Top Paradigm Agent Debbee Klein Pledges 50/50 by 2020 at

Debbee Klein, a prime agent in Paradigm’s TV literary division, has pledged that Paradigm will attempt to attain gender parity amongst its brokers by 2020.

“At Paradigm, we’ve made a big commitment to 50/50 by 2020 and I hope we get there. There’s never been a year where it’s more advantageous for women to get hired,” Klein mentioned Thursday at TheWrap’s third annual BE Conference on the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica, Calif.

“It is important that our agency pool reflects our client list, and most of these agency pools don’t right now. They are male-driven, they are white for the most part. They are good agents, but it’s time to open this up and take that seriously,” she mentioned in a panel with Untitled Entertainment’s Jennifer Levine moderated by TheWrap’s senior movie reporter Beatrice Verhoeven.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be exactly 50/50, but that’s our goal by the end of this year, and I think we’re on our way. If we recognize the problem usually we can fix it.”

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Klein is thought for packaging TV initiatives like ABC’s “black-ish,” Freeform’s “Grown-ish,” and Hulu’s Stephen King adaptation “11.22.63.” She represents a protracted listing of purchasers that features Jada Pinkett Smith, Marc Cherry (“Desperate Housewives,”), Eric Tuchman (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Michael Chernuchin (“Law & Order: SVU”) and Shane Brennan (“NCIS: Los Angeles”).

Klein and Levine additionally mentioned methods for beginning careers within the leisure trade.

“I’m a big believer in finding mentors,” mentioned Levine. She recommends that ladies who’re simply beginning out strive sending a “fan letter” to an government they admire as a option to begin a dialog. “Research an executive, say ‘I read all about your career… can I buy you a latte?’” she mentioned. “It takes a little bit of moxie to do that.”

At Untitled, Levine represents a gaggle of writers, administrators, producers and actors and served as producer on function movies similar to “Lavender” and “This Beautiful Fantastic.”

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Klein emphasised that no job is just too small if you’re simply beginning out. “I started as a receptionist at a production company when I was at UCLA,” Klein mentioned. “Whatever job it is — mailroom, receptionist — take it.”

Levine agreed. “I don’t think any job is a mistake, because even the bad ones you learn from,” she mentioned. “Don’t be afraid to try things as you’re coming up, because the things you don’t like you rule out.” “The people who surround you in that position — that’s the next executive,” she mentioned. “They’ll help you and you’ll help them.”