The Walt Disney Company Partners with U.S. State Department on Third-Annual “Hidden No More” Exchange Program Featuring 50 International Women Leaders in STEM
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 28, 2019 /3BL Media/ – The Walt Disney Company has partnered with the U.S. State Department on its third-annual Hidden No More International Visitor Leadership Program, which launched today in Washington D.C. The program was inspired by the 2016 award-winning film Hidden Figures to highlight and advance the important achievements of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Hidden No More brings to the United States 50 women from around the world who have excelled in STEM careers including spacecraft engineering, data solutions and data privacy, and STEM-related education. Over the course of the program, these women will engage with private and public sector organizations, including National Geographic, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), The Smithsonian Institute, and The Geena Davis Institute.
In a new initiative this year, with support from production company Summerjax, portions of Hidden No More will be filmed and packaged into short-form videos for the participants to use to amplify their stories at home to inspire young people to pursue STEM education and careers. Hidden No More participants will be interviewed about their careers and notable contributions to the international STEM community by members of the UN Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, which promotes adolescent girls’ leadership and empowerment. The Hidden No More program offers a unique mentorship opportunity for local Girl Up members, who will spend time with the women and be involved in various stages of filming.
“Disney is proud to partner with the U.S. State Department on this exceptional program that champions women in STEM and the indispensable contributions they’re making around the globe,” said Latondra Newton, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, The Walt Disney Company. “By raising awareness of the incredible talent that exists among these women and helping them amplify their powerful stories, we are helping to create a brighter future for them and for the next generation.”
Later this week, participants will join a day of programming at National Geographic headquarters, complete with executive presentations, networking opportunities, and a visit to the newest exhibit at the National Geographic Museum, “Women: A Century of Change,” which displays more than 100 archival images of women from around the world. The program will then end with a capstone day at The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, CA which will showcase the various ways in which storytelling, technology and innovation come together in Disney content.
Before arriving in Burbank, participants will split into groups and visit eight additional U.S. cities: Boston, MA, Charleston, SC, Chicago, IL, Greensboro, NC, Huntsville, AL, Orlando, FL, Pensacola, FL, and St. Petersburg, FL. These stops will provide opportunities for the women to meet with professional counterparts and discuss strategies to advance the achievements of women in STEM.
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About The Walt Disney Company
Disney, together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks; Parks, Experiences and Products; Studio Entertainment; and Direct-to-Consumer and International. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $59.4 billion in its Fiscal Year 2018. For more information about Disney, please visit www.thewaltdisneycompany.com.
Media Contact
Laura Watson
The Walt Disney Company
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