WIT Presents Empowerment Day at Toy Fair Dallas

Women In Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) Empowerment Day returns to the Lone Star State ahead of Toy Fair Dallas.

On Oct. 1, more than 90 female entrepreneurs from around the globe will pitch new product ideas at the annual event, held in collaboration with Walmart. Last year, inventor Angie Cella inked a deal with Wicked Cool Toys for Blinger, a glam styling tool that’s one of this fall’s hottest new toys. Blinger recently secured a coveted spot on the Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide Hot 20.

Since its inception, more than 500 women have presented their products at WIT Empowerment Day, where they receive personalized mentoring and support in face-to-face meetings with executives from Walmart, Hasbro, Spin Master, Play Monster, Jazwares, Basic Fun!, Wicked Cool Toys, and Goliath.

WIT Empowerment Day is just one of the many ways that the organization works to support professional women working in the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries throughout the year.

“We connect women globally at all stages of their professional lives to leadership opportunities, education, and important relationships that lead to new business deals and career advancement,” says WIT President Ashley Mady. “WIT embodies an incredible community of women who have tremendous energy, passion, and motivation to excel in a fast-paced and exciting industry.”

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.