Dickens-Koblin was upped to head unscripted for Starz and Lionsgate this past May, but her reputation as a creative force behind docuseries, celebrity-driven reality series and lifestyle programming precedes her. She takes pride in the company’s collaboration with organizations to “foster greater gender parity in front of and behind the camera.” Having been named to Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index, she says, “The Human Rights Campaign gave us a 100% perfect score as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ inclusion.”
What does your company/organization do to ensure all employees feel included?
We have launched a number of initiatives to ensure an inclusive, collaborative and respectful working environment. We are a leader in sponsoring industry initiatives like our partnership with Howard University and the UCLA Anderson School of Business to create a more diverse and representative industry workforce. We were a first mover in collaborating with organizations such as ReFrame to foster greater gender parity in front of and behind the camera. As a result of these and other initiatives, we are proud to have been named to Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index for the second year in a row, and the Human Rights Campaign gave us a 100% perfect score as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Can you share a successful diversity program at your company or one you’ve observed at another company or organization?
We have created a talent development program at Starz that gives underrepresented writers and directors their first opportunity to work in a writer’s room and to participate in crafting an episode.
Which current television show/s best embrace diversity?
“Power,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “Vida,” “Pose,” “Dear White People” and “Euphoria”
