Hollywood power players, politicians, finance folks and founders attended WME’s inaugural Women’s Health Summit at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu (a day before the area was evacuated due to the Bryson Fire over the weekend).
Attendees included Mandy Moore, Emmy Rossum, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Phoebe Gates, Rep. Lauren Underwood and California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra, plus WME Group co-chairman Richard Weitz and WME’s co-head of talent Andrew Dunlap.
Katie Couric — whose upcoming documentary “Hormonal!” covers the crisis in women’s health — made an appearance via video to reveal a stat that drew gasps: “Erectile dysfunction, which affects 19% of men, has gotten five times [more] research funding as PMS, which affects 90% of women.”
WME clients including Halle Berry and Lupita Nyong’o are vocal women’s health advocates, which was the genesis for the event. “This Summit was inspired in part by WME clients like Emmy Rossum, Halle Berry, Katie Couric, Lupita Nyong’o, and Mandy Moore, for whom this work is deeply personal,” said Jeanell English, WME’s Head of Community and Impact.
In partnership with the Foundation for Women’s Health, WME has launched the WME x Foundation for Women’s Health Catalytic Research Fund. WME’s senior policy and political advisor Hannah Linkenhoker and English led the program on behalf of the agency.