Christy Rupert Shibata
Shibata’s no sorceress, but she’s made magic happen by securing an exclusive deal for the US cable and broadcast rights to the “Harry Potter” and upcoming
“Fantastic Beasts” films in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World franchise. Starting in 2018, all eight of the Potter films will begin airing on NBCU’s USA Network and Syfy. An owner of two restaurants, Shibata also finds time to serve on the board of the NBCU Diversity Council and frequently participates in events and panels. “I’ve found it effective to introduce my mentees to other successful people in my network and giving them the benefit of learning and hearing from others besides just myself,” Shibata says. “I’m a strong believer in networking–you never know who may be able to help you out in the future.”