Get ready for some serious girl power! The Hollywood Reporter (THR) is gearing up for its annual Women in Entertainment (WIE) gala, and this year, they're honoring the one and only Gwyneth Paltrow with the prestigious Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. This is a big deal, and here's why you should care.
The event, a glamorous breakfast gathering, will be held in Los Angeles on December 3rd at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, marking its third consecutive year back at its original location. It's a star-studded affair, attracting 600 industry leaders and VIPs. The gala is presented by Lifetime, a founding sponsor, and coincides with the release of THR's highly anticipated Women in Entertainment issue, which spotlights the Power 100 – a list of the most influential women in entertainment.
The Sherry Lansing Leadership Award is more than just a trophy; it's a symbol of recognition for trailblazers and philanthropists who have made a significant impact in the entertainment and media industries. It was established in honor of Sherry Lansing, who holds the distinction of being the first woman to lead a Hollywood studio as the former CEO of Paramount Pictures. Past recipients read like a who's who of inspiring women, including Nicole Kidman, Adele, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, and Viola Davis.
THR's editor-in-chief, Maer Roshan, perfectly captures the essence of Paltrow's influence, stating that she has "redefined what it means to be a multihyphenate talent." He emphasizes her impact through her on-screen performances and her pioneering work as a founder and entrepreneur. Sherry Lansing herself echoes this sentiment, praising Paltrow's ability to inspire millions and her dedication to empowering women. She highlights how Paltrow's influence extends beyond entertainment, shaping our understanding of wellness, purpose, and leadership.
But here's where it gets interesting: Gwyneth Paltrow isn't just an actress; she's a visionary entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of goop, she transformed a weekly newsletter into a nine-figure global lifestyle platform. This platform has redefined the modern consumer landscape across commerce, content, beauty, wellness, food, and fashion. Under her leadership, goop has launched several successful brands, including goop Beauty, GWYN, and goop Kitchen, a fast-growing restaurant concept with multiple locations and plans for expansion.
And this is the part most people miss: Paltrow's influence extends far beyond goop. She is also a seasoned investor and operator with a portfolio of over 80 companies, including early investments in Uber, Pinterest, Canva, Oura Ring, Seed Health, OpenAI, Olipop, and Sweetgreen. As a co-founder and general partner of Kinship Ventures, she invests in early-stage and late-growth-stage companies across various sectors, from consumer tech to health and wellness.
On the acting front, you can catch her in A24’s Marty Supreme, set to be released on December 25th. And let's not forget her impressive filmography, which includes an Academy Award for her role in Shakespeare in Love, along with roles in The Royal Tenenbaums, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Proof, Se7en, Emma, Sliding Doors, Great Expectations, Shallow Hal, and the Marvel's Iron Man franchise.
But there's more to this event than just celebrating a remarkable woman. The WIE gala also supports the Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program, which pairs promising young women from underserved high schools in Los Angeles with powerful female executives in film and TV. This year marks the program's 16th year, and it's a joint venture with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Over the years, the program has provided over $15 million in scholarships to its mentees. This year, over $1 million in university scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors from the program.
In 2024, the WIE Mentorship Program became a fiscally sponsored fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, expanding its reach and impact. The Roybal School of Film and Television Magnet also joined as a new partnership school, creating a path for Roybal students to become mentees. The mission of The Roybal Film and TV Magnet is to build a more inclusive pipeline of historically underrepresented, college and career-ready students interested in the film and television industries.
THR's Women in Entertainment event is presented by Lifetime, which has been a significant supporter of the mentorship program. The event also receives support from Delta Air Lines, Medicube, Reyka Vodka, Seven Bucks Productions, and WME, and partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Chapman University, and Loyola Marymount University.
This announcement is the latest in a string of successes for THR, which recently received a record-breaking number of nominations at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and won multiple prizes at the SoCal Journalism Awards.
What do you think? Does Gwyneth Paltrow deserve this recognition? Are you inspired by her entrepreneurial journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And, what other women in entertainment do you admire?
