The CEO of Glowstar Media reflects on the growth of women in the industry, its challenges, and its impact on content.
“Those of us who have witnessed the transformation of women’s roles in the audiovisual industry can affirm that the change is real, profound, and, in many respects, irreversible. Today, we see more and more women occupying decision-making positions, leading teams, driving content, and maintaining an active presence across all levels of the business,” says Silvana D’Angelo, CEO of Glowstar Media, in a conversation organized by Newsline Report to celebrate outstanding women in the industry.
She adds that it has become clear that capability, talent, and strategic vision are not defined by gender. However, she acknowledges that this evolution has taken place under unequal conditions:
“For many of us—especially those who began our careers more than 25 years ago—the path meant overcoming far greater barriers, sustaining ourselves in more challenging environments, and constantly proving our value in spaces where we were not always the norm.”
That inequality, she notes, still persists and must continue to be addressed in order to achieve true balance.
She believes this shift has also had a significant impact on content. The inclusion of women in creative, executive, and production roles has transformed the types of stories being told, the way relationships and emotions are portrayed, and how audiences see themselves reflected on screen.
“One of the most relevant contributions of the growing presence of women in the industry is, without a doubt, the displacement of certain traditional narratives and the opening toward more diverse, intimate, and complex perspectives—on identity, violence, and intimacy—from viewpoints that until recently were in the minority and today resonate deeply with audiences.”
Looking back on her early career, she notes that while she did not have female mentors, she did benefit from male mentors from whom she learned extensively. She considers herself fortunate to have worked with men who were not biased and who provided her with real opportunities at a time when that was far from common:
“A large part of my professional development comes from those who challenged me and gave me concrete tools to grow within a highly competitive industry.”
In that sense, she emphasizes that advocating for the role of women does not mean questioning the presence of men, but rather addressing inequality of opportunity and rejecting all forms of machismo:
“Any behavior that does not respect, value, or recognize women as equals within the same professional field.”
“Today, the context is clearly more favorable than it was 25 years ago—and that is meaningful progress.”
More spaces have opened for women in professional fields that once excluded them. “Today, women are not only telling stories—they are defining which stories are told, how they are produced, how they are positioned, and where the industry is headed.”
She also highlights a growing awareness around the importance of support and collaboration—sharing contacts, opening doors, and creating real opportunities—something that, in her experience, did not exist with the same strength in the past.
While acknowledging this progress, she also points to the challenges ahead: ensuring that these opportunities are consolidated and that women’s presence in key roles stops being exceptional and becomes fully normalized.
Reflecting on March 8, International Women’s Day, she describes it as “an opportunity to look back on the path traveled, recognize the effort made, and measure what has been achieved in often adverse conditions,” while also keeping focus on what still needs to be done:
“I believe that today the focus must be on continuing to work toward equity—but from a different place than in the past: no longer from confrontation, but from construction, unity, and mutual recognition.”
Through Glowstar Media and throughout her career, she has had both the privilege—and the commitment—of leading predominantly female teams and creating real opportunities for more women to enter and grow within the industry.
“Whenever I can bring women into my team, I do. Today, I have women across sales, legal, accounting, and marketing,” she says. “I made it a personal commitment to support the development of other women. For me, mentoring is not just about giving advice or sharing experiences—it’s about opening doors, creating context, bringing opportunities closer, and often helping someone recognize their own potential before they see it themselves.”
She cites specific examples, such as Michelle Wasserman from Banijay, who was part of her team at Telefe International more than 20 years ago. “Women like Elena Antonini, Carolina García, and Karina Spina, among others, have also been key collaborators in my teams, with whom I have shared—and in some cases still share—valuable professional and personal journeys.”
“If I had to identify a defining moment in my career, I wouldn’t tie it solely to a personal milestone, but rather to that process of collective construction—when you begin to understand that true growth also lies in creating opportunities for others. There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing women I’ve worked with grow, position themselves, and lead. That is, without a doubt, one of the most meaningful achievements of my journey.”
@Newsline Report 2025
