Formerly Known as Women Wednesday
NEXT GEN: EXECUTIVE DIVERSITY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The Mission
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The Reel Champions Next Gen: Executive Diversity Mentorship Program seeks to uplift women and non-binary people of color in the executive/corporate pipeline of the entertainment industry in the hopes of sculpting a more diverse array of decision-makers. By forming and nurturing mentorship relationships, we hope to create an exceptional class of executives, producers, agents, managers and more.
Spanning from April 2025 to March 2026, the Next Gen program will match early career individuals with carefully selected seasoned mentors, who will provide guidance and serve as allies to mentees experiencing the unique and challenging waters of one’s first few years in the entertainment business. Mentors will also make valuable connections with other experienced members of the industry.
By the end of the program, our goal is for mentors to feel better equipped to be mindful, self-aware leaders, and for mentees to feel prepared to succeed in this business long-term.
Application Timeline
Friday, February 7th - Applications Open
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Monday, February 24th - Applications Close
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1st week of March - Mentor and Mentee Interviews with Head of Mentorship, Pam Matew
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Wednesday, March 26th - Decisions Announced
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1st week of April - Mentor and Mentee Training
FAQ
Who is the ideal mentor?
Although our mentorship program is for women and non-binary mentees of color, we are looking for mentors from all backgrounds who are based in Los Angeles.
We are seeking entertainment industry professionals who are
experienced in production, representation, marketing, advertising, and creative development in any genre or medium. Because our mentees range from recent graduates to junior executives, we are seeking mentors with at least 3 years of experience in the industry.
The most important quality is a strong desire to impart knowledge and guidance to their mentee. A successful mentor is one who is excited to support the next generation of decision makers, and teach them things they wish they knew when they were first starting out. Ideal mentors are able to practice empathy and offer honest and constructive feedback, even through the rough times of a mentee’s journey.
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What are the expectations for this program?
Mentors and mentees are both expected to have availability to
meet 1:1 or their small group POD in person or virtually at least once a month.
Mentees will be expected to initiate communication to plan a
monthly check-in. During these meetings, they should come with agenda items and updates on the goals set together at the
beginning of the program. Our mentees will be expected to be
excellent communicators who respect mentors’ boundaries.
Mentors are expected to keep open communication with their
mentees and be accessible through their preferred method
(email, text, slack, etc.).
Both mentors and mentees are expected to touch base with our Head of Mentorship when they receive check-ins as well as communicate if there are any complications or issues throughout the mentorship.​
Who is the ideal mentee?
The NEXT GEN: Executive Diversity Mentorship Program is geared toward women and non-binary people of color whose goal is to grow on the corporate side of entertainment. This includes future executives, managers, agents, and producers who will be making the industry decisions in the years to come.
Mentees will need to be based in LA as we will be focusing on cultivating in-person connections whether that be 1:1 meetings between mentors and mentees or program-wide networking events.
Our ideal mentee is motivated to succeed, can commit enough time to the program, and are ready to take ownership over their experience to make mentoring worthwhile. It is important for each mentee to feel comfortable asking questions, be open to feedback, and come with a positive attitude and eagerness to learn.
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How many people are in the program?
This year, we will be accepting approximately 30 mentors and 30 mentees.
Can I be both a mentee and mentor?
While you may qualify for both in terms of experience, you may only apply as either a mentee or a mentor for a given program cycle.
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Can I apply again if I participated last year?
We welcome past mentors to apply again. If you previously participated in the WW mentorship program as a mentee, we ask that you please not reapply as a mentee candidate, and consider applying as a mentor. Your experience can be monumentally valuable to a new incoming applicant and we hope you'll join us in this new rotation as a mentor.
Limor Hakim
Mentor
“Being a mentor with NEXT GEN has been a very rewarding experience. Connecting with the incredible up-and-coming leaders in our industry gives me such hope and excitement for the future of storytelling. And the TRC community is so uplifting and generous. I am very grateful to be a part of this program.”
Genevieve Villarreal
Mentee
“My mentor helped motivate me! He was also in the mailroom at some point a while ago, so he understood how I was feeling at the time. He gave me amazing advice about putting myself out there and doing the very best I can even if the task felt unimportant. I took that advice and not long after I got a desk!”
Mohana Rajakumar
Mentor
“It's been great to have a monthly check in and both be able to document the progress we are making. If you would like to brainstorm or ask for advice in a 1:1 setting with someone slightly ahead in the process, this would be an excellent program to apply for. ”
Alisia Gutierrez
Mentee
“I would recommend NEXT GEN as it has allowed me to create an amazing relationship with my mentor. She has taught me so much in our time together and has really helped me prepare a path towards a hopeful future in the industry. I believe someone should apply to the NEXT GEN program because it has helped me to meet some amazing people.”