Vanessa Mitchell has spent her career creating opportunities for others.
As Producer of Special Programs at the Banff World Media Festival, she leads initiatives that support established and mid-career talent across the industry, championing stories with cultural impact while building the structures that sustain them.
But even with over two decades of experience, she reached a familiar inflection point.
“I had built the experience, and I was ready to step into a leadership position where I could move from navigating the industry to strategically influencing its direction.”
That’s when the Black Screen Office’s Executive Pathways Accelerator, formerly the Mid-Career Accelerator, entered the picture.
Stepping Into the “Unknown” of Leadership
Vanessa joined the Accelerator just as she was stepping into a more senior role, overseeing key Banff programs including Diversity of Voices: Elevate, Spark, and the Indigenous Screen Summit.
Her focus was clear: lead at a higher level across strategy, partnerships, and program growth.
But that transition came with new demands.
“Stepping into this level meant navigating the ‘unknown – learning new systems and internal operations from the ground up.”
At the same time, she was balancing leadership with the realities of being a working mother, requiring what she describes as “heightened intentionality” in how she manages her time and shows up.
What’s shaping this transition isn’t just experience – it’s the support she’s receiving in real time.
The Power of the Right Support
Through the Accelerator, Vanessa is now gaining access to something many mid-career professionals don’t: targeted, high-level guidance at the exact moment it’s needed.
That support is both practical and personal – offering space to navigate the realities of race, gender, and leadership as they unfold.
Combined with internal mentorship at Banff, it enables Vanessa to move beyond managing her role to actively redefining how she leads within it.
Photo #2: Vanessa with Banff mentors for the BSO accelerator – Kristina Ejem (middle) – Partnerships, Banff World Media Festival & Associate Publisher, Playback, and Jenn Kuzmyk (far right) – Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival & Publisher, Playback at the 2025 Festival
Photo #3: Inaugural DOV: Elevate 2026 Cohort – Spearheaded the total redesign and led the transformation of the DOV program, evolving it into its current “Elevate” iteration. This moment defined Vanessa’s shift from operational support to visionary leadership, fueling her dedication to advancing the Banff Fellowship programs.
Rethinking Leadership: “Support Is a Strategy”
One of the most significant shifts is mindset.
That shift, from self-reliance to strategic support, is critical, particularly in systems that haven’t historically supported Black leadership.
Vanessa is also building a practice of reflection – creating a roadmap for her goals and intentionally recognizing progress along the way.
“It’s a reminder to pause and acknowledge what you’ve accomplished, instead of constantly moving to the next milestone.”
Building an Executive Mindset
The impact is already visible in how Vanessa leads.The most significant shift has been developing a true executive mindset – stepping into the decisiveness required for senior leadership.
“I now feel equipped to navigate high-stakes environments, with the confidence that my perspective carries value, and that I belong at the table.”
That confidence is not incidental. It’s being built through coaching, mentorship, and the critical experiences at the core of the Accelerator – opportunities to operate at a higher level while still in role.
“The Talent Is Already There”
For Vanessa, the importance of the program is clear and urgent.
“For so many of us, the barriers aren’t just systemic – they’re personal. It’s hard to keep pushing when you don’t see a clear path forward.”
Programs like the Accelerator don’t create talent, they recognize and invest in it.
“They give us the tools to break through, not just to get in the room, but to stay, grow, and lead.”
Her perspective is also shaped by the legacy of Black Canadian women who built pathways before her, including Tonya Williams, Cheryl Nembhard, Michelle McCree, Jennifer Holness, Dahlia Thompson, Lea Marin, Ngardy Conteh George, Alison Duke, and Joan Jenkinson.
Their impact, she notes, has made it possible to navigate an industry that still presents real barriers, without doing so alone.
Black Professionals: You Belong Here
Vanessa’s message is direct:
Her advice: don’t shrink to fit the industry – grow into leadership as your full self.
Because this isn’t just about advancement. It’s about sustainability.
A Call to Employers: Move Beyond Intention
Vanessa is equally clear about what’s required from industry leaders.
This is where many organizations fall short.
Not in hiring, but in what happens next.
If you are not actively creating pathways to leadership, providing meaningful mentorship, and investing in the development of your Black talent, you are limiting your own leadership pipeline.
This is not a future problem. It’s a current one.
The organizations that will lead this industry are the ones making intentional investments now – developing leaders from within, not waiting for them to appear.
“Not just checking a box,” Vanessa emphasizes. “But actually building environments where Black professionals can unlock their full leadership capacity.”
Building What Comes Next
Vanessa’s leadership journey is still unfolding – and that’s exactly the point.
She is continuing to grow into her role with intention, supported by the structures around her, and focused on what comes next.
She is committed to ensuring that the next generation of Black professionals doesn’t have to navigate the same barriers, and that the spaces she leads continue to evolve.
Visibility. Empowerment. Elevation.
This is what leadership development looks like in real time. Are you ready for the next step?
If you’re a screen industry decision-maker ready to build your leadership pipeline, we invite you to partner with us.
Contact Natassia Morris, Business Manager for the BSO’s Research and Action Centre, at rac@bso-ben.ca to learn more about joining the Mid-Career Accelerator.
The Black Screen Office Executive Pathways Accelerator is supported by:
