Our Work

Empire produced an international, virtual award show for one of the world’s top 100 corporations. The awards show is the company’s most prestigious corporate recognition program with a multi-year legacy, recognizing its most important global B2B partnerships with participants and attendees joining live from throughout the world.  

Due to the pandemic, this was the first time in the Awards’ 20-year history that they would be held virtually. The necessity to include attendees and participants from dozens of countries including China, Russia, Brazil, India, and Australia in real-time required highly complex technical production and precision execution, originating from multiple broadcast locations.

Hosted by Ghida Fakhry, a renowned broadcast journalist, from an XR (extended reality) studio in New York City with multiple, additional satellite locations, the ceremony honored eight partner companies for their achievements within their regions. After recognizing the honoree companies and showing films produced by each, two overall winners were announced to receive the coveted prize, one from the UK for 2019, and one from Mexico for 2020.

All speakers, including the company’s Chairman and CEO, its Chief Commercial Officer, as well as regional CEOs, presenters, and nominees, joined the virtual ceremony via remote connections around the world. Empire provided technical online virtual stage managers to facilitate smooth participation for each participant.  

The program ran flawlessly and engaged and entertained winners in every region of the world, many of whom viewed and participated in the program through live virtual watch parties, some of which were translated live into multiple languages.

Empire served as overall producer of the program managing run-of-show development, visual design, technical production, broadcast, graphics, animations, LED wall screen content, talent coordination, and overall project management.  

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid and live events, and has been a proud production partner for this corporate client for over 25 years.

Empire was pleased to help produce the 2021 New York Public Radio Gala hosted in-person at The Plaza Hotel, continuing a partnership in a series of events for the public radio service.

The gala invited supporters of NYPR to gather for the first time since 2019 for an exciting evening packed with entertainment and good company to celebrate 20 years of Radiolab. Starting with a cocktail reception in the Terrace Room, guests were then led to the dinner in the ballroom by the High and Mighty Brass Band, kicking off the program with high-energy performances.

This year’s program featured actress Julianna Marguiles as Gala Host, with remarks by Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO and President, NYPR; Timothy A. Wilkins, Board Chair, NYPR; Ed Yim, Chief Content Officer and SVP, WQXR; Jad Abumrad, Creator and Host, Radiolab; and musical performances by Kishi Bashi and WQXR’s Artist Propulsion Lab Artists, and special guests.

Two awards were presented, celebrating Radiolab’s past and present. Ira Glass, Creator and Host, This American Life, presented an award to Robert Krulwich, Retired Host, Radiolab; and Suzie Lechtenberg, Executive Producer, Radiolab, and Soren Wheeler, Executive Editor, Radiolab, presented an award to Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller, and Latif Nasser, Hosts, Radiolab.

In addition to the in-person guest experience, the main program was livestreamed to a remote audience tuning in from their homes. Overall, NYPR raised over $1.1M towards supporting the organization’s vital work delivering local news to the greater area of New York and New Jersey.

Empire’s scope of work included development of the program run-of-show, technical production management, creative design of the livestream screen graphics and micro-site, and production and editing of three feature videos, plus post-gala video assets including a gala sizzle reel.

Empire is a leading producer of events including fundraising galas, experiential marketing engagements, corporate conferences, festivals, concerts, and more.

When one of Empire’s longtime clients was looking for talent for their prestigious, virtual award ceremonies, they turned to Empire to secure A-list talent that would resonate and excite their global attendees. For the main host of the program, Empire secured award-winning actress, film producer, and former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, who hosted the events from a studio in London.

For headline entertainment, Empire delivered one of country music’s biggest superstars, Keith Urban, and the sensational Grammy Award-winning acapella group, Pentatonix.

Each artist performed from their respective studios with Keith Urban performing his hit song, “The Fighter”, and Pentatonix performing their latest single, “Sing”. Empire is a leading provider of world class talent for various types of virtual and in-person events.

Empire was proud to produce New Heights’ 5th annual gala, The GameChangers Ball, as an in-person event. This year’s gala held special significance, inviting guests for an exclusive first look at their new space at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, featuring sports facilities, basketball courts, classrooms, office, and community spaces.

The gala began with a cocktail reception and a jazz performance by KingKlavé. Overlooking the basketball court, the guests viewed live basketball played by the New Heights youth members on the new court.

Guests were then seated for dinner and the main program at the community space which was transformed into a ballroom for this special occasion. Catering for the evening was presented by a special collaboration of two of the finest local caterers, Dining with Grace and Ginger Root, and desserts were provided by Brownstone Cheesecakes, a popular bakery based in Brooklyn.

While guests enjoyed dinner, the program consisted of an introduction to the new space, an awards ceremony to four special honorees, a live auction, and a call to action by New Heights executives. The honorees were Lance Thomas, New Heights Class of 2006, Board Member, Duke National Champion and NBA Veteran; Don Capoccia, Principal of BFC Partners; Amber Sabathia, Co-Founder & Executive Director at PitCCh In Foundation and Player Agent, CAA Baseball; and Bruce E. Mosler, Chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield.

Working closely with New Heights, Empire served as the overall event producer, managing elements including venue, catering, décor, programming, and technical production. Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

About New Heights:

New Heights Youth, Inc. is a non-profit sports-based youth-development and educational organization based in New York City.

New Heights creates opportunities and provides support for promising youth to fulfill their potential in the classroom, on the court, and in the community. Their mission is to educate and empower promising underserved youth to be leaders, champions, and student-athletes by developing the skills necessary for success in high school, college, and life.

Specifically, the organization uses basketball as a “hook” to engage young men and women in the program, help them access high-quality educational opportunities, and instill in them the values and life skills that will prepare them for success in life beyond sports.

Client Testimonial: Teaming up with Empire to produce our annual GameChangers Ball was one of the smartest decisions we made. Turning a century-old armory into a luxurious ballroom was a tall order, but Empire–and Sammy Kim in particular–planned every detail beautifully and within our budget. Thank you for guiding us on this journey and making our event vision a reality!!

Empire joined Internews once again to produce FilmAid’s Power of Film Awards at the Standard Hotel in New York City. Set under a semi open-air sky on a crisp Autumn night, the event was a perfect mix of purpose and pleasure. For the first time since the pandemic, FilmAid supporters gathered to celebrate its mission to harness the power of film to educate, inspire and empower refugees and other vulnerable communities around the world.

The cocktail event and program included moving remarks by FilmAid’s Founder, Caroline Baron, and new Director, Gita Saedi Kiely, who painted her vision for tomorrow.

“We are now a global organization with projects happening in communities worldwide, with partnership and support from industry leaders like The Oscars (AMPAS) and Variety, and with life changing work that impacts hundreds of thousands of people every year.”

Tim Blake Nelson presented the Student Award to Nhial Gatriek Deng, a 2020 graduate of the FilmAid training program. Mark Ruffalo shared a heartfelt pre-recorded tribute honoring Ian Urbina with the prestigious Christopher Dickey Award for his groundbreaking work on The Outlaw Ocean Project.

Kati Marton then spoke regarding her late husband’s Richard C. Holbrooke Humanitarian Award before introducing Mariam Wardak. Mariam received the award on behalf of the awardee, Sahraa Karimi, who was unable to attend in person. She shared an incredible story of life as a woman under Taliban ruled Afghanistan, and how Sahraa was a devoted advocate of women and cinema until her final moments boarding an evacuation flight to Europe as the Taliban took over.

Jeanne Bourgault, Internews President and CEO, closed the evening with immense gratitude and pride for Internews joining forces with FilmAid. Their incredible work in training young people in all aspects of storytelling and communications empowers the next generation to advocate for its own rights to effect positive change in the world.

Empire is honored to support the vital work of FilmAid and has been serving not-for-profit organizations for nearly three decades. To learn more please visit https://www.filmaid.org

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The Enactus World Cup took place virtually this year, showcasing and celebrating the work of 72,000 Enactus nextgen leaders from around the globe creating a better, more sustainable world.

The event was hosted by Jeff Houghton and Adesina Sanchez. The four-day programming gathered esteemed business leaders, Enactus Alumni, and 1,000+ students from more than 30 countries to experience Passion on Purpose. Notable speakers included the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to the 2021 Food Systems Summit, Dr. Agnes Kalibata; IMAGINE Co-Founder and former Unilever CEO, Paul Polman; and Artist Voice Coach, Roger Love.

Sessions addressed pressing issues and actions needed to further advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals—specifically the need to rethink plastic and combat the ocean crisis, the climate crisis, and food insecurity.

The Enactus World Cup 2021 was supported by impact partners Ford Motor Company and Unilever; Enactus innovation partners AIG, BIC, DSM, and Harmony; and the Better World Award Sponsor, Ford Motor Company Fund.

Empire worked closely with the Enactus team to create the overall event, run-of-show, and graphics, coordinated logistics for all speakers and talent, and oversaw the technical production and broadcast.

Enactus is the world’s largest experiential platform dedicated to developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators who create a better world. That translates to 72,000 student leaders around the world on 1,700+ university campuses in 35 countries, all focused on creating innovative solutions to the world’s greatest social, economic and environmental challenges.

Enactus believes that investing in students who take Entrepreneurial Action for others creates a better world for us all. You can learn about the work of the Enactus #nextgenleaders here—everything from innovative technology used to alleviate the burden on medical workers during COVID-19 in Australia, to the world’s first zero-waste shower tablets in Canada, to an edible alternative to single-use plastic utensils in Morocco.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events, and has been serving not-for-profit organizations for nearly three decades. Empire is proud to support Enactus.

​SHOWTIME has been a pioneer in LGBTQ-inclusive programming for over two decades and has helped bring LGBTQ stories to the forefront through series including the groundbreaking show, The L Word, which premiered in 2004 and ran for six seasons. Ten years later, the series was revived with The L Word: Generation Q, bringing back some of the original show’s favorites as well as a new, younger cast.

SHOWTIME called on Empire to help promote the 2nd season of The L Word: Generation Q, by enhancing a series of weekly viewing party events in six cities across the US over a nine-week period, leading up to the season finale. In Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Mobile, AL, Houston, TX, and New York City, Empire sent brand ambassadors, custom swag, games, photo booths, and other fun activities, to a total of 50+ viewing events held mainly in lesbian bars.

At Henrietta Hudson in New York City and The Semi-Tropic in Los Angeles, fans were treated to surprise appearances from most of the show cast including Kate Moennig, Leisha Hailey, Arienne Mandi, and Jennifer Beals. SHOWTIME’s enhancements to the weekly viewing parties helped swell attendance to 3x the usual numbers, peaking around 400 guests for the finale episode watch parties in New York City and Los Angeles. The 2nd season of The L Word: Generation Q is available on-demand on SHOWTIME.

When Bravo was looking to promote Season 19 of their Emmy-winning competition series Project Runway, they partnered with Empire to help execute a multi-day outdoor stunt that would engage with fans and fashionistas across New York City.

In this age of social media, nothing gets more traction than a fabulous selfie. Empire built three oversized mirror installations adorned with colorful, eye-popping floral designs, and set them up in key locations throughout Manhattan across three days, kicking off on the premiere day of Bravo’s Project Runway Season 19.

The largest of the three mirrors was set up as a thee-day flagship location in the heart of Flatiron Plaza next to Madison Square Park. With the Flatiron Building as the backdrop and the Empire State Building caught in the mirror’s reflection, thousands of passersby, including Real Housewives of Potomac’s Wendy Osefo, came by to check themselves out and take a snap.

The other two mirrors ‘popped up’ each day with fresh new floral ‘looks’ and sassy new mottos (e.g. “IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO SLAY”) in different locations including SoHo, Columbus Circle, the Meatpacking District, and Union Square. Additional notable visitors included Real Housewives of New York’s Leah McSweeney, and current S19 Project Runway contestant, Darren Apolonio.

Blessed with beautiful, sunny, and warm mid-October weather, the mirrors were seen by tens of thousands of New Yorkers and enjoyed interactions with thousands of selfie-takers.

Empire secured the location permits, worked with florist East Olivia on the installations, and managed a team of Brand Ambassadors outfitted in branded black denim jackets and white T’s.

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The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the Aspen Institute co-hosted the 2021 Global Inclusive Growth Summit. The day-long, virtual event was attended by a global community of purpose-driven leaders from across sectors who came together to take collective action towards rebuilding an economy that works for everyone.

Participants included Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris; Former President, William Jefferson Clinton; H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, United Nations Secretary General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Director-General, World Trade Organization, Ajay Banga; Executive Chairman, Mastercard, Reeta Roy; President and CEO, Mastercard Foundation, Vera Songwe; United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Brad Smith; President and Vice Chairman, Microsoft, Alan Jope; CEO, Unilever, Ivor Horn; Director of Health Equity & Product Inclusion, Google, Ashish Jha; Dean, Brown University School of Public Health, Makhtar Diop; Managing Director and EVP, International Finance Corporation, Michael Froman; Vice Chairman, President, Strategic Growth, Mastercard, Dan Porterfield; President and CEO, Aspen Institute, Shamina Singh; President of The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Ida Rademacher; and many more. The multi-session program was hosted by Marketplace correspondent, Kimberly Adams.

Conversations catalyzed new partnerships, spotlighting solutions that advance inclusive and sustainable economies around the world.

The virtual event platform hosted main stage content on topics including inclusive and sustainable growth, financial security, putting technology to work for the common good, digitizing small businesses, corporate intrapreneurship, crypto-currency, building financial security after Covid-19, live demos on groundbreaking tools for advancing inclusive growth.

Additionally, a live social feed was created to provide guest interaction, the full program agenda, a list of speakers and their biographies, and more.

Empire worked closely with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the Aspen Institute in the months leading up to the Summit, consulting closely on content and program development, speaker advance, event marketing, and audience development communications. Empire also oversaw all technical production and management of the livestream program and pre-recordings, virtual event platform development, creative and visual design, editing, and overall project management.

Empire is a proud production partner for the 2021 Global Inclusive Growth Summit, supporting the goals of inclusive and equitable economic growth.

About The Global Inclusive Growth Partnership: The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth & the Aspen Institute

Launched in October 2019 with an inaugural summit, the Global Inclusive Growth Partnership (GIGP) combines the expertise and networks of both the Aspen Institute and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to address systemic issues across a range of topics including financial security, the future of workers, portable benefits, growing micro and small businesses, and commercially-sustainable social impact.

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth:

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The Center leverages the company’s core assets and competencies, including data insights, expertise and technology, while administering the philanthropic Mastercard Impact Fund to produce independent research, scale global programs and empower a community of thinkers, leaders, and doers on the frontlines of inclusive growth.

The Aspen Institute:

The Aspen Institute is a community-serving organization with global reach whose vision is the creation of a free, just, and equitable society. For 70 years, the Institute has driven change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the world’s greatest challenges. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the Institute has offices in Aspen, Colorado, and New York City, as well as an international network of partners. Learn more at www.aspeninstitute.org.

To learn more and view the programming on demand, visit https://globalinclusivegrowthsummit.com

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Empire was proud to produce World Food Program USA’s livestreamed panel discussion entitled US Against Hunger: The Future of Hunger & Global Food Systems. This engaging conversation was moderated by award-winning international journalist, Femi Oke, and featured Dr. Martin Frick, Deputy to the Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021; Volli Carucci, Director of Food Systems and Resilience, U.N. World Food Programme; and Chef Andrew Zimmern, chef, writer, & Emmy-winning TV personality.

The virtual panel focused on the U.N. World Food Program’s work of fighting food insecurity and addressing how food waste impacts hunger. The discussion was livestreamed through the World Food Program’s social media accounts as well as a Vimeo player on the World Food Program USA’s website.

Empire worked closely with the World Food Program USA team and served as overall producer of the virtual event, which is the final program in a series of four.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual events of every kind, and has been serving not-for-profit organizations for nearly three decades.

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After a year hiatus, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans decided to bring together their newest cohorts of Fellows for their annual Fall conference in Nashville, TN. Their leadership and Board of Directors called on Empire once again to serve as their production partner for this important gathering.

The Fall Conference hosted the three most recent classes of Fellows, as well as members of the Board of Directors, and a select group of alumni. The weekend was strategically designed as a multi-day retreat consisting of social, educational, and conversational sessions and activities. Its goals included bringing the newest classes of Fellows together, recognizing and celebrating the contributions of immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States, and fostering the sense of community and direct connections between Fellows.

To accomplish this cohesion, event programming was built around common themes of immigration, leadership, innovation, and mental health, targeting to attendees across multiple cohorts and disciplines, age ranges, and professions.

Nashville was chosen as the host city both for its rich history and role as a cultural center, but also for its metropolitan government’s work with New Americans to engage and empower immigrants to participate in government and community.

The weekend kicked off on Thursday evening with Fellow arrivals and registration at the Sheraton Grand Downtown, followed by a welcome dinner and private performance by American singer-songwriter, Joy Oladokun.

Friday morning began with breakfast and optional morning activities including an outdoor exercise bootcamp at Capital City Park and a tour of Nashville’s New American communities.

Programing took place at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition with food truck activations for lunch and a panel discussion with Robert Fisher, Senior Advisor of Results for America, Dr. Stephanie King, the Director of Health Equity Bureau for Nashville’s Metro Public Health, and Fabian Bedne, Senior Manager of Community Development in the Office of Nashville Mayor John Cooper. The opening session was followed by a special blue grass performance by PD Soros Executive Director, Craig Harwood.

Curated one-on-one conversations amongst the Fellows ended the day’s program. Friday evening included a cocktail reception where Fellows had the opportunity to meet and greet with Mrs. Daisy Soros and family before heading out to their individual class dinners at restaurants in the city. One group of Fellows went to Lyra, a restaurant in East Nashville, and the chef shared his New American story with them in the private dining room. The evening closed with an epic line dance party with cocktails and a DJ in the Skye Lounge at the top of the Sheraton Grand.

Saturday afternoon included tours at unique locations around the city of Nashville including Thistle Farms, Cheekwood Botanical Garden, Nashville Food  Project, The Healing Trust with Jen Bailey, and The National Museum of African American Music. The evening’s dinner was held at the Grand Old Opry where Fellows had a chance to experience the variety act performances in one of America’s longest running radio broadcasts and shows. The event featured Carrie Underwood as the closing performer.

The weekend came to a close on Sunday starting with a conversation between four  Fellowship Alumni who are making an impact in the South and concluded with closing remarks by Mrs. Daisy M. Soros, whose heartfelt words created a shared moment for the Fellowship and instilled a sense of legacy in each attendee.

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Fall Conference was a celebration of diverse cultures and a touchstone for the newest classes of Fellows that make up the growing Fellowship community.

Empire worked closely with The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships team, the various departments at The Sheraton Grand Downtown, and the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition team to plan and execute each component of the weekend. Empire managed every detail of this occasion, which included concept development, programming, venue acquisition, budgeting, technical production, catering, décor, guest transportation and accommodations, and overall guest experience.

Empire is proud to have partnered with The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans to produce their Fall Conference to celebrate the Fellows, foster new Fellow bonds, and showcase the growing New American population in Nashville, TN. Empire is also honored to have had the opportunity to recognize the impact of Mrs. Daisy Soros and their family, and to reflect on the life of Mr. Paul Soros.

Empire is a leading producer of high-level events for many of the world’s leading educational institutions, associations, and foundations.

To learn more about the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans visit https://www.pdsoros.org

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Over two days at The Shed, a cultural center in Hudson Yards, New York City, Unfinished Live convened leading voices in tech, media, art, policy, and the spaces-in-between for vibrant conversations about the decentralized future.

The discussions during Unfinished Live fostered a movement toward an equitable and sustainable future for all. Hosted by Baratunde Thurston, participants included Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder in Residence at PolicyLink and the Chair of the Unfinished Network; Nabiha Syed, President of The Markup; Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of Taiwan; Claire Evans, author of Broad Band; Elizabeth Stark, CEO of Lightning Labs; Ian Cheng, Artist; Dan Porterfield, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute; Rashad Robinson, American Civil Rights leader; Gavin Wood, Founder of the Web3 Foundation and Parity Technologies, Co-Founder Ethereum; Gary Liu, CEO, South China Morning Post; Yasmim Green, Director of R&D, Jigsaw; Anil Dash, Co-Founder and CEO, ThinkUp; Rumman Chowdhury, Founder, Parity AI; Alex Kantrowitz, Founder, Big Technology; and Anna Sale, of Death, Sex & Money, who hosted live audio experiments; along with many, many more.

With two main stages, a podcast studio, a dedicated Clubhouse social audio lounge, and interactive art spaces with a special presentation from the artists of Unfinished Camp, the multi-day program was packed with meaning and experiences. Additionally, the Project Liberty Experience—a monumental, immersive, interactive art installation by Refik Anadol—and a projection environment in The McCourt invited guests and members of the public to envision a world where individuals own and control their data.

Empire worked closely with the Unfinished team and various Unfinished partners to deliver an inspiring and seamless experience for this high-profile convening. Empire roles for Unfinished Live included technical production for the program spaces within The Shed (staging, rigging, audio, video, livestream), design, layouts, and production management. Empire oversaw show running for the main stage programs for the live show days as well as livestreaming to a virtual audience. Empire worked closely with T Strategy and Plan Experiential on all aspects of show production as well as Chilean strategy and creative agency, Felicidad, to deliver an extraordinary display of Unfinished Live’s design assets and imagery.

Empire, alongside the Unfinished and Shed teams, collaboratively developed and managed a thorough on-site Covid safety plan for all staff, crew, talent, and guests, ensuring the health and safety of all present at the event.

Empire is a proud production partner for Unfinished Live.

About Unfinished

Unfinished works to strengthen our civic life in the digital age. With a network of partners in technology, academia, social impact, and the arts, Unfinished is imagining the future of technology, culture, and our economy to create a thriving multiracial democracy.

To achieve this, Unfinished is advancing a very concrete solution through Project Liberty, an initiative with the potential to transform how the internet works and who benefits from the digital economy. Project Liberty aims to create a new civic architecture for the next generation of the internet that prioritizes people over platforms, returns the ownership and control of personal data to individuals, reflects a commitment to ethics and shared values, and expands economic opportunities for both users and developers.

Unfinished has partnered with an unparalleled, impact-driven partner network that includes: The Aspen Institute, The Shed, For Freedoms, Ford Foundation, Imperative 21, Ashoka, Georgetown University, Citizen University, Common Goal, Guild of Future Architects, Heartland Forward, Independent Sector, New_ Public, Sciences Po, Serpentine, Amplifier, MilM2, and PolicyLink, and which continues to grow.

To learn more visit: https://unfinished.com/

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Empire was proud to partner with Leaders on Purpose to produce the 4th Annual CEO Summit, a hybrid event taking place in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly. The annual event convenes the world’s most prominent CEOs, academics, multilateral leaders, and business visionaries, all with the goal of integrating purpose and profit.

The theme of this year’s CEO Summit, "Advancing Systemic Leadership & Shaping a Better Future for All—Together", consisted of 12 hours of programming including over 100+ leaders participating in keynote sessions, fire side chats, and intimate breakout sessions, all taking place on a custom-designed virtual platform.

Among the many highlights of the program were remarks by Leaders on Purpose CEO, Christa Gyori; Co-Founder and CSO, Dr. Tatiana Kazakova; UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore; Partners In Health Co-Founder, Dr. Paul Farmer; Unilever CEO, Alan Jope; Paul Polman; and many more.

Sessions from the day included a panel discussion on “Earthshot Partnerships–Breaking Silos, Building New Capacity to Problem Solve Together” with Christian Klein, CEO SAP; Dawn Nakagawa, Executive Vice President Berggruen; and Arlo Brady, CEO of Freuds. There was also a Keynote Session, “Transparent Communication & Building Trust” with Mark Read, CEO WPP. And finally a panel on "Economic Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Enabling a Purpose-First Environment”, in partnership with Meridian International President & CEO, Ambassador Stuart Holliday, included H.E. Rosemary Banks, Ambassador to the US, Country of New Zealand; and Karan Bhatia, Vice President Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google.

Leaders on Purpose is where purpose and strategy meet for better business and a brighter future for all. The organization supports multinational businesses in becoming future-fit, more resilient, and sustainable through embedding purpose at the core of their organizational strategy. They do this by focusing on four areas: research into strategy practices; a peer-to-peer community of CEOs; advocacy for policies to create an enabling environment for purpose-centered business; and advisory on business transformation that delivers on purpose and performance. The annual CEO Summit is the organization’s flagship event bringing together leaders across sectors in support of a purpose-first economy.  

Empire’s role as producer included overall project management, virtual platform development, sponsorship sales, all aspects of the technical production for the hybrid event, registration management, content development, and virtual speaker coordination.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

To learn more please visit https://www.leadersonpurpose.com

During the relatively slow summer month of August, Empire was anything but slow, presenting four globally-known, superstar artists for live and in-person events in a period of four days for various clients in various locations!

Country sensation Dierks Bentley thrilled with a performance at a corporate event in Las Vegas.

Back on the east coast, Pitbull and his dancers had the entire audience on their feet at a spectacular private party.

Jason Derulo appeared for a lucky corporate conference crowd, mirrored on monumental projection screens, while the iconic Christina Aguilera sang some her greatest hits and ballads at a private function.

Empire secured and contracted all of these artists and managed the logistics of their performances within a four day period.

Empire is a leading provider of headline musical talent and are thrilled to bring these and other artists back to the stage for in-person live events.  

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In Los Angeles and New York City, Empire produced two VIP screenings of Chance The Rapper’s new concert movie Magnificent Coloring World. Partnering with AMC Theatres, these exclusive screenings took place at Universal Citywalk on Friday and AMC Empire 25 in Times Square on Saturday for Chance The Rapper’s family, friends, and a few lucky fans who won tickets. This incredible film will be playing across the country in AMC Theatres in 35 cities until August 26.

To mark the release of Focus Features’ Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Focus Features partnered with Empire to bring the iconic Brasserie Les Halles back for one weekend only—and give friends and fans of Anthony Bourdain the opportunity to celebrate his legacy in the restaurant where it all began.

No one has transcended the culinary world and single-handedly transformed how entire generations thought about and connected with food—and the rest of the globe—like Anthony Bourdain. Tony spent the first two decades of his adult life toiling away in hot, cramped kitchens until his essay “Don’t Eat Before Reading This” appeared in The New Yorker, gained immediate acclaim, and spawned his groundbreaking memoir Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, which became a New York Times Bestseller and catapulted him from Executive Chef at NYC’s Brasserie Les Halles to worldwide renown as the host of multiple food and travel shows including No Reservations and Parts Unknown.

Tony’s untimely death in 2018 led thousands of his fans and admirers to revisit the Les Halles space on Park Avenue South and pay tribute to their favorite globetrotting storyteller and foodie, but unfortunately the restaurant was shuttered two years earlier in 2016, after nearly 25 years in business.

Bringing back Brasserie Les Halles for one weekend took enormous tenacity and a touch of luck. The Park Avenue South location came under new ownership in 2017 and went through a full demolition and renovation in 2018-2019. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the reopening of the new restaurant was delayed, which created an opportunity to rent the space and convert it into Brasserie Les Halles through exterior branding, interior design, and tabletop elements reminiscent of the original Les Halles’ Parisian and Art Nouveau aesthetic.

The first night of the four-day pop-up was an invite-only event for friends of Tony and Roadrunner’s filmmaker, Oscar-winning director, Morgan Neville. After attending a special screening of the documentary, guests headed to the restaurant for a dinner that featured Les Halles classics including French onion soup, steak frites, and chocolate mousse, while punk rock tunes from Tony’s favorite artists like The Stooges, Ramones, and Iggy Pop reverberated throughout the brasserie.

The following three nights were open to diners who booked their tickets in advance through event partner RESY. All 900 tickets sold out in just minutes. Diners were comprised of fans, friends, and former colleagues of Tony’s who traveled from across the country and as far as Spain to attend the event.

Empire brought on Great Performances to run the kitchen and front of house staff. Focus Features, Empire, and Great Performances collaborated and consulted with Philippe Lajaunie (Owner & Co-Founder of Les Halles) and Jose de Meirelles (original Executive Chef and Co-Founder of Les Halles) to ensure that the menu stayed true to the original Les Halles.

Empire is a leading producer of experiential marketing events and experiences in New York City and around the globe.

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain opened in theaters on July 16^th and opened to $1.9 million dollars at the domestic box office. The strongest opening for a specialty film this year—narrative or documentary—and top opening doc of the year.

For the American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) Summer Celebration, it delivered a dazzling, virtual showcase of soaring artistry including excerpts of classical, iconic ballet pieces along with the premiere of three new works: Collage & Creed by Silas Farley, Desire by Helen Pickett, and City of Women by ABT Principal Dancer, James Whiteside. All pieces were performed and filmed in quarantined “ballet bubbles” in different locations across the United States.

The First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, delivered welcoming remarks. Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tony Award-winner and ABT Family member, hosted the Summer Celebration with a special guest, ABT Dancer, Erica Lall.

The program also paid tribute to the ongoing ABT Heals series of live recitals for patients and hospital staff at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, highlighted the ABT Across America tour that took place in July, and honored ABT Heroes–medical advisor Dr. Robert Galvin and Jennifer Garner, actress and ABT’s champion supporter–who have helped the company to navigate the pandemic.

Empire worked in close partnership with American Ballet Theatre to develop the creative and run-of-show, coordinate and record speakers remotely, and oversee technical and video production. The program celebrated the spirit of summer and ABT’s “ballet bubbles” by bringing to life themes of nature and vibrant colors through eye-catching landscapes, dancer silhouettes, ambient nature sounds, animations, and sweeping transitions.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events, and is proud to work with leading arts organizations like America’s National Ballet Company®.

To support American Ballet Theatre and its magnificent dancers, brilliant choreographers, and education programs, please visit: https://www.abt.org

ABT’s Summer Celebration program is available for a limited time on ABT’s YouTube Channel.

We were proud to partner with Japan Society for the second year to produce their Annual Dinner. This year was an online celebration that brought together influential leaders, notable public figures, and captivating performers, who are all committed to the organization’s mission of building bridges between the U.S. and Japan.

Headlining the program was a fireside chat between Japan Society Chairman and Chairman Emeritus of Perella Weinberg Partners, Joseph R. Perella, and Henry R. Kravis, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of KKR. These two titans of finance discussed the ongoing issues that define and influence future opportunities within the U.S.-Japan space.

The evening also featured a conversation between former JAXA astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, marking the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's landmark Moonshot speech. This year, NASA and the government of Japan formalized the lunar Gateway partnership, supporting long-term human exploration on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program and opening a new chapter in U.S.-Japan relations.

Guests enjoyed entertainment by the Ryoma Quartet, a Japanese-Western eclectic fusion of traditional Japanese instruments—tsugaru shamisen, shinobue, drums, and violin—that expressed a new form of sound incorporating rock, funk, and electro grounded in classical tradition.

Empire’s New York and Tokyo offices collaborated to direct, film, produce and livestream the 60-minute program all around the world, helping the Japan Society raise over 1.3 million dollars.

To learn more about the Japan Society please visit https://www.japansociety.org/​

As the world’s best athletes prepared for Tokyo 2020, OMEGA, Swiss Luxury Watch Manufacturer and Global Sponsor of the Olympics, with the help of Empire Japan, delivered a special social media campaign showcasing a full range of Tokyo 2020 Olympic inspired timepieces.

Traveling around Japan and incorporating iconic Japanese landscapes, three watches were showcased, including the limited edition, Olympic Collection Seamaster Diver 300M Tokyo 2020—a 42mm stainless steel watch that is mounted with a blue ceramic bezel ring filled with a white enamel diving scale.

Empire Japan covered all aspects of production, including photography, model arrangements, location selection, and costume styling.

OMEGA’s Instagram:
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When The Flaherty wanted to shift its annual Film Seminar into a virtual event, they turned to Empire to deliver a highly interactive, user-friendly platform to feature this year's films and discussions.

The 10-day film seminar featured over 43 films, with filmmakers and attendees joining from 30+ countries and five continents. Programmed by Janaína Oliviera, the 66th edition of the Flaherty Film Seminar, Opacity, sought to forge openings and new possibilities of cinematic existence, especially for subjects that have been excluded or are less valued on conventional screens. The films and subsequent discussions dove deep on topics ranging from diasporic cinema and oral histories, to decolonizing the archive and indigenous storytelling and sovereignty.

Each day, The Flaherty hosted a morning and evening session with one film screening and discussion per session. All film content was revealed just minutes before the session began and subsequently removed at the end of each session to keep attendees on their toes throughout the week. In addition to the main programming, The Flaherty hosted supplementary breakout sessions and after-hours programs via zoom where more attendees could dive deeper in smaller groups.

Empire’s scope of work included registration management, microsite design & development, and overall technical production.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

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The inaugural Juneteenth Unityfest presented by the Robert Randolph Foundation brought together a star-studded lineup of artists, influencers, activists, and sponsors for a virtual festival.

The five-and-a-half-hour livestream, which took place just two days after Juneteenth was officially signed into law as a federal holiday, has garnered over one million views via juneteenthunityfest.com and media partners LiveXLive, Ebony.com, and YouTube.

The inaugural Juneteenth Unityfest paid tribute to the breadth and depth of Black culture while also celebrating future potential.

The celebration kicked off with a stirring recording of Jimi Hendrix’s “Star-Spangled Banner” from his historic 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival appearance. Symbolic of the cultural shift in the mindset of the nation at the time, the performance was a perfect introduction to reflect the power and influence of Black voices and how they have impacted the course of American history.

Following the recording, the live performances kicked off with Nile Rodgers & CHIC, who brought the energy with the timeless hit single, “Good Times.” Festival founder and chairman Robert Randolph then welcomed viewers before turning the program over to the evening’s hosts: actress and author, Amanda Seales, and comedian, JB Smoove.

One of the highlights of the night was undoubtedly the remarks made by Ms. Opal Lee. Lauded as the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ the 94-year-old activist’s commentary embodied the enthusiasm, determination, and relentless perseverance she exhibited to preserve the significance of Juneteenth. Having stood in the White House just days ago, witnessing her life's work come to fruition, the weight of her words were incredibly emotional and provided a moment of reflection on how far the nation has come and a reminder of the work there is left to be done.

There was no shortage of talent as the night blazed on with outstanding performances by Earth, Wind and Fire, India Arie, Darius Rucker, Dave Matthews & Carter Beauford, Ledisi, Black Pumas, Aloe Blacc, Keb’ Mo’, Bebe Winans, Jimmie Allen, Khruangbin, Lucky Daye, Phony Ppl, Michael Franti, Judith Hill, Sheléa, The Soul Rebels and Korean Soul.  Performances took place at partner venues including Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, Mobeon Studio, Burbank, CA, and at various locations throughout the country.

Celebrity spotlights kept the event moving in between performances, with appearances by Phylicia Rashãd, Wayne Brady, Billy Porter, Craig Robinson, Van Jones, Jon Hamm, Aisha Tyler, LeVar Burton, Zach Galifinakis, Jason Wright, Gail Devers, Zina Garrison, Wilson Cruz, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Mollie Taylor Stevenson Jr., Baratunde Thurston, and Roger Guenveur Smith. Lynn Nottage, Holly Robinson Peete, Jesse Williams, and Djimon Hounsou also made appearances, sharing personal anecdotes about what the holiday means to them. The landmark event closed with final remarks by Robert Randolph, followed by a recording of Jimi Hendrix performing “Purple Haze” at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival, which brought the event full circle. Finally, Nile Rodgers & CHIC played the festival out with a performance of “We Are Family,” summing up the sentiment of unity felt by performers and viewers alike.

A recording of the entire festival is available now via the official website and can be accessed by those who missed it until July 19. To view the recording, please visit: www.juneteenthunityfest.com.

Juneteenth Unityfest was made possible by phenomenal sponsors and partners like Heal America movement to fight racial injustice, EBONY as the official media partner, and LiveXLive as the official streaming partner. Additional sponsors included Crown Royal Regal Apple, Amazon, P&G’s Widen The Screen initiative, and NFL’s Inspire Change initiative. Getty Images and OWN also provided special content.

A significant portion of the content and context for the festival came from the 35+ community partners who shared their stories about their contributions to the culture. Participating organizations include AARP, The Africa Center, African American Museum in Philadelphia, Benedict College, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), Hip Hop Caucus, HOLA, Invisible Warriors, Jobs For The Future (JFF), The Links Incorporated, Mile High United Way, Muhammad Ali Center, The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, Reelworks, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Umoja Events Juneteenth NYC Festival, Unity Unlimited, Inc., Usher’s New Look, and We Are Family Foundation.

Juneteenth Unityfest was produced by Empire Entertainment in collaboration with the Robert Randolph Foundation, Red Light Management with creative direction, and writing by Paul Oakley Stovall. For more information on Juneteenth Unityfest, presented by the Robert Randolph Foundation, visit www.juneteenthunityfest.com or follow on social media, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Apex For Youth hosted their 29th Annual Inspiration Awards Gala to support and raise funds for underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low income families in NYC.

This year’s program celebrated “Power in Community, Resilience in Unity and Strength in Love,” featuring a star-studded line up of incredible Asian Americans. Presenters included Journalist and Author, Lisa Ling, Actress, Producer and Activist, Gemma Chan, Actor Henry Golding, and Non-Profit Leader, Entrepreneur, and Former Presidential Candidate, Andrew Yang, sharing stories of strength in the AAPI community. This year’s Inspiration awards honored CEO & Founder of Rise, Amanda Nguyen, Actor and Producer, Daniel Dae Kim, Filmmaker John M. Chu, and Golden Globe-winning Actress, Awkwafina, for their incredible impact, leadership, and empowering voice of this generation.

In addition to the livestream, more than 500 guests gathered across nine restaurants in New York City to celebrate the 2021 honorees, applaud the student speaker, and feast together in person. Another 300 Apex fans in Hong Kong, LA, Chicago, and Toronto hosted viewing parties, contributing to the wildly successful QR-code paddle raise conducted by President & Co-Founder of Goldhouse, Bing Chen. Overall Apex raised $1.75M towards their vital work supporting Asian youth.

It was a remarkable night of gathering, reflecting, and celebrating Asian American voices and stories to recognize the crucial work of Apex for Youth.

Empire worked closely with Apex to develop, design, and run the show for the livestream, coordinate and record speakers remotely, facilitate the livestream, manage video editing and production, and provide technical production and support at 8 New York City locations.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

For more information and to view the livestream visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFdkQbMM5-c​

Empire joined Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of New York once again to produce the Catholic Charities Gala, hosted by Lynda Baquero, NBC 4, New York and celebrating a Renewed Spirit of Hope. The program was livestreamed on a sleek and classic-themed microsite for a virtual audience, underscoring the incredible initiatives and members of Catholic Charities that support underserved communities throughout the greater New York area.

Empire worked alongside Catholic Charities to develop and produce an engaging script, original video production, and run-of-show for the program featuring His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities. The event honored Frank Bisignano, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors, Fiserv, Inc., for his support and continued partnership with Catholic Charities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Highlighting community and youth services, the evening incorporated testimonials and interviews from program directors, volunteers, youth advocates, imagery from community centers, and emergency food programs, the stories of those impacted by the organization’s work.

The program also featured a tribute video to Frank Bisignano which included interviews from his daughters highlighting Frank’s character, before His Eminence presented the Deus Caritas Est award, and a Catholic Charities Centennial Campaign Video thanking donors for their continued support.

Empire’s scope of work included script writing, development of run-of-show, remote recordings, four on-site video productions at locations across New York, video editing, speaker advancement, live stream, program graphics, and microsite design. Additionally, Empire delivered five shortened video assets, one which would be used for an in-person gathering of vaccinated individuals at the Cardinal’s home the night of the event.

Empire is honored to work with Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of New York to help support the vital work they do, especially during unprecedented times.

View the full livestream here: https://catholiccharitiesgala2021.org/

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New 42 rang in the start of summer with one of the first live events to be held in New York City since the start of the pandemic.

Let’s Get this Show on the Street, a once-in-a-lifetime event, celebrated the re-opening of the vital cultural community in the heart of Times Square and the importance of arts education to change lives.

New 42 partnered with Empire to produce a socially distanced, public-facing concert, which was attended in-person by teachers and arts educators from all five New York City boroughs. In addition to the in-person event, Empire also produced a fully livestreamed program for the New 42 virtual audience. Working in tandem with the City of New York, New 42 and Empire were able to close 42nd Street between 7th and 8th avenues to bring the event to life.

The program featured performances by Sara Bareilles, Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, Dance Theater of Harlem, Chop & Quench featuring Sahr Ngaujak, Bill Irwin, the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music, the Brooklyn United Marching Band, and DJ Duane Harriott, with video testimonials to arts education by John Leguizamo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kal Penn, Alison Pill, Michael James Scott, and Andrew Thomas and Lorenzo Carter from the NY Giants.

New 42 President and CEO, Russell Granet, and New 42 Board Chairman, Fiona Rudin, kicked off the program cheering the return of in-person theater and performances. The event honored the NYC Department of Education, with an award being accepted by Meisha Porter, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. Introducing Meisha was one of Broadway’s brightest stars, Brian Stokes Mitchell.

The event also honored Jody Arnhold with the Marian Heiskell Award. Paying tribute to Jody Arnhold were Ballet legend Misty Copeland (virtual) and dance teacher DeAngelo Blanchard. The program also included a visit by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who spoke to the tremendous work that all of New York City’s teachers and arts educators have done throughout the pandemic as well as welcoming back in-person arts and entertainment to New York City!

Empire’s role included managing all technical production (staging, rigging, audio, video, livestream), permitting, layouts, scripting, talent booking and management, stage and production management, website development, as well as developing and managing a thorough on-site covid safety plan for all staff, crew, talent, and guests. Empire also worked with New 42 to create a safe and efficient on-site guest experience for registration and social distancing.

Empire is a leading producer of major civic and municipal events and is proud to work with organizations like the New 42 and Times Square Alliance to bring back live, in-person events.

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Columbia University Children’s Health celebrated its annual Children’s Benefit virtually. Empire was honored to produce the first-ever virtual benefit program dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments of Columbia Children’s Health.

The evening program was hosted by Emmy Award-winning television host, Daphne Oz, and commenced with remarks by Anil K. Rustgi—Interim Executive Vice President and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine and Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine—and Jordan S. Orange—Reuben S. Carpentier Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics—emphasized the importance of technology and care at Columbia Children’s Health. Larry Neubauer, Chair of the Children’s Board at Columbia, also expressed thanks to fellow board members, partners, friends, and supporters of Columbia.

A short film about the Columbia Center for Children’s Digital Health Research (CCDHR) led by Melissa S. Stockwell, MD, MPH, presented the Center’s mission and work of designing, implementing, and evaluating digital health tools and strategies that impact child and population health. Compelling testimonials by Melissa Stockwell, doctors, nurses, and patient families highlighted the impact and reach of care for patients before and during COVID.

The evening concluded with a fun, engaging conversation between Daphne Oz and special guest Jill Kargman, New York Times bestselling author, creator, and star of “Odd Mom Out,” on parenting and their experiences during the time of COVID.

Empire worked in close partnership with the Columbia team to direct, film, and produce the CCDHR film, implement design and run-of-show, coordinate and record all speakers and talent, create the microsite, and oversee the technical production and livestream.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual events of every kind, and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and initiatives for nearly three decades. We are proud to support Columbia’s Children’s Health.

To learn more and donate, please visit the Columbia Children’s Benefit giving site​

UN Women presented their annual HeForShe Summit as a virtual event, which convened world leaders, global CEOs, activists, and celebrities to share the latest groundbreaking solutions to achieve gender equality around the world.

Hosted by Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the event featured a series of captivating panel discussions of the HeForShe Champions. Topics included “Eliminating The Gender Pay Gap,” “Accelerating Women In Leadership,” “The Role of Men,” “Ending Gender-Based Violence,” “Creating New Cultural Norms,” and “Engaging Our Future Leaders,” to name a few.

H.E. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, H.E. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, H.E. Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland, and H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, were among some of the incredible leaders who issued a global call to action for gender equality.

Other notable speakers included the CEO of Barclays, Jes Staley, Chairman of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Bob Moritz, CEO of Vodafone, Nick Read, CEO of De Beers Group, Bruce Cleaver, President of Stony Brook University, Maurie McInnis, Actor and Producer, Simon Pegg, and singer-songwriter, author, and businesswoman, Geri Horner.

Empire is honored to be the overall producer of the HeForShe Summit since 2014 and excited to produce their first virtual convening. Empire worked closely with UN Women to develop and design and run the show, coordinate and record speakers remotely, and oversee technical and video production.

Empire is a leading producer of thought leadership events and virtual events of every kind, and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

For more information and to view the livestream visit https://www.heforshe.org/en

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