A live event featuring a panel discussion with Hachette Book Group authors, executives, and networking opportunities.
We are pulling back the curtain on an industry that shapes so much of what we read, watch, and think but isn’t always easy to break into. In partnership with Hachette Book Group and their Women in Publishing employee resource group, we’re bringing together women who are leading the charge in publishing and media to share how they got in, how they’re making space, and what it really looks like to build a career in this world.
Whether you're behind the scenes or dreaming of seeing your name on a cover if you’ve ever wondered how stories get chosen, how books get made, or how to bring your voice into the room, this conversation is for you.
Sponsored by Hachette Book Group and HBG’s Women In Publishing Employee Resource Group
Eboni K. Williams is the host of "Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams" and host and executive producer of the Warner Music Group podcast "Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams." In addition to starring on "The Real Housewives of New York" and guest hosting "The View," she is the host of "The Grio with Eboni K. Williams," which airs on a cable television network owned by Byron Allen. Also, she hosts a true crime series that is featured on the OWN and Investigation Discovery networks. Williams is an attorney and a frequent public speaker on Black culture and history. Williams lives and owns in Harlem, USA.
Her book, “Bet on Black: The Good News about Being Black in America Today,” was recently published in July 2025 by Legacy Lit.
Debbie Millman has been named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, and “one of the most influential designers working today” by GDUSA. Millman is an illustrator, author, educator, and host of the podcast Design Matters. Broadcasting for 19 years, "Design Matters" is one of the first and longest running podcasts in the world. The show won a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award in 2011, and Apple has named it one of their “All Time Favorites” three times. In 2023 the show won two Webby’s, three Communicator Awards, a Signal Award, three awards from The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, and earned an Ambie nomination. Her most recent book, "Love Letter to a Garden" (April 2025, Timber Press) is a visual story of falling in love with gardening—and the philosophies that work conjures.
Shannon Downey is the founder of Badass Cross Stitch and Seriously Badass Women, and is an artist, activist, craftivist, community builder, and general instigator. Her work moves people from passive consumers of art into engaged creators and leverages craft-based art forms to bring people together, present opportunities to transition from makers to change makers, and inspire radical hope for what is possible. Her award-winning work can be found in galleries, museums, and private collections around the world and has been featured in outlets including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Atlas Obscura, Fast Company, and i-D, and books including "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" and "Signs of Resistance: A Visual History of Protest in America." She is on the faculty at Columbia College Chicago and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. Her book "Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers; Build Community and Make Change!" was published in October 2024 by Storey.
Rhonesha Byng, CEO of Her Agenda, is a visionary entrepreneur and media thought leader. Guided by the philosophy N.E.S.H.A. – No one Ever Slows Her Agenda – she empowers millennial women through content and community. An Emmy award-winning journalist turned entrepreneur she is a sought-after speaker. Rhonesha champions equity, and media innovation. She’s been recognized by platforms including Forbes 30 under 30, ESSENCE, BET, and NBC. Her impact extends through co-founding BOMESI, reshaping narratives, and fostering change.
In this lightning talk, Hachette Book Group executives pull back the curtain on publishing today. From how decisions get made to where the industry is headed, they'll share sharp, actionable insights for anyone looking to break in, level up, or make their mark whether as a future author or publishing leader.
This panel will explore the creative process, navigating the industry as a woman, and what it takes to build both your voice and your platform in today’s publishing landscape. Whether you're writing your first draft or thinking about your next chapter, this conversation will leave you inspired and informed.
