LeNeac Weathersby
BA Theatre Arts, San Francisco State University
Area(s) of Interest: TV/film, Performing arts, Theatre, Nonprofit work, Entrepreneurship
Experience: Reflecting on this year and the global pandemic COVID-19, my most significant work experience has been transitioning an in-person youth program to a virtual program. In-person programming comes with its own set of challenges, and transitioning to a virtual program created a new set of challenges; staffing, youth engagement, recruitment, access to devices and connectivity, and assessing the social-emotional needs of youth. In response, I was able to conduct virtual interviews to fully staff program, work closely with the school district to create student recruitment and engagement strategies and assess technological needs for pick-up distribution. Additionally, I was able to use my leadership skills to guide my staff in creating a robust and enriching curriculum that emphasized the social-emotional needs of the youth.
Ideal job in 10 Years: My ideal job in 10 years would involve managing rising artists and or projects that focus on accessibility and diversity within the creative industries.
What led you to enroll in the MSLCE program at Northwestern? Looking for a change and desire to reconnect to the entertainment industry, I came across information for the MSLCE program. As I researched the program, I became intrigued by its multidisciplinary curriculum and the opportunity to interact with industry professionals. Based on my experience in nonprofit management, Theatre, and talent management, I was confident that the MSLCE program would help me merge my skills to create an opportunity for entrepreneurship or working on a collaborative team. This insight and other considerations ultimately led to my decision to enroll in the MSLCE program at Northwestern.
What are you most looking forward to about the MSLCE program? An aspect of the program that I’m most excited about to is The Power of Pitching + Persuasion course. I’m typically bashful when it comes to presenting in front of others so I’m looking forward to learning techniques that will boost my confidence.
If you could have lunch with anyone person (living or dead) who would it be? I would love to have lunch with Oprah Winfrey. She is the epitome of black excellence and a role model for women and people of color.
Where are you from? San Francisco, CA, USA