Continuing the tradition began by its women's-targeted service in 2005, Women@NBCU has partnered with Step Up Women's Network to host its first annual Mentors Walk in Central Park on June 11.
Each mentor will accompany several aspiring young career women on a "walk & talk" through Central Park, followed by a breakfast at Tavern on the Green.
Over 70 mentors, comprising senior-level executives from advertising, finance, legal, digital, media and human resources plan to participate, including Oxygen co-founder Geraldine Laybourne and Lauren Zalaznick, president, Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks, NBC Universal, which houses Oxygen. Some 160 mentees, recruited from Step Up's membership, as well colleges, graduate schools, and mentoring organizations are slated to participate.
The event follows in the tradition of Oxygen's annual mentors walk, initiated by Laybourne in Central Park four years ago. Similar Oxygen walks took place around the country with thousands of women nationwide.
"In today's contracted job market, it is more critical than ever that young women get the necessary guidance to navigate their careers," said Zalaznick in a statement. "We are excited to be hosting this event with Step Up, where an amazing turnout of accomplished women have agreed to devote their time to such a worthy cause."
"Among Step Up's most vital purposes is to connect women for mutual professional development and advancement," said Janell Lin, managing director of Step Up Women's Network New York, in a statement. "We are thrilled to partner with NBC Universal on the Mentors Walk, which brings together women of all stages of their careers to provide an intimate and engaging environment in which to share the true secrets of success.
Zalzanick and Laybourne aside, the following are among the women expected to make the June 11 walk:
Jill Bright, EVP, Human Resources, Conde Nast
Jessica Reif Cohen, Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Elizabeth Daggett, EVP, Worldwide Senior Director, BBDO
Bethenny Frankel, Chef, Author, TV personality, The Real Housewives of New York
Bonnie Fuller, Founder, Bonnie Fuller Media
Tracy Gardner, President, Retail & Direct, J.Crew
Peggy Green, Vice Chairman, Zenith Media
Cat Greenleaf, Features Reporter, WNBC
Monica Halpert, Head of Content, Community and Communications, Bluefly.com
Fran Hauser, President, Digital, Style and Entertainment Group, Time Inc.
Jodi Kahn, EVP, iVillage Networks, NBC Universal
Linda Kaplan Thaler, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, The Kaplan Thaler Group, Ltd
Liz Lange, Founder and Creative Director, Liz Lange Maternity
Cindi Leive, Editor in Chief, Glamour Magazine
Belinda Luscombe, Editor at Large, Time Magazine
Fern Mallis, SVP, IMG Fashion
Pat Mitchell, President & CEO, The Paley Center for Media
Darcy Miller Nussbaum, SVP & Editorial Director, Martha Stewart Weddings, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Donna Orender, President, Women's National Basketball Association
Pattie Sellers, Editor at Large and Chair, Most Powerful Women Summit, Fortune
