The Womens Conference
The Nations Premier Forum For Women
Giselle Fernandez
"Instead of thinking 'Why me?' Think 'why not me? Who am I not to make a difference?'"
How She Empowers Others
Five time Emmy award winning journalist, producer, film maker and Latin media and marketing entrepreneur, Giselle Fernandez is the President of the first Latina owned Hispanic themed media and management company in Hollywood, F Squared, and Flamenco Inc.
Focusing on Latin themed productions for both English and Spanish language distribution in both television and film, Fernandez develops projects such as the life story of Latino baseball great, Roberto Clemente in partnership with Tom Hanks and HBO.
As a film maker, Fernandez completed her first feature length documentary in 2004, ”Our Story”, the compelling story of an eleven year old Hispanic boy with cancer who hoped telling his story would shed light on the health care crisis in the Latin community.
Fernandez also has an impressive cadre of Latin artists and professionals who seek to build their brands in a cross over market and expand their presence while finding multiple applications for their businesses. Fernandez also consults to corporate America on marketing strategies to the Latino consumer. Fernandez is best known for her extensive network of contacts in the Latin world and in the U.S. Latin market.
Fernandez, a much sought after motivational speaker on issues of Latina empowerment, health, fitness and entrepreneurship, is best known over the past decade for her coverage of international news stories and major events.
Fernandez has made significant contributions to the CBS and NBC networks. Among her numerous posts, Fernandez anchored NBC's weekend edition of the "Today Show" and Sunday edition of the "NBC Nightly News." She also handled special and foreign assignments for the NBC network. Prior to that, Fernandez served at CBS News substituting for Paula Zahn on "CBS This Morning," Dan Rather on the "CBS Evening News" and Connie Chung on the "CBS Weekend News". Additionally, Fernandez was a regular contributor to CBS "Sunday Morning," "Face the Nation" and "48 Hours." Her on the spot coverage of international news stories from locations such as the Gulf War, the US Invasions of Haiti and Panama, the Somalia and Bosnian Wars, Hurricane Andrew, the 1993 World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombings, and interviews with global leaders like Fidel Castro, Henry Kissinger, Presidents William Clinton and George H.W. Bush, Vice-President Albert Gore and U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, garnered this news veteran five Emmy Awards.
Fernandez, known for her unique style of interviewing, co-hosted "This Week in History," a one-hour weekly documentary series profiling famous people and events in history on A&E Network's History Channel and profiled Hollywood's a-list celebrities as the co-host of NBC's nightly entertainment news magazine, "Access Hollywood." From Barbra Streisand to Sharon Stone to Robert Redford and Tom Cruise, Fernandez was a favorite, and highly regarded as one of the finest interviewers in Hollywood. In the words of Oprah Winfrey after a Fernandez profile, the talk show Queen summed it up best with, "She's a magical smart girl." Most recently, before going into business, Fernandez co-anchored the Tribune Broadcasting company’s morning news out of Los Angeles, KTLA Channel 5 News, and competed in the second season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
Born in Mexico and raised in Southern California, Fernandez is the daughter of a Jewish mother and renowned Mexican flamenco dancer father. Her ethnic heritage inspired her to refer to herself as the original "Kosher Burrito." As a young child touring Mexico with her mother, who was researching a doctoral thesis in Mexican folklore, Fernandez developed her passion for journalism. Rich with knowledge and filled with excitement, the experience of exploring Mexican pueblos and gathering mystical stories inspired her to pursue a career in journalism. Fernandez graduated from Sacramento state university with a bachelor of arts in Journalism and Government. She later converted her expertise in media messaging into a unique and keen knack for unlocking the mysteries of marketing and branding to the Hispanic market.
She is a member of the City National Bank Hispanic Advisory board, a member of the board of trustees of the Latin Grammys, and also sits on the board of Latina magazine, The Board of Los Angeles Centre for Dance Arts, and the Board of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she founded and Executive produces the Hospitals signature bi-annual fundraising extravaganza, Noche de Ninos which has raised almost ten million dollars to date.
Fernandez was named the 2007 philanthropist of the year, the 2007 Hispanic philanthropist of the year. The Legislative Hispanic Caucus awarded Fernandez the Hispanic Spirit Award and was awarded the prestigious Nancy Riordan award in 2007 by Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for her contribution to the children of L.A… and was recently inducted to the Latina Women’s Museum in Sacramento honoring outstanding Latinas in California.
Over the years Fernandez has become extremely well connected in the California Latin Business and Social Community, State Government, as well as the Los Angeles Business and Philanthropic Communities. More recently Fernandez is being contacted by organizations from Central and South America looking to develop businesses in California.
Fernandez is an avid collector of Latin American art and the work of famous women photographers. Fernandez lives in Los Angeles with her husband, John Farrand, former President of Atari and CEO of Panavision, and their daughter, Talei.
Comments
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I'm french living in Paris, I will give you some infos about my life project, because we need to be known in your country:
I co-founded EVE-OLUTION FOUNDATION Inc. (our motto = "The Global Soft Power of Change") an independent, global, not for profit organization (founded in 2002).
This Global NGO, participant to the UN Global Compact, is building a tribe of high potential and successful Women entrepreneurs around the world, who, together, as influencers, can make a better world for our children. Therefore, EVE-olution is coaching women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging countries, (80% of our planet) Women because they are the cement of society in these countries, so that they can grow their businesses, hire locally (reversing the rural exodus), become local influencers and role models, and act for less pollution and terrorism, and more well-being, each in her own country.
Their coaches are retired executives (a groing not-used population), corporate volunteers and young BA students (who need global experiences) from around the world, their main objective is to upgrade the profitability of women entrepreneurs they have in charge. They are helping them to be adapted to new strategies, like organic products, fair trade, new trends, .. (business coaching versus grant or loan).
The foundation aims at finance its actions only with corporations and individuals, no governmental funds, run without the expensive logistic of employee and permanent office, use its budget to cover the expense accounts of volunteers.
if you can/want help contact me at gerard.stein@eve-olution.org
Posted by Gerard E. STEIN, 25 October 2009.
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