Women Leading the Charge: Board of Governors Honors Innovators
Cedars-Sinai’s Primary Fundraising Group Salutes Leaders in Entertainment, Sports With Support from Lead Financial Sponsor, City National Bank, and Host Sponsor, Warner Bros. Discovery, to Advance $60 Million Charitable Goal
Two powerhouse leaders from the worlds of entertainment and sports were this year’s distinguished honorees at the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Sunset Soiree.
Bela Bajaria runs the show at Netflix. Gillian Zucker holds court for the Los Angeles Clippers. Both Bajaria and Zucker are trailblazing forces in industries traditionally dominated by men.
With A-list celebrities, including host Kevin Hart and presenter Mindy Kaling celebrating the guests of honor, the Board of Governors held its 2024 event on Saturday, April 20th, with generous support from lead financial sponsor, City National Bank, and host sponsor, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Adam Selkowitz, chair of the Board of Governors, says the honorees were thoughtfully selected based on their records of excellence in leadership roles. “We’re incredibly lucky to be honoring Bela and Gillian—decision-makers known for their dynamic, creative and innovative thinking that is emblematic of the research we support at Cedars-Sinai,” said Selkowitz. “Our last campaign to support the Board of Governors Innovation Center was like building the rocket; now, with this new campaign, it’s time to blast off.”
Bajaria, chief content officer for Netflix, is this year’s recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award. Born in London to South Asian parents, Bajaria moved to the U.S. with her family when she was 9. She’s held several leadership roles since joining the streaming service in 2016, including head of Global TV, the division that manages shows like the Emmy award-winning Squid Game. She’s been recognized by The Hollywood Reporter in its 2023 Women in Entertainment Power 100 list, was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and also made Fortune’s list of Most Powerful Women four years consecutively, beginning in 2020. Bajaria serves on the Paley Center’s L.A. Board of Governors and the board of L.A.’s Saban Community Clinic, a Cedars-Sinai partner that offers free health services to those in need.
“I was an Indian immigrant growing up in America. Not seeing myself on screen and what that meant is very personal to me,” said Bajaria. “The vision of authentic and very culturally specific storytelling is our goal at Netflix. Now, more people from underrepresented groups are behind the camera and when you have that, you really see that represented in front of the camera.”
Gillian Zucker is president of the L.A. Clippers and Intuit Dome, the team’s new arena. She is this year’s recipient of the 2024 Inspirational Leadership Award. Her rise to the top has literally been on the fast track. Before accepting her position with the Clippers in 2014, she spent nine years as president of the Auto Club Speedway racetrack in Fontana. Zucker was recently named to Los Angeles Magazine’s L.A. Woman list. She’s lent her expertise to numerous boards, including the Los Angeles Sports Council and the Young Presidents’ Organization.
“I’m very proud to say that I think female leaders are a lot less rare than they used to be,” said Zucker. “If you have a calling or passion about something, just go for it. You don’t necessarily have to look for someone who looks like you in that role.”
The Board of Governors is Cedars-Sinai’s primary fundraising group. Proceeds from the Sunset Soiree will benefit the board’s Innovation to Impact initiative. The campaign’s goal is to raise $60 million to accelerate research and development of treatments for challenging illnesses impacting children, cancer, diabetes, neurological conditions and autoimmune disorders.
“Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors is so fortunate to showcase the impactful leadership of these two honorees,” said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, and the Warschaw Law Chair in Healthcare Leadership. “We applaud the myriad achievements of our honored guests and look forward to the tremendous strides they will continue to make in their personal and professional lives.”
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