Empowering Future Leaders: A Recap of the Digital Media CT and LaunchPad Summit

Students warm up for a big day at the summit

91% of Employers Believe Soft Skills Are as Important as Hard Skills for Young Hires (source). Meanwhile, over 70% of Students Believe They Lack Practical Job Skills Upon Graduation (source). With this in mind, Digital Media Connecticut and LaunchPad recently joined forces to create a full-day summit and competition for emerging entertainment talent. The Summit is the state’s and region’s premier event in its sphere, designed to upskill, energize, and connect students with potential future employers.

Welcome and check-in at The Village in Stamford, CT

The day began with participants checking in and getting breakfast with their peers and coaches. This part of the day was designed to break the ice, encourage early networking, and help students showcase their creativity, technical skills, and critical thinking abilities. Participants hailed from eight different universities, adding a dynamic mix of perspectives and experiences to the event. The first competition was revealed after the opening remarks; [competition 1 description here]. The friendly rivalry between participants fostered both collaboration and teamwork. Coaches and mentors were then welcomed as the attendants were organized into groups of ten.

• Makeda Mays Green of Paramount

• Shawn Witt of Leftfield Entertainment (an ITV America company)

• Helena Doms of Leftfield Entertainment (an ITV America company)

• Zach Behr

• Rasheed Daniel of Team Sheed

• Liz Fine of Wheelhouse

• Russ McCarroll of Pocket Square Productions

Lunchtime Keynote with Sean Thorpe of WWE. Frequent friend of DMCT and Career Discovery, Sean Thorpe, shared his thoughts on the intersection of AI and entertainment. And what the future might hold. One of Sean’s key points, was “[quote]”

Next, the students broke back into their teams for the second and final competition of the day—building on the energy of the morning and giving them another opportunity to shine. The groups were tasked with creating a short video to “sell” their concept to the panel of judges and investors. The challenges were strategically designed to be chaotic, with deliberate changes to the timeline and bonus challenges introduced to simulate real-world multitasking, pushing students to adapt on the fly. This format encouraged problem-solving and innovation in the digital space, giving participants a chance to flex their creative and production muscles under pressure.

All teams produced incredible videos and product ideas, and then had the final opportunity to pitch the executive panel. Judges evaluated each group’s work carefully, offering individual feedback to help students grow from the experience before announcing the end-of-day winner. The team leading after the morning’s event earned an exclusive opportunity to work at ITV America during the second half of the day, further enriching their experience with industry insights. All of their work demonstrated the values and skills the summit aimed to promote.

All teams produced incredible videos and product ideas, and then had the final opportunity to pitch the executive panel. And all of their work demonstrated the values and skills the summit aimed to promote.

Finally, the winning team was invited up to receive their medals!

• Sophia Forlenza - Fordham University

• Pranav Nair - UConn

• Seyedaria (Aria) Ghoreshi - UConn

• Travis Hayden - Norwalk Community College

• Nina Drozdenko - UConn

• Marissa Rivera - UConn

• Erika Tom - UConn

• Gabriel Wilkins - Western Connecticut State University

After the event, participants were invited to join a mix and mingle session with employers and coaches. These early career connections help to not only open doors but help to build confidence and communication skills. The 2024 summit helped students and young adults build skills and experience in areas critical for long-term success; networking, team work, sense of urgency, and more. Most importantly, those in attendance learn not only “how to get in” but got themselves and their work in front of potential future employers. Mentorship plays a key role in developing emerging talent, especially is a safe space like an experiential learning opportunity.

If you or your company is interested in discovering, developing, and supporting the next generation of talent, please consider supporting LaunchPad through mentorship, internship opportunities, sponsorship, and more.