What does it take to catalyze your career? For Keri Putnam, the answer began with data.

In this conversation, facilitated by Yael Levitte, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, Putnam will explain how she turned a room full of data into a field-wide movement. ReFrame, the advocacy initiative she co-founded, recruited leaders as ambassadors committed to systemic change behind the camera, and became one of the most influential equity initiatives in the media industry.

Putnam draws on more than three decades as a film and media executive, her work building ReFrame as well as various mentorship programs at Sundance, and her ongoing practice as a mentor and coach to founders, senior executives, and emerging talent. She’ll explore what it really means to mentor — the difference between advising and sponsoring, what makes mentorship relationships work and why so many don’t, and how to build programs that create lasting change rather than just good intentions.

There will be time for conversation, questions and answers.

About Keri Putnam:

Keri Putnam is an award-winning media leader and producer, board member, and strategic advisor, who works at the intersection of the creative and business sides of the media and arts fields. She produces film and tv through her production company, Putnam Pictures.

In her roles as CEO of Sundance Institute(2010-21), President of Production at Miramax (2006-09), and Executive Vice President of HBO (2002-06), Putnam guided strategy and led global creative and production teams to support, develop, finance, and supervise production on a vast array of critically acclaimed work.

She is Board Director at AMC Entertainment, Board Chair at New Public, and co-founder of ReFrame which advances women in the screen industries. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and of BAFTA North America.