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Missing Mara Brock Akil

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Yesterday afternoon I indulged in a Girlfriends marathon and had a “never miss what you’ve got ’till it’s gone” moment.  With very few images of black women on television that truly resonate with me, I’m gaining an even deeper appreciation for the outstanding work of Mara Brock Akil.

As creator and executive producer of CW’s Girlfriends and The Game, Mara Brock Akil is the first Black woman to have two shows running on a major television network at once. From her earliest days as an assistant on Fox’s The Sinbad Show and her staff stints in the 1990s on WB’s The Jamie Foxx Show and UPN’s Moesha, Akil impressed all who knew her as a talented, whip-smart writer and natural-born showrunner who was destined to go far in the business.

Just a couple hours following yesterday’s Girlfriends marathon, I flipped to Centric (BETJ rebranded) and caught Leading Women, a show that’s dedicated to sharing the personal stories of successful women across all industries. A half-hour original series, Leading Women intimately chronicles the dynamic lives of women making power moves. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this week’s episode was dedicated to none other than the amazing Mara Brock Ali.

A lot like E! True Hollywood Story (without the drama), Leading Women interviews people closest to the show’s subject to get an up-close-and-personal look at their journey to the top. Mara’s husband, friends, and business associates had intriguing insight but I was particularly moved by Mara’s advice to aspiring television executives:

“For people who want to do what I do, first you’ve got to BELIEVE that you can do it! Second, have a VISION, have a point of view, and be yourself. LOVE what you do and don’t be afraid to WORK.”

Most definitely words to grow on! Can’t wait to see what Mara Brock Akil has in store for us…her talent and ability to truly capture today’s multi-dimensional woman on the small screen is truly missed!

As a New York City storyteller, filmmaker, digital content creator, and PR strategist, Renae Bluitt created "In Her Shoes" to empower and enlighten women committed to realizing their dreams.

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