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WHO WE ARE

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Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and global community that champions and advocates for the advancement of women through leadership, networking and educational opportunities.

CLICK HERE FOR SHAREABLE PRESENTATION

Advance. Connect. Advocate.

WiT is committed to developing women leaders, and to building a more robust pipeline of women leaders in our industry.  We do this by providing unparalleled programming, resources, connections, and opportunities that support our members at every stage of their careers. Our members open doors for one another, are eager to share their knowledge, and are dedicated to creating positive change in our industry.

WiT Executive Board

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Ehi Oviasu-Kahn

Chairwoman of the Board
Principal, Little Art

Ehi Oviasu-Kahn, attorney, artist, and visionary founder of Little Art, is a dynamic professional with a track record of building coalitions with policy leaders, stakeholders, and nonprofit organizations. 

 

Ehi draws from a decade-long tenure as a communications and management consultant for non-profits and independent filmmakers. Her multifaceted roles encompassed advising nonprofit management, crafting PR strategies, and fostering strategic partnerships. Her impactful leadership extended to fundraising, overseeing marketing and development for feature films, and skillfully managing a 25-person team on and off set.

 

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Ehi is a licensed attorney with a focus on human rights and entertainment law. As a Legal Advisor to the Nigerian Mission at the United Nations, she achieved significant milestones, successfully negotiating the deployment of a UN Peacekeeping mission to South Sudan. Her influence extended to advancing Security Council resolutions through collaboration with foreign delegations, policy experts, and NGOs.

 

In private practice, she negotiated production agreements and conducted copyright due diligence for twenty-five films, including the Academy Award-nominated "Boyhood." Ehi's contributions also included drafting a best practices guide for securities categories under the 2012 JOBS Act, leading workshops, and creating reference materials.

 

Ehi holds a J.D. and B.A. from Columbia University, anchoring her multifaceted career at the intersection of law, entertainment, and social impact.

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Cristina Liquori

Treasurer

Head of US Marketing

LEGO Group

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Gena Lavallee

Vice President

VP, Sales & Marketing

Make it Real

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Mary Kay
Russell

WiT Executive Director

Executive Committee

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Ehi Oviasu-Kahn

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Aneisha Vieira

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Gena Lavallee

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Julie Gwaltney

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Cristina Liquori

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Leila Nosrati

Board Members

Amy Thompson

Amy Thompson

Chief People Officer

Gap, Inc.

Anne Carrihill

Anne Carrihill

Director/GM Category Leader, Toys & Games

Amazon

DeeDee Wright Ward

DeeDee Wright Ward

CEO & Founder

Purpose Toys, Purpose Toys Latin

Julie Gwaltney

Julie Gwaltney

Senior Director

TOMY International

Kiara Williams

Kiara Williams

Founder

LikeU

Leila Nosrati

Leila Nosrati

Licensing and Retail Development Consultant

Master Toy Advisors

Menal McGrath

Menal McGrath

SVP Global Licensing

Dan Dee International

Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith

Founder

Shawn Smith Communications

Aneisha Vieira

Aneisha Vieira

Global Brand Director

ZURU Toys

Christina Sklavenitis

Christina Sklavenitis

Founder

Christina Sklavenitis Consulting

Deirdre Cross

Deirdre Cross

Senior Vice President, Games

Moose Toys

Julien Sharp

Julien Sharp

GM / Country Manager, US

Asmodee Group

Kristi Wasmer

Kristi Wasmer

Senior Sales Executive

Lisa Gilbert

Lisa Gilbert

President, US & Canada Commercial

Hasbro

Michelle Weber

Michelle Weber

Executive Vice President

Toy’n Around

Stephanie Bailey

Stephanie Bailey

Licensing, Toy and Retail Executive

Angelina Castro

Angelina Castro

Marketing & Consumer Products Executive

Cristina Liquori

Cristina Liquori

Head of US Marketing

Lego Group

Gena Lavallee

Gena Lavallee

Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Make It Real

Karen Kilpatrick

Karen Kilpatrick

President

Kayppin Media

Kristin Lecour

Kristin Lecour

Co-VP, Consumer Products & Vice-President, Distribution

9Story Media Group

Lisa Whitaker

Lisa Whitaker

Co-CEO

Kidfinity, Inc.

Natasha Tous

Natasha Tous

Founder & CEO

Kaleidoscope Women

Tara Deakin

Tara Deakin

EVP and Chief People Officer

Spin Master

Advisory Board

Andrew Kerr

Sutikki

Ann Kearns

AMK Licensing

Anne Marie Kehoe

Walmart (Retired)

Anne Pitrone

Pitrone & Associates

Ashley Mady

Zigazoo

Barbara Isenberg

North American Bear Co.

Debra Joester

Joester Loria Group LLC

Genna Rosenberg
GennComm
Jay Foreman

Basic Fun!

JoAnn McLaughlin

Disney

Kim Carcone

The Toy Association

 

Maura Regan

Licensing International

 

 
Michael Rinzler

Nancy Zwiers

Funosophy, Inc.

 

Patti Becker

Becker Associates LLC

 

Pam Kaufman

Paramount

Stephen Stanley

Jazwares Costume Play

 

Steve Totzke

Mattel

Our Staff

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Mary Kay Russell

Executive Director

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Peg Brom

Community Manager

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Sarah Greenberg

Program & Events Manager

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Allie Benham

Marketing Manager

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Sandra Lepianka

Operations Manager

Committees

Get involved with WiT by joining a committee today!

Email info@womenintoys.com for more information.

Our Founders

Over 30 years ago, a small group of women came together at New York Toy Fair in pursuit of connections and opportunities in the toy industry.  Today, the WiT network ecosystem has evolved to include the consumer products, toy, licensing and entertainment industries. Founded in 1991, and now over 4,000 members strong, WiT is the preeminent professional organization serving women in our industry, and in pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable workforce.

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Anne
Pitrone

Founder & CEO, Pitrone & Associates

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Susan Matsumoto

Partner,
Kennedy-Matsumoto Design

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