August 22, 2024
Leading By Example: Jennifer Lynch, Paramount Pictures
“Leading By Example” is a series from U.S. Business Action to End HIV highlighting inspiring business leaders accelerating progress toward an end to the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
This month, we are pleased to spotlight Jennifer Lynch, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Internal Communication at Paramount Pictures
Please share a brief description of your current role:
I currently serve as the Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Internal Communication for Paramount Pictures. In this role, I am responsible for effectively keeping employees interested and informed about internal business initiatives while setting the strategies and implementing the company’s community investment programs and all of Paramount’s ESG goals.
Before Paramount Pictures, I served as the Senior Director of STAPLES Center Foundation and Senior Director for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
I hold a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy, specializing in Urban Economic and Community Development, from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. I also serve on the board of the Environmental Media Association and am a member of the LA Sustainability Executives Roundtable and the Executive Committee of the Sustainable Production Alliance.
Why do you believe it's essential for businesses to play a role in our nation's efforts to end the HIV epidemic?
Now more than ever, there is mounting importance for companies to increase their attention on community investments. Personally, I believe our corporation has an obligation to pursue attainable and enduring goals for our employees and the world at large, which includes living a happy and healthy life.
What is Paramount Pictures most proud of regarding your work to address HIV?
Paramount Pictures has four major areas of community investment – Education, the Environment, Volunteerism and HIV/AIDS. Nearly 40 years ago, Paramount Pictures hosted the first AIDS WALK from which our Paramount Fights HIV/AIDS initiative was born. When I arrived at Paramount Pictures more than a decade ago – the full focus of our work on AIDS was related to the annual AIDS walk in the Fall. I felt the issue and potential for impact was more deserving than just addressing the AIDS epidemic once a year. So perhaps what I am most proud of are the nearly monthly conversations, activations, and educational opportunities that Paramount Pictures now makes available to our employees and non-profit partners.
Why is it important for Paramount Pictures to be part of the U.S. Business Action to End HIV coalition?
There is power in partnership. More than once, it has been suggested that our HIV initiative should be broadened to a more amorphous “health and wellness” platform. I have always felt that Paramount Pictures is uniquely positioned to advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS because of the leadership the studio showcased during a time when the issue was not popular and, indeed not readily accepted. Being part of an alliance of other businesses that have chosen to focus on this issue provides incredible opportunities to learn, build, and partner, which is necessary if we are going to end the epidemic.
What personally motivated you to become involved in working to address HIV?
While pursuing my master’s at the NYU Graduate School of Public Service, I worked a night/weekend job at a gay bar in New York City to pay my tuition. Week in and week out, one by one, my favorite customers stopped coming in. At first, I assumed they were on vacation or just out of town until I realized they were dying from AIDS and I would never see them again. The feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed me, so I started raising money for the NYC AIDS charity God’s Love We Deliver – just so I could feel like I was doing something. But that feeling of losing so many so quickly never left me. I never wanted to feel that sense of hopelessness again, and so we do the work; we educate, and we empower our employees about HIV.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your company's journey in addressing HIV?
People make assumptions about what employee groups are most interested in this issue. Don’t buy into those assumptions. HIV/AIDS affects everyone—gay, straight, married, single, etc. Thirty-six million people have died from HIV/AIDS since the first cases were reported in 1981. Those are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. As I have discussed our Paramount Fights HIV/AIDS initiative with senior leaders across Paramount Pictures, I have found that almost all of them have some connection to the issue or epidemic. I am proud that the Studio provides the education and acceptance our employees need.
This month, we are pleased to spotlight Jennifer Lynch, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Internal Communication at Paramount Pictures
Please share a brief description of your current role:
I currently serve as the Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Internal Communication for Paramount Pictures. In this role, I am responsible for effectively keeping employees interested and informed about internal business initiatives while setting the strategies and implementing the company’s community investment programs and all of Paramount’s ESG goals.
Before Paramount Pictures, I served as the Senior Director of STAPLES Center Foundation and Senior Director for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
I hold a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy, specializing in Urban Economic and Community Development, from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. I also serve on the board of the Environmental Media Association and am a member of the LA Sustainability Executives Roundtable and the Executive Committee of the Sustainable Production Alliance.
Why do you believe it's essential for businesses to play a role in our nation's efforts to end the HIV epidemic?
Now more than ever, there is mounting importance for companies to increase their attention on community investments. Personally, I believe our corporation has an obligation to pursue attainable and enduring goals for our employees and the world at large, which includes living a happy and healthy life.
What is Paramount Pictures most proud of regarding your work to address HIV?
Paramount Pictures has four major areas of community investment – Education, the Environment, Volunteerism and HIV/AIDS. Nearly 40 years ago, Paramount Pictures hosted the first AIDS WALK from which our Paramount Fights HIV/AIDS initiative was born. When I arrived at Paramount Pictures more than a decade ago – the full focus of our work on AIDS was related to the annual AIDS walk in the Fall. I felt the issue and potential for impact was more deserving than just addressing the AIDS epidemic once a year. So perhaps what I am most proud of are the nearly monthly conversations, activations, and educational opportunities that Paramount Pictures now makes available to our employees and non-profit partners.
Why is it important for Paramount Pictures to be part of the U.S. Business Action to End HIV coalition?
There is power in partnership. More than once, it has been suggested that our HIV initiative should be broadened to a more amorphous “health and wellness” platform. I have always felt that Paramount Pictures is uniquely positioned to advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS because of the leadership the studio showcased during a time when the issue was not popular and, indeed not readily accepted. Being part of an alliance of other businesses that have chosen to focus on this issue provides incredible opportunities to learn, build, and partner, which is necessary if we are going to end the epidemic.
What personally motivated you to become involved in working to address HIV?
While pursuing my master’s at the NYU Graduate School of Public Service, I worked a night/weekend job at a gay bar in New York City to pay my tuition. Week in and week out, one by one, my favorite customers stopped coming in. At first, I assumed they were on vacation or just out of town until I realized they were dying from AIDS and I would never see them again. The feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed me, so I started raising money for the NYC AIDS charity God’s Love We Deliver – just so I could feel like I was doing something. But that feeling of losing so many so quickly never left me. I never wanted to feel that sense of hopelessness again, and so we do the work; we educate, and we empower our employees about HIV.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your company's journey in addressing HIV?
People make assumptions about what employee groups are most interested in this issue. Don’t buy into those assumptions. HIV/AIDS affects everyone—gay, straight, married, single, etc. Thirty-six million people have died from HIV/AIDS since the first cases were reported in 1981. Those are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. As I have discussed our Paramount Fights HIV/AIDS initiative with senior leaders across Paramount Pictures, I have found that almost all of them have some connection to the issue or epidemic. I am proud that the Studio provides the education and acceptance our employees need.
