EXCLUSIVE: WIF (Women in Film) has announced the election of six new members to its 2025 Board of Directors. Joining the Board are: Stacey Abrams, Sasha Lloyd, Deborah McIntosh, Keleigh Thomas Morgan, Ivette Rodriguez and Rachel Rusch.
The induction of the new class comes at a pivotal moment for the organization, following this summer’s official opening of its new headquarters in Los Angeles. The dynamic group will work under the leadership of Board President Syrinthia Studer and CEO Kirsten Schaffer.
“We are honored to have this extraordinary group of leaders who reflect the multifaceted power of our industry. Their expertise spans public service, storytelling, publicity, distribution, finance, advocacy, and more,” Studer said in a statement. “We are inspired by the path each new member has created, using their platforms and legacy not only to push boundaries within their fields, but to open doors for many, including those historically excluded from the conversation.”
Schaffer added, “Both the entertainment industry and the field of gender equality are changing rapidly. A strong and diverse Board is an essential part of the strategy to ensure that women and nonbinary people are well-represented in every job across the screen industries—from crew members to executives.”
Abrams, a New York Times bestselling author, previously served as Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, and became the first Black woman in U.S. history to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party. She has launched multiple nonprofit organizations devoted to democracy protection, voting rights and building a more equitable future. In 2020, Abrams founded Sage Works Productions, Inc., a media company dedicated to insightful stories about a varied world that feature women and people of color at the forefront.
Lloyd is a current partner and Head of Global Licensing and International at A24, where she leads strategic initiatives across content licensing, international expansion and media rights monetization. Prior to joining A24, Lloyd worked in Structured Finance at Goldman Sachs, where she built and led a dedicated structured solutions platform tailored to the needs of media and entertainment clients.
McIntosh is the co-head of WME Independent, the sales group at leading talent agency WME, where she is also a partner. In her role, McIntosh is focused on raising film financing and structuring distribution deals for client films, in addition to consulting for high-net-worth individuals and production companies. She has raised financing for and been involved in the sale of films like A Real Pain, The Lost Daughter and Theater Camp.
Morgan is co-president of Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis. Since joining the company nearly 20 years ago, she has helped expand the firm from one office of eight people to a company of nearly 250 with seven offices worldwide. She has worked on countless film festival and release campaigns alongside her team and had the opportunity to represent clients like Jane Fonda, Natalie Portman, Malin Akerman, Jennifer Lawrence, Tyler Perry and Salma Hayek Pinault.
Rodriguez is the founder of AEM (American Entertainment Marketing), a marketing and strategy agency specializing in film distribution, publicity, multicultural marketing and awards campaigns. With more than two decades of experience, Rodriguez advises studios, streamers and independent producers on how to effectively position and market projects to diverse global audiences. She is passionate about advocating for the elevation of underrepresented voices—particularly Latino storytellers. She is currently co-producing a feature film based on the life of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta.
Rusch is the Head of the Comedy Department and co-head of the Motion Picture Talent Department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency, which she joined in 2010 and where she also serves on the board.
WIF was founded in 1973 in LA, fighting for gender equity in Hollywood through advocacy, career programs and research. It aims to dismantle sexism in the entertainment world and increase gender parity through representation.
