Jeanell English is an experienced operations leader and entertainment executive with expertise in diversity, equity, accessibility, & inclusion (DEAI), health & wellbeing, learning & development, workforce strategy, climate action, and production management.  Her unique career path began in the more traditional Human Resources space where she worked as a business partner and DEAI specialist implementing programs and interventions such as unconscious bias and cross-cultural trainings, global diversity awareness campaigns, wellbeing programs and M&A cultural integration sessions. 

While working for Discovery, Inc. (now Warner Bros. Discovery) Jeanell transitioned into sport production where she led the resource operations function for the European sporting arm of the business.  With this transition she was able to apply her analytical and operational skills to enable the delivery of Discovery’s first broadcast of the Olympic Games to Europe where she maintained oversight of onboarding, medical, health & safety, sustainability, contracting and local recruitment for a multinational crew of 750+ people.  Beyond her work on the Olympic Games Jeanell was also responsible for the function within the broader sport business which included  the strategic management and engagement of 400+ freelancers to deliver live and non-live coverage of sport events such as tennis grand slams and cycling tours. 

After leaving Discovery, Jeanell joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences where she most recently served as the EVP, Impact and Inclusion. In this role, she led the Academy’s initiatives designed to address underrepresentation across the industry and to discover, empower, and advance the work of emerging and diverse film artists. As part of this portfolio, English oversaw the Academy’s talent development programs, known as Academy Gold, as well as management of the Academy’s broader sustainability, representation, inclusion, and accessibility efforts which included her award-winning impact producing work for the Oscars.

Jeanell is the co-founder of Elizabeth and Minnie Publishing, and independent publishing house dedicated to identifying and amplifying stories of Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latino, and MENA communities with an emphasis on women. The publishing company aims to diversify the entertainment industry by enhancing the supply and demand for diverse stories.

A self described ‘cultural chameleon’ Jeanell has made it her mission to learn and grow through global cultural immersion.  She has lived, worked and travelled the world spending a significant amount of time in Europe and Asia.  Jeanell received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations with a minor in Visual Studies from Cornell University and Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, Smith School of Business.  She was named a ‘New Leader in Hollywood’ by Variety in 2022.