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HomeCollege of BusinessWomen in the Workforce Breakfast Brings ABC Executive to Nashville

Women in the Workforce Breakfast Brings ABC Executive to Nashville

Belmont University, Council on Workforce Innovation partner to promote workplace diversity

Women in the Workplace-134-LAs part of an effort to promote professional women and workplace diversity, Belmont University and the Council on Workforce Innovation welcomed ABC Senior Vice President Dawn Soler to campus for the 2014 Women in the Workforce Forum and Awards. The sold-out event occurred this morning in Belmont’s Maddox Grand Atrium with the theme “Music, Movies and Mentoring” and featured awards presentations to local professional leaders and a keynote address by Soler as well as professional development sessions.

“We have several Nashville companies and executives investing in women in the workplace, so we hope they can spend a day away from the bustle of the office to invest in themselves,” said Jacky Akbari, the council’s founder and board chairman. “Soler is a proven leader with a successful track record in the music and entertainment business sector. She remains one of the few female decision-makers in Hollywood.”

Pat Raines, dean of Belmont’s College of Business Administration, said, “The Jack C. Massey College of Business is proud to host Women in the Workforce Forum at Belmont for the second year. With only 14.6 percent of the executive officer positons for Fortune 500 companies held by women, hosting conferences like this provides a platform for discussion about strategies and needed change supporting women’s advancement in the business world.”

During the event, Anastasia Brown engaged in conversation with News Channel 5 anchor Vicki Yates and was presented the 2014 Trailblazer Award. As a music supervisor, Brown has worked on major motion pictures and television series. She served as music supervisor on the highly anticipated documentary “For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville”to be aired in November and has developed a new music driven TV show, “American Troubadours.”

Keynote speaker Dawn Soler covers all music aspects of ABC studio, is the founder of ABC Music Lounge and oversees the music content for shows such as “Nashville,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Scandal,” “Resurrection” and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” She also consults for ABC network. In addition, her work has garnered Academy Award and Grammy Award nominations. Soler began her career at Inaudible Productions. After starting her own company, Working Music, she went on to create several hit soundtracks for New Line Cinema.

The morning’s professional development sessions included “Chat with the Chief” with AT&T Tennessee President Joelle Phillips. She brings more than a decade of experience in the telecommunications industry and two decades of experience in the legal profession to her position. Belmont alumna and owner of K McCarthy Fashion Truck Kathleen Goff, Jackson National Sales Desk Vice President Elizabeth Griffith and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Vice President Cathy Bender also sat on a panel to discuss steering careers and defining professional accomplishments.

The Council on Workforce Innovation is a public and private collaboration to advance innovation in the workforce through a suite of solutions that include technology, collaborative initiatives and diversity and inclusion.

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