Justin Riley is the Senior Vice President of Operations at Hillman Grad, a full-service media and production company focusing on empowering underrepresented artists and amplifying the stories of diverse, historically marginalized communities across all industries. He is an experienced professional with a unique background, bringing a blend of skills from various fields. Justin holds an undergraduate degree in television and broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in leadership development from Chapman University. He previously worked at Fox Sports, Open Gym Premier and Westbrook.
Justin previously served as an executive director of the Hillman Grad Foundation, working on the launch and development of two inclusivity-focused initiatives — the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab and Rising Voices. Justin’s work in these roles earned him recognition as one of the New Leaders of Hollywood by Variety and a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Leader by the Los Angeles Times in 2022.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
- [3:18] Justin’s career journey from higher education to leading operations at Hillman Grad.
- [9:00] The importance of relationships and adding value at every career stop.
- [13:09] How a dinner with Lena Waithe led to a pivotal role at Hillman Grad.
- [16:50] Going from an executive to a writer’s production assistant—lessons learned.
- [22:02] Justin’s approach to leadership and collaboration at Hillman Grad.
- [30:32] Navigating the ever-evolving entertainment industry during the strikes.
- [36:42] How Hillman Grad’s programs like Rising Voices and the Mentorship Lab are creating pipelines for Black talent.
- [44:01] The significance of wellbeing and how Justin cultivates balance between work and life.
- [48:50] Justin’s thoughts on the future of work and inclusion in Hollywood.
In This Episode…
Ever feel a personal connection to a story on screen? Or perhaps a sense of disconnect due to the lack of representation? While the entertainment industry is vast, stories from underrepresented groups are still barely heard or recognized.
Justin Riley, a pioneer in implementing diversity initiatives, is dedicated to changing this narrative. He firmly believes the industry needs fresh perspectives to evolve, and that comes from giving access and opportunities to voices that have been historically silenced and marginalized.
In this episode of WRK & WIN, host Corinne Milien sits down with Justin Riley, Senior Vice President of Operations at Hillman Grad, to talk about his work in amplifying diverse voices in Hollywood. They discuss Justin’s approach to balancing personal growth and professional development, his vision for a more inclusive and accessible future of entertainment, and the transformative impact of fostering opportunities for underrepresented creatives.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Corinne Milien on LinkedIn
- WRK
- Justin Riley on LinkedIn
- Hillman Grad: Website | Instagram
- adidas Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. Program
- Lena Waithe
- USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- Rishi Rajani on LinkedIn
- Hillman Grad Foundation
- Tribeca Film Festival
- Chris Hyams on LinkedIn
- A Thousand and One
- A.V. Rockwell
- Chang Can Dunk
- Jingyi Shao
- Kokomo City
- D. Smith
- Being Mary Tyler Moore
- James Adolphus
- WalkGood LA
- Etienne Maurice on LinkedIn
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by WRK.
In the dynamic world of sports and entertainment, managing a successful business is about more than just the bottom line — it’s about the people who make it happen.
WRK is your go-to partner for people-powered HR and staffing solutions, designed to overcome your toughest workforce challenges.
From fostering employee engagement through positive employee relations to developing future leaders with their Leadership Development programs, WRK‘s services are designed to maximize the performance of your team and ensure a vibrant, inclusive work culture.
This isn’t just HR — it’s HR reimagined.
Go to www.letsdowrk.com to learn more.