Chapter End of Year Message by Shelley Hoffmann

Chapter End of Year Message by Shelley Hoffmann

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To The WICT Network: Southeast Members, Are we there yet? Is it over? Is 2021 in the rearview mirror? I’ve caught myself thinking these things lately. It’s been a challenging year. But the truth is, it’s also been a triumphant one. We have a new name. A new look. A new brand. The WICT Network: Southeast – Empowering Women in Media, Entertainment and Technology. Since WICT was formed more than 40 years ago, it has grown to be the largest organization of its kind, and as the industry has evolved, so too has WICT. The WICT Network: Southeast will continue to provide unmatched peer-to-peer and business-to-business networks through our member resources, professional development events and mentoring programs. The 2021 chapter board chose one of the seven WICT Network Touchstones of Leadership as the foundation for all initiatives this year: BE A CATALYST and set the wheels of change in motion. The WICT Network is a transformational organization, and our chapter is a shining example of what it means to be a catalyst, a change agent. Shonda Rhimes, the prolific executive television producer, says in her book, The Year of Yes, “Everyone has some greatness in them. But in order to mine it, you have to own it. You have to grab hold of it. You have to believe it.” I believe in the greatness of The WICT Network: Southeast. And for me this year, our success came down to three great things:
  1. Our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and women’s empowerment 
We remained committed to DEI through programs and content supporting female empowerment, diversity and inclusion; the LGBTQ+ community; Black Lives Matter; the #metoo movement; and representation in content and media, as well as through social media campaigns for Black History and Hispanic Heritage Months.
  1. A focus on partnerships and expanding relationships in our community
The Global Mentoring Experience with The WICT Network: Mexico expanded to multiple chapters including Greater Philadelphia, Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Our student mentoring program now includes the University of Tennessee, The University of Georgia, and Belmont University in Nashville. We revived our relationship with WIFTA – Women in Television Cable and Film Atlanta. Along with NAMIC ATL, we joined forces to walk 1 million steps and TOGETHER we raised over $8,000 for Covenant House Georgia supporting their efforts to ease youth homelessness. We offered programs with The WICT Network: Southern California that focused on the business of social media. And we established a new partnership with the Girl Scouts. Let me say this about our event’s young attendees, the future of WICT is a bright one.
  1. Professional development
We offered three WICT Network Leadership Conference Scholarships, one created in memory of Dana Dawson, whom we unexpectedly lost this year. A first for the chapter, we organized a monthly Executive-Level Roundtable Series, and a workshop series on design theory for goal setting. We hosted panels on pivoting to your passion and provided exposure to the insights of Phenomenal Women from our sponsors. And, of course, we hosted signature events like Tech It Out, Speed Mentoring, Taste of WICT and The Red Letter Awards where we honored seven women who exemplify what it means to be a CATALYST. All of these opportunities were supported by new Marketing and Communication tools, innovations and strategies in the midst of a redesign launch. Thank you to our sponsors, returning and new, for your continued collaboration and commitment to the mission of developing and supporting women leaders in media, entertainment and technology. Because of our partnerships, The WICT Network: Southeast can offer these exceptional programs for no additional charge to our members. This unique benefit distinguishes the Southeast chapter. My thanks to Maria Brennan, The WICT Network President and CEO, and to Kristin Edwards, VP, Member & Chapter Development, for your patience and encouragement – and for answering what must have felt like a million questions. Thank you to Renita Griskel, Immediate Past President of the Southeast chapter, for seeing something in me that I hadn’t yet embraced. We are only as strong as the women who come before us and mentor us and push us and nurture us and you are that person for me. And finally, none of our accomplishments could have been achieved without the support, hard work and dedication of our passionate board of directors. My gratitude to the women and men of the board knows no bounds. I hope you feel it. I hope I show it. Thank you to you – each of our members – for allowing me the opportunity to briefly be the custodian of this life-changing organization. As we fearlessly move into 2022, let’s remember something former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin writes in her book, Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power, “It has never been more important for women to see each other as a resource, and for women to feel safe to lean on each other. Show up for them, and they will show up for you.” Here at The WICT Network: Southeast, we show up. Thank you,
Shelley Hoffmann President, The WICT Network: Southeast Senior Director, Content at Healthgrades, a Red Ventures brand
 

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