When Alex Waters, AB ’14, relocated to Los Angeles eight months after receiving her bachelor’s degree in film and media studies from WashU, she was nearly unfamiliar with the area. The City of Angels seemed foreign and daunting to the New Jersey native who had just spent the previous four years in the Midwest. Thus, to establish herself, she turned to a place that felt more like home: her alma mater.

Waters could not have optimized her timing any better. WashU’s Alumni Association had recently introduced HollyWU, a professional network for Los Angeles–based alumni engaged in the entertainment sector, which hosted a kickoff celebration in April 2015.

“I had just secured my first position and was thrilled to meet new people,” Waters recollects. Two familiar faces caught her attention at the lively gathering. Waters recognized she had previously encountered two of HollyWU’s co-founders, Laura Harbron, AB ’10, and Merigan Mulhern, BS ’10, during a visit to Los Angeles with the Center for Career Engagement’s Bear Treks initiative as an undergraduate. They graciously welcomed her back to the city and encouraged her to aid them in developing the budding network as a member of the executive committee.

Waters was fully committed, and HollyWU became a vital support during her initial year in Los Angeles. “It was essentially my whole social agenda,” she states. She and other group leaders coordinated monthly gatherings such as happy hours, trivia nights, and outdoor film showings.

Their early aspirations were simple yet crucial. They aimed to be a resource and a source of community for WashU alumni in the city’s entertainment sector, especially for newer graduates and recent newcomers. “This city can be incredibly isolating,” Waters notes. “Not everyone can assist you in securing a job or internship. But it’s crucial to know there are individuals willing to help in small yet significant ways, whether it’s making introductions, reviewing your résumé or script, or helping you find housing.”

The network has thrived over the years, as has Waters, who concluded a three-year role as a music supervisor for CBS’ The Talk in December. Once a novice, she is now a relative industry veteran eager to guide WashU graduates aspiring to enter film, television, or music.

As HollyWU nears its second decade, Waters hopes even more alumni will contribute their connections, expertise, and skills to uplift the next generation. She ultimately envisions the network rivaling those at peer institutions with larger entertainment presences. In the aftermath of devastating fires that impacted much of Los Angeles, the sense of community provided by the network will be particularly invaluable to many in the entertainment industry as they regroup and rebuild.

“I envision a future where HollyWU’s members achieve success comparable to any high-profile writers, directors, producers, or studio executives today,” Waters asserts. “And I hope they utilize their success to give back.”

An Empire City expansion

Nivedita Kulkarni, BSBA ’07, was in a different professional chapter when she encountered the entertainment network and forged a new path for it. After graduating from WashU with a degree in marketing, Kulkarni landed her dream job as an advertising account executive at Saatchi & Saatchi’s New York office. However, a year into the role, she resigned to follow her childhood aspiration of becoming an actress.

Kulkarni began consistently working as a performer, writer, and producer. She quickly discovered that sustaining her dream demanded tenacity—and connections. “The entertainment industry is extremely nebulous,” she explains. “There are no definitive career pathways, so it’s crucial to establish relationships to succeed.”

An instinctive networker, the Chicago native developed a robust support system of her own. After attending a gathering sponsored by the Alumni Association in 2017, she identified a chance to channel her experience and assist in uniting other WashU graduates carving out careers in entertainment in New York. Kulkarni proposed her idea to Suzanne Wagstaff, now senior director of alumni networks, resulting in the establishment of the entertainment network’s New York chapter.

“Initially, we didn’t fully grasp how many individuals in New York’s entertainment field are linked to WashU, whether as alumni or parents,” Kulkarni shares. “But once we began organizing events, they surfaced in droves!”

The chapter has hosted a wide array of both in-person and virtual gatherings. Some, like the “State of the Entertainment Industry” conference in September 2023, are more formal. This all-day event included substantial panel discussions on current industry strikes, women in entertainment, and emerging trends. Other events focus more on promoting social and professional connections.

“I advise dedicating at least 50% of your time to networking,” Kulkarni states. “If you aspire to succeed in this challenging, cutthroat field, it’s vital to have a network of allies like this one.”

Kulkarni, who intends to remain active in the network after her tenure as chapter chair ends in June, appreciates what she views as WashU’s greatest asset: generosity. “There’s a genuine Midwestern essence to this community,” she remarks. “Regardless of their achievements, our alumni and friends remain approachable and are willing to share their time and knowledge. By choosing WashU, you embrace that mindset.”

It only takes one

Esther Merczynski, AB ’24, has already witnessed the WashU spirit at work. After completing her bachelor’s degree in film and media studies last May, she returned to her hometown of New York, aiming to land an entry-level role in film or television. The job search is a full-time endeavor, but Merczynski is making progress with support from the WashU community.

Last September, she received an invitation from Carina Greenberg, AB ’21, to intern as a production assistant on an independent short film. The two initially connected on LinkedIn, and Greenberg thought of her when it came time to assemble crew members. “It was an incredible learning experience,” Merczynski states.

“Now that I’m part of Carina’s network, I’m confident she’ll think of me again when opportunities come up. And I know I can reach out to her if I have questions.”

In November, Merczynski forged several new connections while participating in “The Business of Talent: Casting and Representation” talk organized by WashU’s entertainment network. Armed with her résumé and a stack of customized business cards, she engaged in one-on-one conversations with Kulkarni and the chapter’s incoming chair, Erica Tuchman, AB ’02, a talent manager.

During her presentation at the event, Tuchman shared a narrative about a crucial mentor who transformed the trajectory of her career. Her story resonated with Merczynski. “It only takes one person to take you under her wing and help you find your niche,” she remarks. And hopefully, that individual might just be a WashU alum.

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