Lena Waithe

Lena Waithe is an Emmy®-winning writer, producer, actor, and founder of Hillman Grad Productions, leading a cultural revolution in Hollywood by amplifying underrepresented voices. With projects at Warner Bros, Netflix, BET, and more, Waithe champions diverse storytelling and continues to push the boundaries of inclusivity in film and television. Her company has signed an exclusive overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group to develop new programming for various platforms, including HBO Max.

Her critically acclaimed works include "The Chi," which received a Peabody Award nomination and two NAACP Image Award nominations, "Boomerang," "Twenties," praised for its representation and nominated for a GLAAD Media Award, and "Queen & Slim," which received accolades including two AAFCA awards and "Best Picture" at the BET Awards. Waithe made history as the first African-American woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for her episode "Thanksgiving" in "Master of None." Additionally, she was recognized as The Hollywood Reporter’s TV Producer of the Year in 2020 and received the Creative Impact in Producing Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival. She was also honored by the American Black Film Festival with the Industry Renaissance Award, celebrating her contributions to shifting perceptions of people of color in film and television through her impactful storytelling.

A strong advocate for queer representation, Waithe has received numerous honors, including the New York City LGBT Community Center’s Trailblazer Award, a GLAAD Media Award, and The Trevor Project's Hero Award. She has been named OUT Magazine’s Artist of the Year, featured in Fast Company's Queer 50 list in 2021 and 2022, and earlier, was named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018, in a tribute written by Vice President Kamala Harris. Waithe continues to support and mentor diverse voices through Hillman Grad's Mentorship Lab and Rising Voices program, which recently partnered with Indeed for a $1.35M investment in BIPOC filmmakers.