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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

Board of Directors          Staff          Origin

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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Janice Ross

WiT President
Managing Partner
Brand Fresh Management

Janice Ross is the founder and Managing Partner of Brand Fresh Management and serves as volunteer president of Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) and The WiT Foundation.

A multi-disciplined licensing and branding executive, she was named Game Changer in 2017 by License Global Magazine. With over 25 years of global experience in the consumer products and entertainment industries, Janice develops and executes innovative licensing initiatives, high-impact consumer product strategies, and retail programs for diverse brands.

Prior to founding Brand Fresh Management, Janice held top-level roles leading teams at powerhouse companies including American Greetings as Vice President of Global Licensing and Business Development, and LEGO/Create TV as Head of the Americas, where she co-produced successful direct-to-videos for the BIONICLE franchise.

 

Janice is a passionate and purposeful advocate for the advancement of women. Under her transformational leadership at WiT, the mission-driven organization has launched a number of high-impact initiatives, and has grown exponentially both in programming and member engagement. Serving a vast and diverse global community, WiT is committed to unlocking the full potential of women to drive innovation, creativity, exceptional teamwork, and a sense of purpose.

 

Janice received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA. She is a mom to boy/girl Gen Z twins and resides in Los Angeles with her husband.

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Cristina Liquori

Treasurer

Head of US Marketing

LEGO Group

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Mary Kay Russell

WiT Executive Director

Board Members

Amy Thompson

Amy Thompson

EVP and Chief People Officer

Mattel

Christina Sklavenitis

Christina Sklavenitis

Founder

Christina Sklavenitis Consulting

Deirdre Cross

Deirdre Cross

General Manager, Head of Funko Games

Funko Games

Jen Caveza

Jen Caveza

Chair, Toy Design

Otis College

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

Tara Deakin

Tara Deakin

EVP and Chief People Officer

Spin Master

Angelina Castro

Angelina Castro

Director of Marketing

Jazwares

Cristina Liquori

Cristina Liquori

Head of US Marketing

Lego Group

Ehi Oviasu-Kahn

Ehi Oviasu-Kahn

Principal

Little Art

Julie Gwaltney

Julie Gwaltney

Senior Director

TOMY International

Kristi Wasmer

Kristi Wasmer

SVP, Retail Sales & Marketing

Paramount

Lisa Gilbert

Lisa Gilbert

President, US & Canada Commercial

Hasbro

Michelle Weber

Michelle Weber

Executive Vice President

Toy’n Around

Stefanie Barone

Stefanie Barone

VP of Design

Jazwares

Anne Carrihill

Anne Carrihill

Director/GM Category Leader, Toys & Games

Amazon

Delanie West

Delanie West

Founding Creative Director

Be Super Creative

Janice Ross

Janice Ross

WiT President and Managing Partner

Brand Fresh Management

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

Stephanie Bailey

Stephanie Bailey

Vice President, Global Toys

Paramount

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!

 

Joan Packard Luks

The Serenata Group

 

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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