A new virtual quarterly education series to help you grow your career. Level up your skills through industry speaker sessions, hands-on workshops, and portfolio office hours.
QUARTERLY SESSIONS
Virtual Webinars
Workshops
Portfolio Reviews
FORMAT
Rising creatives, students & industry pros (beginner to intermediate)
FOR
Quarterly Themes & Sessions
September 15 - 19, 2026
BREAKING IN & MOVING UP: PORTFOLIOS FOR COLLEGES & CAREERS
Understand what it takes to break into and move up in the entertainment industry from schools and training programs to studio hiring.
JUMP TO SCHEDULE
January 19 - 23, 2026
START STRONG: COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, & CREATIVE CAREER BUILDING
Learn how to own your story and claim your space in the creative industry in the New Year.
JUMP TO SCHEDULE
BREAKING IN & MOVING UP: PORTFOLIOS FOR COLLEGES & CAREERS
Understand what it takes to break into and move up in the entertainment industry from schools and training programs to studio hiring.
September 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM (PT)
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM PT
Portfolio Office Hours is a drop-in space to get real feedback from industry professionals — no appointment necessary. Bring your portfolio or resume for a live review, or simply stop by to watch, listen, and learn from others.
Session Focus:
Concept Artist Portfolios
CG Generalist Portfolios
Production MGMT Resumes
September 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM (PT)
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PT
Tune in to hear creative industry professionals speak about their work and journey into the field through our interactive career exploration series.
Session Focus:
Visual Development
VIRTUAL SESSION
September 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM (PT)
Breaking In & Moving Up: Portfolios for Colleges & Careers
Ready to take your first step into the entertainment industry, or figure out what comes next? This four-hour event gives rising creatives practical insight into building a career, from education and training pathways to what studio recruiters actually look for when hiring. Hear directly from education and industry professionals, then put that insight into practice during a two-hour hands-on portfolio workshop where you'll receive feedback and identify ways to strengthen your work.
Panel | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT
Getting In: School Admissions for Creative Careers
School admissions counselors discuss how to prepare for and enter a creative career degree program.
Speakers:
Dr. Darlene Mortel Edouard | Director of Education, BRIC Foundation
Claire Foxworth | Outreach Manager, Gnomon
David Chai | Program Director, SJSU Animation & Illustration
Patrick Schmid | Assistant Director of Admissions - Animation, CalArts
Van Partible | Animator & Lecturer, CSU Fullerton
Panel | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT
What Studios Look For: Industry HR & Recruiting
Studio recruiters and hiring managers share what they look for in candidates, how to get on their radar, and what a competitive portfolio looks like in today's market.
Speakers:
Alison Mann | Talent Manager & President, Fourth Wall Animation
Annwhitney McCombs | Director, Talent Acquisition, Skydance Animation
Ariel Goldberg | Executive Director, Talent,Paramount Animation
Rachel Ashley | Head of Artistic & Production Recruitment, Titmouse
Workshop | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Portfolio Review Bootcamp
A structured 2-hour workshop where participants can bring in their work-in-progress portfolio pieces. We’ll have 2-3 volunteers who will receive live feedback on their portfolios. There will be a Q&A session and time to breakout into smaller rooms for smaller group feedback. Participants leave with a clearer sense of what's missing and a concrete plan to strengthen their submission.
Speakers:
Carson Smith |Education Consultant, BRIC Foundation
Sam Goff | Independent Talent Manager
START STRONG: COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, & CREATIVE CAREER BUILDING
Learn how to own your story and claim your space in the creative industry in the New Year.
VIRTUAL SESSION
January 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM (PT)
Start Strong: Community, Identity & Creative Career Building
This New Year, learn how to own your story and claim your space in the creative industry. Join us for an event designed for creatives navigating systems that weren't built for them: first-gen professionals, neurodivergent creatives, and anyone building a career on their own terms. Featuring a fireside conversation, a community panel, and a storytelling workshop that helps you put your own journey into words.
Fireside Chat | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT
Different Roads, Same Industry
Join us for a fireside chat with creative professionals who've navigated the industry as underrepresented voices and are building careers on their own terms.
Panel | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT
Find Your People: Community, Tools, and Real Talk for Creative Professionals
This panel brings together creatives with lived experience navigating neurodiversity, first-gen challenges, and the unspoken rules of the workplace. Whether you're just starting out or years in and still figuring it out, this conversation will give you real tools, real allies, and a community that gets it.
Workshop | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Origin Story: Writing a Pitch that's All You
Your story is your most powerful creative asset. And this workshop helps you shape it. In this hands-on session, you'll develop a personal narrative pitch: identify and organize your strengths, communicate your creative vision, and streamline your bio to get your ideas made.
→ Earn a Digital Badge for Writing + Storytelling