The Power of Generations: Building Tomorrow’s Creative Workforce

Summit Program 

Presented by
Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) 

Hosted by
UTA 

Summit Overview
The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), in partnership with the EIF Careers Program, convenes nonprofit and workforce development leaders, educators, and entertainment industry professionals to explore how intergenerational mentorship promotes career awareness, readiness, and access. Together, participants will identify strategies that expand sustainable career opportunities for historically excluded individuals and strengthen pathways into the creative workforce.

9:30 – 9:55 am
Arrival, Networking & Light Breakfast

10:00 – 10:15 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks

Speakers:

• Rene Jones, Partner & Chief of Social Impact, UTA, and Founder, UTA Foundation
• Bob Beitcher, President and CEO, Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) 
• Julien Thuan, Managing Partner of Filmed Entertainment and Partner & MP Lit Agent

10:20 – 11:10 am
Bridging Generations: Mentorship’s Lasting Impact on Talent & Community
Featured Conversation

A conversation exploring how intergenerational mentorship expands opportunity, strengthens career pathways, and helps build a more inclusive and sustainable workforce. 

Moderator: 

•  Mia Galuppo, Senior Entertainment Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter 

Speakers: 

• Amanda Hymson, Partner & Co-Head, MP Lit, United Talent Agency (UTA) 
• Carly Roman-Woo, PhD, Program Director of Strategic Initiatives, Archstone Foundation 
• Trent Stamp, CEO, The Eisner Foundation

11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Passing the Torch, Building the Future
Panel Discussion

Learn how MPTF’s Passing the Torch program leverages intergenerational mentorship to foster mutual learning, strengthen community connections, and support career readiness for young people pursuing creative careers. 

Moderator:

• Marcus Strother, Executive Director, MENTOR California

Speakers: 

• Heidi Basch-Harod, Executive Director, Women’s Voices Now
• Lois Walker, Passing The Torch Mentor
• Monty Marsh, Founder & CEO, GUAPY, Inc 

Featuring: 

• Screening of a student-created Passing The Torch project

12:20 – 1:20 pm
Networking Lunch

1:25 – 2:25 pm
Partnering with Purpose: Pathways for Work-Ready Talent
Panel Discussion

As the entertainment industry navigates unprecedented challenges and change, the path from classroom to career can be hard to see. An educator, an early career advocate, and a union member turned mentor will explore what a real handoff from training to a first job looks like: what “work-ready” really means, where young people fall through the cracks, and what it takes to help them land and last in creative careers.

Moderator:

• Fanshen Cox, Founder & President, TruJuLo Productions/TruJuLo Consulting

Speakers:

• Allison Smartt, NextGen Board Member, MPTF
• David Plakos, Passing The Torch Mentor
• Kristiina Hackel, Associate Chair and Professor, California State University (CSU) Los Angeles

2:30 – 3:20 pm
Breakout Groups: The Industry’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce

Participants will engage in facilitated small-group discussions exploring:

1. What approaches best prepare young people for careers in the creative economy?
2. How can intergenerational mentorship strengthen workforce and talent development efforts?
3. What role should employers and the industry play in preparing young people for creative careers? What would help more companies get involved?
4. What keeps young people, especially those from underrepresented communities, from accessing creative careers, and how can we remove those barriers?
5. How can the creative industries better recognize and use the experience of older professionals in shaping tomorrow’s workforce?

3:25 – 3:55 pm
Reflections & Closing Remarks

4:00 – 5:30 pm
Networking Reception
Hosted by NBCUniversal

Continue the conversation and connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and partners.

Sponsors