Mo Abudu is the Only African on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Most Powerful Women in International Television” 2024 List
Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu has once again cemented her place as a global force in entertainment, being named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Most Powerful Women in International Television” for 2024. The CEO of EbonyLife Media, Abudu took to Instagram to share her excitement about the recognition, proudly noting that she is the only African woman to make the prestigious list this year. This achievement further amplifies her status as a leading figure in shaping African and international television.
In her Instagram post, Abudu expressed hope for more African women to be celebrated globally for their contributions to storytelling. She called for an end to the “tokenism” often associated with Black content, pointing out the disparities between how shows with Black characters and creators are treated compared to their white counterparts. According to Abudu, it is time for African content to be given equal opportunities, especially given the rich and diverse narratives that African creators have to offer.
This year’s list of influential women comes during a transformative period for the global television industry, where the role of women in leadership is more crucial than ever. From media executives steering large-scale productions to content creators driving change through storytelling, the women on this list represent the innovators behind some of the most dynamic shifts in television. Abudu, as the CEO of EbonyLife Media, has been at the forefront of telling authentic African stories through projects such as Blood Sisters, Oloture, and the Chief Daddy series, all of which have resonated with both African and international audiences.
Abudu’s inclusion among other powerful women highlights her continued efforts to promote African content on a global scale. She is joined on the 2024 list by women from diverse regions and media companies, each making their own impact on the television landscape. Some of the notable names on the list include:
- Zeinab Abu Alsamh: General Manager, MBC Studios (Saudi Arabia)
- Maria Pia Ammirati: Director, Rai Fiction (Italy)
- Javiera Balmaceda: Head of Originals Latin America, Canada, and Australia, Amazon Studios (Latin America)
- Rola Bauer: Head of Pan-English Scripted SVOD TV, Development and Series, Amazon (Germany)
- Renata Brandão: CEO, Conspiração Filmes (Brazil)
- Carol Choi: Managing Director Japan, Executive VP APAC International Market/Local Original Productions, Disney (Japan)
- Jane Featherstone: Co-founder/Chief Creative Officer, Sister (U.K.)
- Verónica Fernández: Director of Content Originals Series and Films, Spain & Portugal, Netflix (Spain)
- Laura Fernández Espeso: CEO, The Mediapro Studio (Spain)
- Cécile Frot-Coutaz: CEO, Sky Studios/Chief Content Officer, Sky (U.K.)
- Helen Gregory: Joint Managing Director, See-Saw Films (U.K.)
- Jay Hunt: Creative Director of Worldwide Video, Europe, Apple (U.K.)
- Emiko Iijima: VP of Anime Production, Crunchyroll (Japan)
Minyoung Kim: VP of Content for Asia Pacific (ex-India), Netflix (South - orea/Japan/Taiwan/Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand)
- Miky Lee: Vice-chair, CJ Group (South Korea)
- Marie Leguizamo: Managing Director, Banijay Mexico & U.S. Hispanic (Latin America)
Anna Marsh: CEO, StudioCanal; Deputy CEO, Canal+ Group (France) - Carolyn McCall: CEO, ITV (U.K.)
- Anne Mensah: VP U.K. Content, Netflix (U.K.)
- Charlotte Moore: Chief Content Officer, BBC (U.K.)
- Cathy Payne: CEO, Banijay Rights (U.K.)
- Gabriela Rodríguez: Head of Company, Esperanto Filmoj (U.K.)
- Julie Roy: CEO, Telefilm Canada (Canada)
- Monika Shergill: VP of Content, Netflix India (India)
- Prerna Singh: CEO, Bhansali Productions (India)
- Julia Stuart: Director, Sky Original Film (U.K.)
- Karen Thorne-Stone: President/CEO, Ontario Creates (Canada)
Jane Tranter: Co-founder/CEO, Bad Wolf (U.K.) - Jane Turton: CEO, All3Media (U.K.)
- Yang Xiaopei: Founder/CEO, Xixi Pictures (China)
The women featured on this list are driving innovation and creativity across the global television industry, playing key roles in their respective markets. From overseeing production to developing original content and managing studio operations, they represent the power of female leadership in television.
Abudu’s inclusion on the list is a testament to her extraordinary vision and commitment to amplifying African stories. Through EbonyLife Media, she has built a platform that not only entertains but educates, bringing African perspectives to the forefront of global entertainment. As the only African woman on this year’s list, she continues to inspire and pave the way for other African creators, solidifying her role as a cultural ambassador for African storytelling.
