Personal Theme Song: “Who Says” by Selena Gomez & The Scene
Medrano says she’s been fortunate to have had several mentors who have advocated for her growth and advancement, but it wasn’t until seven years into her career trajectory that she had her first Latina boss, Jessica Nevarez, VP, Communications at NBC. “This was a transformative moment in my life, to witness someone with a similar background and identity achieve success in a leadership position. It was then when I knew my future would shine just as bright as hers,” she says, before adding, “¡Que viva las chingonas!”—or long live Spanish slang for badass women. Medrano has certainly made bold moves in the media space and was the first PR hire for Onyx Collective on Hulu. She’s led publicity campaigns for Onyx’s first unscripted series, “The Hair Tales,” executive produced by Tracee Ellis Ross and Oprah Winfrey, as well as Kerry Washington-led comedy “UnPrisoned,” which bowed as Hulu’s most-watched scripted series of 2023. She also oversaw all content publicity efforts for “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” a powerful doc about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival that picked up Onyx’s first-ever Academy Award. A brand-defining title for Onyx, it also snagged a Peabody, Grammy and BAFTA. Medrano has been instrumental in securing tons of media coverage for Onyx and spearheading its inaugural festival circuit presence at TIFF, Sundance, SXSW, ABFF, CultureCon, Tribeca and Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. Through it all, she has been a key player in elevating artists of color through her leadership of the communications team. “A brand like Onyx Collective is unique—it recognizes the value of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and it’s reflected as you walk into a room and see many leaders of color. We are barely starting to scratch the surface to continue efforts for more inclusive environments in the entertainment industry,” Medrano says.