About the WiTH Leadership Awards

About the WiTH Leadership Awards

The 2025 WiTH Leadership Awards will be held in conjunction with the SoCal Women’s Leadership Conference on November 12, 2025.  

The WiTH Leadership Awards honor women and men who serve as technology-career role models and mentors in our communities and who empower women to be bold leaders.  WiTH donates 100% of all revenues from Leadership Awards sponsorships to charity organizations that support their local community and whose missions and activities align with the goals of the WiTH organization:

Provide underrepresented individuals access to opportunities that advance their careers in Media & Entertainment technology through innovative programs and support such as:

  • professional development
  • mentoring & networking
  • community engagement

All of which include a common focus on  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Belonging.

Previous charity recipients include: DIY Girls, Pep Up Tech, St. Joseph Center Code Talk, STEAM: Coders and STEM Advantage.

Learn more about the WiTH Foundation, its impact and sponsorship opportunities.  

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for 2025!

Nominations are now open and will remain open until July 31, 2025.

The categories for 2025 are:

1. Catalyst for Change & Lifetime Achievement Award
For bold leaders driving transformative impact
Recognizes individuals who have sparked meaningful change, innovation, or growth within their organization(s) or the broader industry. This award honors those who have taken courageous steps to challenge the status quo, in alignment with the Bold Moves theme.

2. Mentor & Champion Award
For those lifting others as they rise
Celebrates someone who has made mentorship and inclusion central to their leadership. This person has actively supported emerging women leaders and advanced diversity and access within their organization or community.

3. Emerging Leader Award
For rising stars making waves early
Honors an early-career professional who is already driving significant impact. This award recognizes visionary thinking, leadership maturity beyond their years, and the potential to shape the future of technology and leadership.

4. Community Impact Award
For leaders using tech to uplift others
Recognizes an individual whose work—whether through nonprofit, outreach, or local/global initiatives—has positively impacted communities using technology, education, or advocacy.

Previous Leadership Award Winners

2024 With Leadership Awards winners: 

  • Melody Hildebrandt, CTO, Fox Corporation
  • Carolyn Giardina, Senior entertainment technology and crafts editor, Variety
  • Terri Davies, President, Trusted Partner Network (TPN)
  • April Schneider, VP, corporate IT, intellectual property management, general counsel, Sony Pictures Entertainment

 

2023 With Leadership Awards winners: 

  • Nancy Baca, director of licensing financial systems at Disney
  • Kelly Hamilton, CIO at Sony Pictures
  • Melanie Hildebrandt, EVP and CIO at Endeavor

 

2022 WiTH Leadership Awards winners:

    • Annie Chang, VP Creative Technologies, Universal Pictures/NBCUniversal
    • Marcela Alava, Special Assistant to the President, Deputy Director of Technology, White House
    • Eric Iverson, Directory of Product Strategy, Amazon Studios
    • Nina Skorus-Neely, Digital Advisor, Microsoft

     

    2021 WiTH Leadership Awards winners:

    • Nicole McMackin, CEO of Irvine Technology Company
    • Davida Johnson, managing director, UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing — Data and Technology Solutions
    • Katie Hinsen, executive producer of dailies and digital intermediate for Nice Shoes
    • Christina Aguilera, head of creative engineering for Amazon Studios

     

    2019 WiTH Leadership Awards winners:

    • Nancy Faginas-Cody, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business Systems, The Walt Disney Company
    • Cristina Mancini Jones, Senior Vice President – Head of Customer and Trailblazer Marketing, Salesforce
    • Theresa Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Lionsgate

     

    2018 WiTH Leadership Awards winners:

    • Susan Cheng, Executive Vice President, Content Technology and Operations; Founder/Leader Internal Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, Warner Bros. Technology
    • Deborah Fiorella, Senior Vice President – Information Technology, Universal Studios Hollywood; Co-Founder TechWomen Los Angeles
    • Cybill Miklaszewski, Director, Information Technology, Co-Chair Women in Tech, 21st Century FOX

     

    2017 (Inaugural) WiTH Leadership Awards winners:

    • Vicky Colf, Chief Technology Officer, Warner Bros. Studios
    • Denise Evans, Chief Information Officer, Miramax Studios
    • Cindy McKenzie, Chief Information Officer, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group