NEW YORK — Eight individuals whose vision, leadership, and achievements “continue to shape and strengthen media across news and entertainment” were honored on Tuesday at the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM)’s Gracies Leadership Awards.
Held at Tribeca 360° in Manhattan, the luncheon event featured a fireside chat with Gracies Icon Award recipient Katie Couric, moderated by NBC’s TODAY co-anchor Sheinelle Jones. The two engaged in a conversation that reflected on Couric’s early days in media, at WRC-4 in Washington, D.C. Couric also shaped the stories that have shaped her career, her ongoing advocacy for cancer research, and her belief in leading with resilience in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape.
Reflecting on the role of confidence and mentorship in her journey, Couric shared, “If you don’t have someone who is your mentor, saying that they really believe in you, you have to believe in yourself…and I did that time and time again in the early stages of my career.”
Each of the eight honorees were offered a moment to speak. Michelle Duke, the AWM Legacy Leadership Award recipient and President of the NAB Leadership Foundation who serves as the NAB’s Chief Impact Officer, said, “When I look around this room — a room full of brilliant, determined, compassionate women — I see legacy everywhere. Legacies already formed. Legacies still becoming. Legacies just beginning to bloom.”
Rita Ferro, President of Global Advertising at ABC parent The Walt Disney Company, commented, “Today is not just about our individual achievement, but it’s about the collective power of all the women in this room shaping the media and entertainment industry.”
Jenna Weiss-Berman, today the head of Audio & Podcasts at Paper Kite Productions, brought laughter to the room as she looked back on her career and the women who have played influential roles in her career. She ended up in a creative industry in spite of different plans for her life, noting, “everything in my life that has happened, is because I took a risk.”
Connie Orlando, Executive VP of Specials, Music Programming, Music Strategy and News at BET Networks, shared, “This is not a solo act, it’s me standing on the shoulders of the women who came before me, and me trying every day to hold the ladder steady for the phenomenal women coming up behind me.”
For veteran iHeartMedia Executive VP of Global Music Marketing and Strategy Alissa Pollack, the spotlight was turned from her to the crowd. She said, “This honor isn’t mine alone—it reflects the incredible community of women and colleagues who have supported, inspired, and strengthened me throughout my career. I’m proud to be part of an industry that amplifies voices and continues to make meaningful change.”
NBCUniversal Local Chairman Valari Dobson Staab, named as one of the Radio + Television Business Report’s “Broadcast Television’s Best Leaders of 2025,” was also honored by AWM. She said, “As a leader, one of my greatest responsibilities is to support and help those around me. Being an example is great, but it’s not enough. Sharing my time, my experiences, and my most honest feedback can make a real impact in a young adult’s career.”
Lastly, Kino Lorber COO Martha Benyam commented, “Stories in film and TV are windows – and mirrors. They allow us to see others, and ourselves. I am a first-generation American with parents from Eritrea, and growing up, film and TV gave me a window to learn about American culture, values, and the world around me. It helped shape who I am. But it wasn’t a mirror. For much of my childhood, I rarely saw myself reflected on screen. I wanted so badly to feel seen—and that is why I’m so proud to work for a company that’s changing that.”
The Gracies Leadership Awards’ Presenting Sponsor is The Walt Disney Company, with other sponsors including the American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), BET, Clear Channel Outdoor, Hallmark Media, Katz Media Group, Kino Lorber, the NAB, NBCUniversal, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, and iHeartMedia-owned Premiere Networks.
