24 (Continued From Cover) where female executives in television, initially across Latin America and later globally, could connect, share experiences, support each other professionally and, above all, generate new opportunities. WAWA’s origins trace back to 2016-2017, when Liliam Hernández, Cecilia Gómez de la Torre, and Gema López began shaping the vision. Hernández and López co-founded and currently run Miami, Florida-based Universal Cinergia Dubbing. Gómez, who then headed Lima, Peru-based Tondero Distribución, is now the founder and president of Peru’s Ceci G Entertainment. Today, the association is directed by Miami, Florida-based Claudia Morales, WAWA’s International Coordinator. The organization began with a pivotal gathering in Miami at the conclusion of NATPE, where dozens of female industry professionals united around a shared vision: that professional networks among women could become a powerful force for collaboration and global business. Soon afterward, that idea evolved into the Worldwide Audiovisual Women’s Association (WAWA). From the beginning, the word “Worldwide” reflected a clear ambition rather than just a title. WAWA understood that its community needed a presence wherever the industry conducted business. The numbers highlight this rapid expansion. In 2020, WAWA had 120 members. By 2023, the number had grown to over 400 professionals. Today, WAWA connects more than 600 executives worldwide. Beyond the numbers, WAWA’s evolution saw it growing in purpose. While its early years focused on creating a networking community, the association soon became more structured and ambitious. WAWA developed its own programs, created educational spaces, organized showcases, supported projects, and established partnerships with international markets and organizations. As a result, the network evolved from a gathering place into a platform for doing business, gaining knowledge, and opening doors. One of the most visible symbols of that evolution is the WAWA Woman of the Year Award. Created in 2018 to recognize an industry professional who embodies the values of leadership, ethics, diversity, and commitment, the award has become one of the association’s most important traditions. Over the years, the prize has been bestowed on outstanding executives from across the industry. In January 2026 at Content Americas, Beatriz Cea Okan of Turkey’s Inter Medya was named the 2025 Woman of the Year during a milestone edition that, for the first time, introduced a live vote among WAWA members in attendance. Professional development has also become an important part of WAWA’s evolution. The WAWA Business Forum offers a platform to discuss critical industry issues, including distribution, monetization, artificial intelligence, changing audiences, social media, digital platforms and new production dynamics. In 2026, its fifth edition adopted a format of weekly virtual sessions throughout August, continuing WAWA’s commitment to sharing knowledge and creating conversations around the future of the business. Programs such as the WAWA Business Forum LAB and the Lifetime Mentoring Program further expanded that mission by providing training and mentorship to emerging creators and talent. This educational dimension broadened WAWA’s original scope — it was no longer only about connecting those who had already reached leadership positions, but also about contributing to the development of those working toward their next professional opportunity. WAWA’s internationalization has also become visible through initiatives such as First Look Türkiye, a virtual showcase connecting Turkish distributors with international buyers and members of the association. In April 2026, WAWA held its sixth edition, and companies in attendance included ATV, Inter Medya, Madd Entertainment, OGM Universe, and TRT Sales, all of whom presented new content. The initiative demonstrates how WAWA has transformed a network of contacts into a practical tool for connecting markets, discovering content, and facilitating business conversations across territories. That same evolution can be seen in WAWA’s presence at Content Americas in Miami, MIP Cancun, MIPCOM in Cannes, L.A. Screenings, Iberseries & Platino Industria, Conecta Fiction in Spain, Ventana Sur in Argentina, the International Emmy Awards in New York City, and other key industry gatherings. The transition from attending markets to creating dedicated spaces, partnerships, and activities within them reflects an important transformation: WAWA went from being present in the industry to becoming an active part of its conversation. The pandemic was another defining moment. In 2020, when the industry suddenly lost its physical meeting spaces, WAWA strengthened its use of technology to keep its community connected. That experience reinforced something that today feels fundamental to the association. WAWA operates both in physical markets and digital spaces, allowing its members to connect, learn, and conduct business throughout the year. In 2026, that evolution took another step forward with Series y Más+, WAWA’s YouTube channel, which was designed to provide a new exhibition window for series, telenovelas, and films from its members. It’s managed in collaboration with YOLU, an Estonia-based international multi-language network (MCN) specializing in YouTube channel management. The project seeks to give visibility to catalogs, reach new audiences, and explore monetization opportunities. It is a revealing example of how much WAWA has changed. An organization created to connect executives is now also exploring ways to connect their content directly with audiences. Over the years, the meaning of belonging to WAWA has changed as well. What began as a place to meet has become a network offering contacts, business opportunities, training, mentorship, visibility, access to markets, exchange of information, and content exposure. Throughout that evolution, WAWA has preserved something essential from its beginnings: the belief that collaboration is not simply a social value, but a professional and business advantage. (This report was coordinated by the Caracas, Venezuela-based Patricia Domínguez, executive assistant at WAWA) The WAWA contingent at MIP Cancun L. to r.: Liliam Hernández, Roxana Rotundo, Cecilia Gómez de la Torre, and Gema López. Rotundo (CEO of VIP 2000 TV) is now chairwoman of the board of WAWA. VIDEOAGE November 2026 WAWA at 10
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