANELISTS

 

Greg Berlanti
Writer, Producer, and Director

WGA, DGA and Golden Globe nominated writer, director, and producer, Greg Berlanti, is the force behind some of the most inventive and acclaimed works in film and television.

Currently, Berlanti’s company has a record-breaking 16 scripted series, the highest number of shows to air at one time for a tv producer and creator. He works as executive producer and co-creator of The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Stargirl, Titans, and You. Additionally, Berlanti serves as executive producer on The Flight Attendant (Golden Globe nominated), Superman & Lois, Riverdale, All American, Doom Patrol, Batwoman and Prodigal Son, as well as the upcoming Green Lantern, Kung Fu, and Strange Adventures.

 


 

Albert Cheng
Amazon Studios/HRTS Board Member

Albert Cheng is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Head of Television at Amazon Studios. As COO of the Studio, he leads studio teams responsible for programming and audience development, TV and feature film music, consumer insights research, technology and applications. As Co-Head of Television, both he and Vernon Sanders lead a team responsible for television creative development, business affairs, casting and production/post-production. Since its inception in 2010, Amazon Studios produces Emmy-winning and nominated shows including Carnival RowThe Boys, Tom Clancy’s Jack RyanModern Love, and Homecoming; Golden Globe winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Emmy award winner Fleabag.

 


 

Tara Duncan
Freeform/HRTS Board Member

Tara Duncan serves as President, Freeform. Freeform is Walt Disney Television’s young adult network, where the force and momentum of its audience drives its quest for authentic, groundbreaking original series. She joined the network from her overall deal at Hulu, where she curated a strong slate of projects, including an adaption of Zakiya Dalila Harris’ acclaimed novel, “The Other Black Girl,” which she won in a highly competitive bidding war. Before joining Hulu, she was a senior creative executive at Netflix overseeing the hit series “Orange Is the New Black” and “Narcos,” and launching series with directors Spike Lee, Baz Luhrmann, The Wachowskis and Justin Simien. Prior to that, she produced the pilot “Bosch,” Amazon’s first drama series, and was a key creative executive at AMC, developing “The Killing,” “Rubicon,” and the sci-fi miniseries “The Prisoner.”  She is a founding member of Who’s In The Room, an executive mentorship program created to diversify the executive and leadership ranks in the entertainment industry. Duncan started her career at Section Eight, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s production company, where she worked on the HBO series “Unscripted” and the Oscar-nominated film “Good Night, and Good Luck.” 

 



Robin Roberts
Co-Anchor Good Morning America/President, Rock’n Robin Productions

Robin Roberts is co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Under her leadership, the broadcast has won numerous Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team.


 

Tanya Saracho
Creator/Showrunner/Director

Tanya Saracho is a playwright and television writer who most recently served as creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed series “Vida” on Starz, which earned 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first, second and third seasons.  The show, which aired its third and final season on Starz in May 2020, featured all Latinx directors in season one, and all Latina directors in seasons two and three, including Saracho, who made her television directorial debut.  The series had an all-Latinx writers room for seasons one and two, and in season three, the room was composed of all Latina writers.

 


 

Carlos Watson
Co-Founder & CEO of OZY Media

Entrepreneur and multi-Emmy-winning journalist and TV show host Carlos Watson is the co-founder and CEO of OZY, a multi-platform media company that aims to help curious people see a broader and bolder world.

 

 


MODERATOR

 

Karen Gray
Executive Vice President, Human Resources, A+E Networks Group

Karen Gray is Executive Vice President, Human Resources for A+E Networks® Group, which encompasses A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, Lifetime® Movies, FYI,™ and VICELANDSM. She was named to the role in June 2019 and has oversight of the company’s human resource functions globally, including culture, diversity, inclusion and all people-focused initiatives.