Nick Delisi
Groundbreakers
Adam Umhoefer
Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
The world knows the Creative Artists Agency as a leading entertainment agency. But in addition to representing celebrities, actors, and sports heroes, CAA has a philanthropic arm, the CAA Foundation. Adam Umhoefer is an executive at the CAA Foundation, where he helps connect creatives to charitable groups and social causes.
As leader of CAA’s climate and sustainability work, Umhoefer is helping save the planet through initiatives like the Climate Storytelling Fellowship, which rewards screenwriters with grants and mentors. Climate storytelling plays a key part in the fight against climate change because the stories viewers see on-screen can educate as well as entertain, thereby moving hearts and minds to take action.
To this end, Umhoefer also helped launch Good Energy’s Climate Storytelling Playbook, a resource for writers that provides educational tools on climate science as well as partnership opportunities. For his endeavors, Forbes this year recognized Umhoefer as one of the top climate leaders changing the film and TV industry.
Earlier, Umhoefer worked on President Obama’s 2008 campaign and served as executive director of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, where he led the charge on defeating Proposition 8 in California and helped pave the way for national marriage equality.
Be it for LGBTQ+ equality or the future of Earth, Umhoefer is striving for a brighter future: “I work to create opportunities for artists and athletes to boldly engage on issues from LGBTQ+ rights to climate change, while sending a message to young people everywhere that they can be who they want to be, love who they want to love, and make the world a better place along the way.” @oomhayfur
Photo by Patrick Randak
Janelle Rodriguez
Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Photo by Patrick Randak
Janelle Rodriguez is the executive vice president of programming at NBC News, in which capacity she manages NBC Nightly News, NBC News NOW, as well as breaking news specials. It’s a notable year for the country’s longest-running evening newscast, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
In addition to upholding the gold standard of this time-honored brand, the out Puerto Rican executive is breaking new ground by building NBC News NOW, the fasting-growing U.S. streaming news network. Under her oversight last year, NBC News NOW had an impressive 50 percent year-over-year growth and broadened into national and international linear distribution.
As the world gears up for an action-packed 2024 that includes the Paris Olympics and a U.S. presidential election, Rodriguez is more than prepared to lead her teams in their coverage. It’s a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly.
“I get a front row seat to history every day and have the honor of working with the best journalists in the world to bring the news to our audiences everywhere,” Rodriguez says.
Previously, Rodriguez served as CNN’s vice president of programming. During her career, she’s won several Peabody Awards and five Emmy Awards for election night coverage and beyond. Her CNN team took home the prestigious Alfred I. DuPont Award for its reporting on the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. And she’s routinely honored for her work by media outlets, being recognized by Variety’s Women’s Impact Report, Fast Company’s Queer 50, and CableFax’s Pride List.
Despite all her professional accomplishments, Rodriguez takes her greatest pride in her family. “Being a mom to my 10-year-old daughter is the greatest gift and hardest work of my life. I’m truly blessed,” she says.