About Us

Elayna Garner is an award-winning artist, educator, and activist. Master of the multi-hyphenate, Elayna has performed at Yale Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre, Greenroom42, and New York Comedy Festival. An accomplished singer, choreographer, and graduate of Yale University, she is the recipient of the Michael Manzella Award for her nonprofit community work in the arts. Elayna is committed to building community and championing access within the Media & Entertainment industry. Elayna currently serves as ODI’s Executive Director, working closely with several media moguls, including Spectrum News, Warner Music Group, Uproxx Media, Syndeo Institute, and ForbesBLK.

Award-winning filmmaker - a Writer,Director and Producer whose artistic journey has been uniquely shaped by his dual love for film and psychology. Currently, Paul works as an Executive and a Producer at the “change agency”, ESHAP. At ESHAP, Paul works alongside Evan Shapiro on a diverse range of projects spanning Film, TV, Theatre, Data Insights and Media clientele like CAA, PBS, David Letterman, Conde Nast, Warner Music Group, Paramount, etc.Additionally, Paul serves as the Head of Content at One Diverse Industry, an educational non-profit committed to empowering marginalized and underrepresented communities by connecting them with top media professionals.

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer, professor of Media Studies at NYU and Fordham University, unofficial official Cartographer of the Media Universe. Shapiro leads change agency ESHAP.

Michael Smith, NPR's Chief Marketing Officer, brings more than 30 years of experience in entertainment brand marketing, content, digital, and revenue generating brand extensions. Previously he was SVP, GM Digital Channels for Scripps Networks, where he developed strategies to reach younger and more diverse audiences on new digital streaming platforms. Earlier, Smith was SVP, GM Cooking Channel and Food Category Brand Extensions. He oversaw marketing, brand strategy, and programming for the Cooking Channel, a network he helped create and launch.