Two Emerson Alumnae Named Among Hollywood’s Most Powerful Women
The entertainment industry is driven by bold leadership, creative vision, and decades of hard-earned experience. In 2025, two Emerson College alumnae have risen to the very top. Pamela Abdy ’95 and Holly Bario ’89 were both named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment list.
Their recognition reflects not only career success but also lasting influence across Hollywood studios, global box offices, and future generations of filmmakers. This milestone is a proud moment for Emerson and an inspiring reminder of how far talent, dedication, and mentorship can take you.
Discover how Emerson alumni continue to shape Hollywood at the highest levels.
Pamela Abdy ’95 Redefines Studio Leadership at Warner Bros.
Pamela Abdy currently serves as Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Bros Motion Picture Group. In 2025 alone, she oversaw more than four billion dollars in global ticket sales. That number places her at the center of one of the most competitive years in modern box office history.
Under Abdy’s leadership, Warner Bros delivered a powerful mix of original films and major intellectual property releases. Original projects like Weapons brought in 268 million dollars worldwide. Sinners followed closely with 367 million dollars in ticket sales.
On the franchise side A Minecraft Movie became a cultural and commercial juggernaut, earning an impressive 957 million dollars globally. These results helped Warner Bros lead the industry and solidify Abdy’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most effective executives.
Before joining Warner Bros, Abdy built an extensive resume across nearly every corner of the film business. She previously served as President of MGM’s Motion Picture Group, where she oversaw development, production, and post-production for all MGM and Orion films. Earlier roles included Partner and Head of Film at Makeready, President of Production at New Regency, President of Scott Stuber’s Bluegrass Films, and Executive Vice President at Paramount Pictures.
Her journey began during her semester at Emerson Los Angeles. An internship with Danny DeVito’s Jersey Films opened the door to what has now become a thirty-year career shaping major studio releases. That early opportunity proved life-changing and highlights the importance of hands-on experience in breaking into Hollywood.
Beyond box office success, Abdy remains deeply committed to mentorship and service. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and serves as a Governor on the Executive Board of the Executive Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She also participates in The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program.
Her passion for lifting others has been clear throughout her career.
“I’m trying to pay it back to the next generation. It’s very important to me to support and hire young women and teach them and mentor people,” Abdy said in a 2018 Expression magazine article. “I’ve had some really great people support and champion me, and I feel it’s my duty to give back to other people.”
In 2023, Abdy returned to Emerson as a commencement speaker, where she also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. Her message to graduates focused on growth, adaptability, and courage.
“Dreams are there to keep us striving, to keep pushing ourselves to our limits, but they don’t have to stay trapped in amber,” she said. “Dreams are dynamic; they can change. As long as you pursue them with intention, passion, and without fear, you will find your way.”
Holly Bario ’89 Shapes Storytelling at Amblin and DreamWorks.
Holly Bario has also carved out an extraordinary career as one of Hollywood’s most respected production executives. She currently serves as President of Production at Amblin, where she oversees films released under both the Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures banners.
Bario joined the company in 2008 as Executive Vice President of Production back when it was known as DreamWorks Studios. Since then, she has helped guide a wide range of successful and culturally impactful films. Her credits include The Help, The Girl on the Train, A Dog’s Purpose, and The House with a Clock in Its Walls, starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchett.
Before DreamWorks, Bario spent more than a decade at Universal Pictures, where she rose through the ranks from Director of Development to Vice President, Senior Vice President, and eventually Executive Vice President of Production. During her tenure, she helped shepherd some of the studio’s most beloved and commercially successful comedies. Those include Bruce Almighty, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Mamma Mia.
In recent years, her influence has extended into the streaming space. The Hollywood Reporter highlighted her work on two major Netflix hits. The December 2024 action thriller Carry On quickly became a standout release. The Thursday Murder Club followed with a strong debut this past summer, further proving Bario’s versatility across genres and platforms.
Bario is also deeply connected to Emerson. She previously served on the College’s Board of Advisors and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009. Her continued success reflects a career built on strong creative instincts, trusted relationships, and a deep understanding of audience-driven storytelling.
A Shared Legacy of Impact and Inspiration
Pamela Abdy and Holly Bario represent two distinct but equally powerful paths to leadership in entertainment. One leads a major studio through record-breaking box office success. The other shapes stories that resonate across theatres and streaming platforms worldwide. Together, they exemplify the evolving face of Hollywood leadership.
Their recognition on The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 list is more than a personal achievement. It serves as a reminder to aspiring creatives that experience, mentorship, and persistence remain essential. For Emerson students and alumni, their journeys offer proof that a single internship, classroom, or early opportunity can launch a career that shapes the industry for decades to come.
As Hollywood continues to change, leaders like Abdy and Bario are helping define what comes next.
Summary:
- Pamela Abdy ’95 and Holly Bario ’89 were named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment list.
- Pamela Abdy serves as Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Bros Motion Picture Group.
- Abdy oversaw more than 4 billion dollars in global ticket sales in 2025.
- Major Warner Bros releases under Abdy include Weapons, Sinners, and A Minecraft Movie.
- Abdy began her career through an internship at Danny DeVito’s Jersey Films during her time at Emerson in Los Angeles.
- She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and serves on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Executive Board.
- Abdy is deeply committed to mentoring young women in entertainment.
- Holly Bario ’89 is President of Production at Amblin, overseeing Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures films.
- Bario has led production on films such as The Help, A Dog’s Purpose, and The House with a Clock in Its Walls.
- She previously spent over a decade at Universal Pictures, overseeing hit comedies including Meet the Parents and Mamma Mia.
- The Hollywood Reporter highlighted Bario’s recent work on Netflix hits Carry On and The Thursday Murder Club.
- Both executives are distinguished Emerson alumnae with lasting influence on the film industry.
