Rise Appoints New Managing Director Donna Smith and Mentoring Manager Carla Maroussas
London, UK – 13 June 2023 – Rise, the award-winning advocacy group for gender diversity in broadcast media technology, is delighted to announce the appointment of its newly selected Managing Director Donna Smith, who will also be responsible for the Rise Up activities. Rise also proudly welcomes Carla Maroussas as the new Mentoring Manager for UK and Europe. With these accomplished professionals joining the team, the group is poised to achieve new heights and create lasting positive change within the world of media and entertainment technology.
Donna Smith, has over two decades of success in blue-chip and multi-billion dollar companies, including NBC Universal and TiVO. Renowned for her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to lead teams towards strategic goals, she has been a driving force behind organisational and geographical growth. She has a proven track record in board-level decision-making and possesses diverse skills in sales, crisis management, start-ups, growth strategy, technology, leadership, fundraising, company culture, and communication. Her pragmatism, creativity, and resourcefulness have consistently propelled businesses from concept to success, and will drive her forward into her new role as Managing Director of Rise.
With over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry and a successful transition to Life Coach and NLP Practitioner, Carla Maroussas, Rise’s newly appointed Mentoring Manager, has built a career specialising in delivering training to a diverse range of clients. Her expertise lies in helping individuals rediscover their values and supporting them on their personal development journey. Carla’s passion for the industry and commitment to mentorship make her uniquely suited to the role of Mentoring Manager at Rise.
Rise offers a range of exciting programmes that aim to address the gender skills gap in the media and technology space. These include the Rise Awards, which celebrate the achievements of women in the industry, the Rise mentoring scheme, which is a 6 month long experience for women across the globe, and the Rise Up Academy, which offers a unique learning experience for young people interested in the world of media technology.
“The goal of Rise has always been to help foster a diverse and gender balanced workforce in the media and entertainment technology space and we are delighted to have Donna and Carla working with us towards this future.” said Sadie Groom, Founder of Rise.
About Donna Smith – Managing Director
Donna is a seasoned C-Level Executive specialising in Sales, Marketing, and New Business Development. With over two decades of success in blue-chip and multi-billion-dollar companies, she is known for her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to lead teams to achieve strategic goals and drive geographical and business performance growth. With a proven track record in board-level decision-making and multi-million-dollar M&A experience, Donna’s hunger for knowledge and passion for innovation fuels her endless source of ideas. She possesses diverse skills in sales, crisis management, start-ups, growth strategy, technology, leadership, fundraising, company culture, and communication. Notably, as the CEO of CinemaNow.com, she transformed the international OTT media storefront into a profitable venture through strategic reorganisation. Donna’s pragmatism, creativity, and resourcefulness have consistently propelled businesses from concept to success.
About Carla Maroussas – Mentoring Manager
With over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry Carla has transitioned into a successful Life Coach and NLP Practitioner. Through her Coaching Consultancy, she helps clients on a one-on-one basis, assisting them in rediscovering their values and core beliefs to determine their next best steps. Specialising in career and personal development, work-life balance, and self-care, Carla has worked with diverse clients, including business owners, board members, and working parents. She also offers customised coaching programs for companies, focusing on company values, staff productivity, talent identification, and new leader development. Carla provides both online and in-person coaching services for individuals, teams, and groups.
