INSIGHT: INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF FEMALE STORYTELLERS

LOS ANGELES, USA — As an Indian woman growing up in the US, I didn’t see anyone on screen that looked like me until Parminder Nagra joined ER in 2003. But when I started reading scripts as a young TV executive, I didn’t let that precedent get in my way: in my mind, the hero of the story was always a brown girl, with hopes and aspirations, strengths and talents just like her white counterparts. Years later I would finally make that dream a reality with Mindy Kaling in The Mindy Project—and in doing so, I suspect millions of Indian girls got to see someone like themselves on screen for the first time.

Today, I’m proud to work at a company that has brought many female firsts to life in front of and behind the camera: the first Indigenous Mexican Academy Award actress nominee; the first Korean female stand-up special; the first Black woman to direct a superhero movie; and the first transgender woman to ink an overall deal with a studio. But we’re still only just getting started. It’s why I am more determined than ever to ensure that the next generation of female storytellers has more opportunities than the women who came before them.

Last week we announced a new Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, which will invest $20 million a year for the next five years in building more inclusive pipelines behind the camera. Today, I am excited to announce that the first $5 million will go towards programs that help identify, train and provide work placements for up-andcoming women talent around the world. We will do so through partnerships with third parties and bespoke Netflix programs to support a range of initiatives— from workshops to train aspiring women writers and producers on how best to pitch their creative vision, to shadowing opportunities on productions which enable women to gain valuable first hand experience with a literal seat at the table.