Ava DuVernay to Speak at Odyssey Network Business Retreat Thursday, May 21st

Academy Award-Nominated Director Ava DuVernay shares insight during 16th Annual Odyssey Business Network Retreat

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Academy Award-nominated director Ava DuVernay and Sharon Taylor, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Prudential Financial, Inc. and Chair, The Prudential Foundation will headline the ‘Up Close & Personal’ town hall on Thursday, May 21st, 2015; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. during the Odyssey Network Business Retreat. The 16th annual retreat, presented by title sponsor Prudential, will be held May 19 – 22, 2015 at the Ritz-Carlton Naples. This event will be open to the media; full details for press interested in covering it are below.

    “Ava’s self-guided path in honoring her own voice is symbolic of the brave journey many Odyssey Women share.”

DuVernay, the first African-American woman director to have a film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture for her recent critically acclaimed “Selma”, will join an influential line up of ceiling breakers, including Sheila Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts; Pauline Brown, Chairman of LVMH North America; Rosalind Brewer, President and CEO of Sam’s Club; Terrez Thompson, VP of Global Supplier Diversity, Coca Cola; Soledad O‘Brien, CEO, Starfish Media; Deborah Martin Chase, CEO, Martin Chase Productions; and Rosalind Hudnell, Chief Diversity Officer, Intel Corporation. Odyssey attendees will participate in a variety of interactive panels and one-on-one coaching that will explore tools for navigating the corporate and entrepreneurial landscape, maintaining relationships and communicating effectively.

"I am ecstatic to have Ava join us this year on the coattails of the ‘Selma’ film’s success,” said Linda Spradley Dunn, CEO & Founder Odyssey Media. “Ava’s self-guided path in honoring her own voice is symbolic of the brave journey many Odyssey Women share.”

“Odyssey creates the space for us to tackle some of our biggest challenges by learning from one another, which inevitably leads to fresh ideas, new alliances and unexpected opportunities,” said Taylor. “We believe Ava’s compelling journey will inspire and inevitably help participants spark new ideas.”


ABOUT ODYSSEY MEDIA
Odyssey Media is a minority certified, female-owned, marketing company that connects thousands of influential, affluent, multicultural, female, corporate executives and key decision makers as well as designs exclusive introductions, research and integrations to Fortune 500 corporate partners. Odyssey facilitates brilliant, high-octane, members-only experiences that optimize professional and personal being. The unparalleled blend of empowering, signature events spans from the marquee annual business retreat, skill-equipping boot camps, meet-ups in 20 U.S. cities and two countries, to relevant social forums. Odyssey Media is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. www.oretreat.com

ABOUT PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1 trillion of assets under management as of March 31, 2015, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.news.prudential.com.

Media Access and RSVP Information:

Odyssey will be open to the media. Interested outlets must RSVP to tbernard@odysseymc.com by Tuesday, May 19th, for credentialing information. Please include media outlet, the number of passes being requested, and any special equipment needs. Power and wireless will be provided on-site.

Follow @odysseymedia and join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by using #OdysseyRetreat2015 #womeninspired.

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