Yahoo Lifestyle NBCUniversal and CAPE Announce 2025 Emerging Executives Committee
The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and NBCUniversal have announced their Emerging Executives Committee for 2025.
Known as CEEC, the initiative aims to fast-track the next generation of Asian and Pacific Islander assistant and coordinator-level employees. The initiative builds on the CAPE Leaders Fellowship, which has now completed its eighth year as a coveted industry-leading accelerator that equips rising senior creative executives with the skills and professional network to break into the VP ranks and beyond.
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Jeanne Mau, executive vice president of TV programming diversity equity and inclusion at NBCUniversal, said, “We know that long-term success in this industry is often predicated on the strength of your professional relationships. So – like CAPE – we prepare early-career talent through learning and development opportunities, including a focus on building and deepening their networks.” Mau added, “Through our shared commitment, we are proud to provide the next generation of entertainment executives with access to critical knowledge, mentorship, and the unspoken rules that govern this industry.”
Sam Campos, VP of drama development at CBS Studios, joins as a co-chair alongside Mohan Mandali (most recently SVP, Development and Production, Justin Lin’s Perfect Storm Entertainment) and Duane Luu (director, drama development, NBCUniversal). All three were alumni of the CAPE Leaders Fellowship.
In a statement, Campos said, “I’m proud to help shepherd this wonderful program that identifies the hard work and passion of assistants and coordinators who will one day be in our positions. To co-chair with fellow Leaders Fellowship alumni epitomizes the spirit behind this program and CAPE in general — that we only grow in this industry with the support of one another.”
CAPE head of programs Rhian Moore noted that CAPE is in the prime position to create opportunities and develop skills with the class of emerging executives. Moore said, “We established from our research investigating the workplace experience for Asian American executives in entertainment that it is key at the entry level to connect with higher-level executives, proactively seek mentorship, actively work on increasing visibility to supervisors, and develop a personal voice rooted in one’s experiences and identity.”
This year’s Emerging Executives Committee is as follows:
Brandon Kitajima Estrella – Executive assistant, Streaming & Cable Current Series, CBS Studios
Brandon Estrella is currently an executive assistant at CBS Studios in Drama Development. Previously, he worked in Cable & Streaming Current for CBS Studios on shows for Paramount+, Comedy Central, Netflix, Apple TV+ and Prime Video, among others. Prior to CBS, he worked in feature and series development at Impact Pictures. Originally from Hawai‘i, he was selected for the 2021 ‘Ohina Filmmakers Lab and the 2022 CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge. He’s a proud alum of Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television’s inaugural 2020 class with an MFA in Film and Television Production with an emphasis in Creative Producing.
Claire Feng – Creative assistant to the Head of Wholly-Owned TV Development, Comedy and Drama – Amazon Studios
Claire Feng is on the Wholly-Owned Comedy & Drama TV Development team at Amazon Studios, supporting the development of upcoming series on Prime, such as “Overcompensating. “Previously in the TV Lit department at UTA (and doing a stint in the agency’s branded content/entertainment marketing division), Claire got her start working in unscripted development at Bravo, MTV and Animal Planet. A proud New-Englander raised by Chinese immigrants, she graduated from NYU in 2021 with a degree in Entertainment Business.
Hannah Hwang – Executive assistant to partner & Co-Head of the TV Literary Department at UTA / Co-Lead of UTA’s EIG Unity Leadership Board
Hannah Hwang is currently an Executive Assistant to the Co-Head of UTA’s TV Literary Department and has been the Co-Lead of the UTA Unity AAPI Community Group for two consecutive years. Previously, she helped expand, consult, and discover new talent and business opportunities supporting the head of the Asia business development department at UTA (from scripted & unscripted TV, music, features, fashion, & brand partnership opportunities). She organized the first ever UTA Busan Film Festival Party – making UTA the only Hollywood agency to host overseas in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival. Born and raised in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Hannah is a proud first generation Korean-American who started her career as a child actress. Prior to UTA, she was an ex-Kpop trainee, pageant winner, model and actress with a BA in Performing Arts & Theater from the Korea National University Arts.
Maria Victoria C. Balenton – Coordinator, Comedy/Streaming & Cable/Animation Development – CBS Studios
Maria Balenton is a coordinator for comedy/animation/streaming & cable development at CBS Studios. After graduating from CSUN with a degree in Cinema & Television Arts, she pursued a career in Development, much to her parents’ chagrin. She has since worked with various production companies under overall deals at UTV & ABC Signature, eventually landing her current role at CBS Studios, where she continues to uplift AAPI voices across all genres.
Sara Chen – Entertainment coordinator, UCP and Universal International Studios
Sara Chen works in development as an Entertainment Coordinator at UCP and Universal International Studios, divisions of Universal Studio Group. Prior to starting at Universal Studio Group, she was a West Coast Page in the renowned NBCUniversal early career program, working across Bravo, Peacock and UCP. She graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Business, English and Cinema Studies. Originally from just outside Chicago, Chen is based in Los Angeles.
Sarah Paek – Film coordinator, Atomic Monster
Sarah Paek is the film coordinator at James Wan’s Atomic Monster. She received her B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and initially started her career as an aerospace engineer at Northrop Grumman. However, her passion for storytelling led her to post-production on “iZombie,” followed by development at Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD. With a deep love for horror, Sarah now enjoys bringing chilling tales to life at Atomic Monster.
Taylor Killefer – Motion Pictures Literary Coordinator, Verve
Taylor Killefer is a Motion Picture Literary Coordinator at Verve. Previously, she worked at Netflix as a Creative Assistant where she supported film development and acquisitions, gaining exposure to all stages of filmmaking from pitch to release. Before Netflix, she worked at Color Force and got her start at CAA in the MP Lit Department where she was selected to run CAA’s Moebius Film Festival, which showcased emerging talent to the agency. A Chapman University graduate in TV Writing and Producing, Taylor is passionate about championing diverse voices and intersectional stories across film and television.
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