DaVIDA CHANEL SMITH

Manager

Stride Management - Glendale, CA

What were some of your professional highlights of 2021?

As society grappled with moving forward during a worldwide pandemic and addressing nationwide civil and social unrest, like many, I felt it was time to focus and hone in on my goals. I leaned into my work, pursuing and creating opportunities for diverse and unrecognized talent. In April of this year, I accepted a position at Stride Management, a company that works diligently to prioritize client needs and champions both its roster and its managers. My clients and I have focused on the work of turning our goals into reality - Annie Ilonzeh landed the lead of a network pilot, one of a handful of Black women at number one spot on the call sheet; Daniel Kyri elevated from recurring to series regular on NBC fan favorite Chicago Fire; Natasha Marc booked a pivotal recurring role on Taylor Sheridan's highly anticipated Mayor of Kingstown and Rachel True appeared in AMC/Shudder's anthology "Horror Noire". In addition to my work on the talent side, I've made progress as a producer on a documentary about the Thibodaux Massacre of 1887, a true passion project led by filmmaker Christina Hill, boasting an all Black female producer team.

What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

I am always looking forward to new opportunities, relationships and connections to help my clients reach their goals and that remains true for 2022. I believe we're experiencing societal shifts that will make life better for us all and I am excited about improved working environments that support balance, health and equity for everyone involved in bringing the stories we all love to life.

What is your theme word for 2022?

Chutzpah.