Warner Bros. Discovery veteran Karen Horn has been named executive director of showrunner Mara Brock Akil’s Writers Colony talent development program, which aims to develop underrepresented writers.
Horn will be responsible for expanding the residency program, which Brock Akil has led for the past several years. Writers Colony offers writers from underrepresented backgrounds a three-month intensive course aimed at strengthening their craft. The curriculum includes networking and mentorship opportunities, as well as direct support for writing and storytelling development.
Brock Akil is the creator and showrunner of series such as “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” “Being Mary Jane,” “Love Is” and “Forever.” She has been supporting the Writers Colony program for underrepresented groups since 2023. In addition to driving participation, Mr. Horn will be tasked with increasing industry awareness of the program.
“Ultimately, I am thrilled that Karen is joining the Colony family. Her leadership, integrity, and championing of creatives at every step of their journey make her such a beautiful fit for what we are building. I am confident that her years of industry experience, especially her talent for discovering and supporting young talent, will amplify and expand the Colony experience,” said Brock Akil.
Horn will leave Warner Bros. in 2023 after serving as the studio’s senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion in North America for three years. She previously worked in talent development and inclusion at NBCUniversal and Nickelodeon.
“It is truly an honor to join the Writers Colony family. I admire the passion for community behind this Colony and am excited to step into the role of Executive Director, which I believe is meaningful and thoughtfully aligned with my purpose. I can’t wait for the next chapter,” said Horne.
Horne’s appointment comes in the midst of a busy week for Brock Akil, who is preparing to film Season 2 of Netflix’s coming-of-age drama Forever. The busy showrunner announced a deal with Crown to publish her first novel, The Revelation Dionne Daphne, and will receive the Norman Lear Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Sunday.
