Recorded live from Advertising Week Europe, this episode features Louisa O’Connor, Managing Director of Seen Presents, in a candid, high-energy conversation about building a brand from the ground up in a male-dominated industry. Louisa takes us inside the early days of relaunching scene presents post-COVID, her fearless leadership style, what it took to win clients like TikTok and Netflix, and how she’s scaling a values-first culture while shaking up the experiential world. From creating immersive B2B activations to mentoring the next wave of female leaders, Louisa’s motto—“make yourself famous, but do it authentically”—rings loud and clear. This is one for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves but did it anyway.

On this episode of Future is Female we speak with Libby Bush, Global Head, Media and Entertainment Partnerships at CAA. Libby discusses leadership and this new modern world of branded entertainment.

On this episode of the Future is Female podcast we speak with Lee Anne Grant, Chief Growth Officer at Babylist. Lee Anne joins us to discuss Babylist’s recent growth and transformation into a media company, her career in the industry, and the importance of pride in the workplace.

A former Future is Female winner in 2022, Keely is the CEO of Making Space, a venture-backed, accessible talent acquisition and learning platform designed to help companies train, access, and retain pre-qualified disabled talent. Making Space creates tangible pathways to employment and career advancement through employer-supported education and has secured partnerships with NBCUniversal, Netflix, and Amazon, among others.

To kick off season 2 of the Future is Female podcast, we’re pleased to speak with Kristin Patrick, CMO of Claire’s. Ruth and Kristin discuss Kristin’s career path, as well as how to reinvent your business and yourself.

On this final episode of season 1 of the Future is Female Podcast, we’re pleased to welcome Carly Zipp, Global Director of Brand Marketing at Amazon Ads. Carly walks us through her early career to present, discusses the importance of investing in teams, and offers advice to other women working in the industry.

We’ll be back with Season 2 of the Future is Female podcast very soon!

On this episode of the Future is Female podcast, we’re pleased to welcome Melissa Newhart, Executive, Music Brand Partnerships at United Talent Agency. Melissa discusses her amazing career working with music and brands, some of her favorite brand partnerships, and the importance of self-education.

About Melissa:

Melissa Newhart is an award-winning entertainment & music industry executive with extensive advertising, marketing, branding, strategic partnership, and media experience. Newhart has been named to Billboard’s “Branding Power Players” and “Latin Power Players” lists, spotlighted in HITS! “Noisemakers” and featured in publications Muse by Clio & Campaign. In 2022, Variety named Newhart to their New York Impact Report, and in 2023, Advertising Week awarded her their “Future is Female” award.

Melissa began her career at Columbia Records & joined United Talent Agency in 2017 from Roc Nation, where she was Vice President of Brand Partnerships. Throughout her career, Melissa has closed over 350 deals for over 100 different artists such as Anitta, Bebe Rexha, Jonas Brothers, Karol G, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Tierra Whack, and Young Miko, working with global brands such as Mastercard, Google, Xbox, Louis Vuitton, Levi’s, and Cadillac.

Currently an Executive in UTA’s Music Brand Partnerships group, Melissa leads the team’s East Coast business. In addition to artist specific brand strategy, Melissa has experience negotiating & executing partnerships for large-scale music properties such as Made in America Festival and TIDAL X Concert, as well as global tour sponsorships. Newhart has also been instrumental in recognizing new lanes of business for UTA and was at the forefront of UTA’s expansion into the Hip Hop and Latin music genres.

Not only does Newhart advance her clients’ careers, but she is equally as dedicated to mentoring the next generation of professionals across the entertainment industry. She is actively involved in UTA’s Mentorship Program, UTA’s Women’s Interest Group, & Le Femme Majeure – a UTA organization & event series dedicated to bringing together music’s next generation of female leaders. Newhart has also been a featured speaker at universities such as NYU, Pepperdine, Drexel, & The Roc Nation School at Long Island University.She is currently an Adjunct Professor at NYU, teaching a course on strategic music & branding.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mnewhart

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissanewhart/

On this episode of the Future is Female podcast, we speak with Kathy Magee, Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Operation Smile and Kristie Porcaro, Chief of Strategy & Partnerships, Operation Smile about their work, their lives, and their careers making a difference in the lives of children worldwide.

On this episode of the Future is Female podcast, we’re very pleased to welcome Lilly Ledbetter, American Activist, and Kate Kelley, Associate Producer and EVP of Partnerships, LILLY.

Lilly Ledbetter is a women’s equality activist, public speaker, and author who is most well-known for her contributions to equal pay, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. 

On this episode of the Future is Female podcast we welcome Katie Kempner, Founder of Kempner Communications and host of Perspectives with Katie Kempner, part of Advertising Week’s podcast network. Katie discusses owning her own business, how she got where she is today, and the importance of being your own best friend.