The Dalet TV Studio hosted a powerful conversation on the future of inclusion and mentorship in media technology. Joining Dalet’s Head of Marketing, Amanda Whitaker, were two leaders from Rise, the organization dedicated to advancing gender equality across the global media tech industry: Alexandra Maier, current Chair of Rise Europe, and Larissa Goerner-Meeus, former Chair, who brought Rise to Europe in 2021 and led the region until early 2025.

Empowering women in media technology

Rise was founded in 2017 as a global community supporting women in broadcast, particularly in technical and leadership roles. Today, with more than 4,000 members, the organization operates worldwide. Its mission is simple but vital: to make the industry more attractive, diverse, and dynamic by helping women build confidence, skills, and lasting connections.

As Alexandra explained, the broadcast industry still skews heavily male, but that imbalance also presents opportunity: “We need to refresh this industry, bring in new and diverse talent, and make it fun again.” Diversity, she said, isn’t just about fairness; it’s about relevance and creativity.

From one mentor to thousands

Larissa shared her journey of bringing Rise to Europe. Inspired by a mentor who told her, “By forty, it’s time to give back,” she launched the region’s first mentorship program with just 23 mentor–mentee pairs. That small start has since grown into a thriving network spanning countries and cultures. “We wanted to help women locally, in their own language and context,” she said. “The problem isn’t solved, but we’ve come a very long way.”

Rise now runs programs at every career stage:

• Rise Up Academy introduces young students to media and production.
• The Mentoring Programme supports women entering or advancing in the industry.
• The C-Suite Programme helps experienced professionals develop board-level and leadership skills.

Both Alexandra and Larissa emphasized that mentorship is about mutual growth. Mentors often learn as much as mentees, and the connections last long after the program ends. “There are real friendships formed,” Alexandra noted. “People stay in touch, meet again at trade shows, and keep supporting each other.”

A community built on giving back

Rise is entirely volunteer-run and offers its mentoring program free of charge for both participants and companies. Corporate sponsors are essential to sustaining it, but the value flows both ways; sponsors gain access to a growing pool of talent, a public-speaker database, and closer dialogue with industry leaders committed to change.

Where Dalet connects

The Dalet TV Studio exists to bring forward the voices shaping a better media future. Alexandra and Larissa share the importance of mentorship, diversity, and human connection to drive lasting industry transformation. This conversation was a reminder that innovation isn’t only about technology, it’s about people, community, and the shared passion that keeps the media world vibrant.