Warner Bros. Discovery veteran Karen Horne has been named executive director of showrunner Mara Brock Akil‘s Writers’ Colony talent development program designed to nurture underrepresented writers.
Horne will be responsible for expanding the residency program that Brock Akil has spearheaded for the past few years. The Writers’ Colony offers three-month intensives for writers from underrepresented backgrounds with the goal of helping them strengthen their craft. The curriculum includes networking and mentoring opportunities and direct help with writing and storytelling development.
Brock Akil is the creator and showrunner behind “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” “Being Mary Jane,” “Love Is,” “Forever” and other series. She has supported Writers’ Colony program for a handful of cohorts since 2023. Horne will be tasked with raising industry awareness of the program as well as boosting participation.
“I am ultimately touched to have Karen join the Colony Family. Her leadership, integrity, and the way she champions creatives at every stage of their journey makes her such a beautiful fit for what we’re building. I am confident her years of industry experience, especially her gift for discovering and supporting young talent, will both amplify and expand the Colony experience,” Brock Akil said.
Horne left Warner Bros. in 2023 after three years as senior VP of North America diversity, equity and inclusion for the studio. She previously worked in talent development and inclusion for NBCUniversal and for Nickelodeon.
“Joining the Writers’ Colony family is a true honor. I admire the passion for community behind this Colony, and I am excited to step into the Executive Director role which I believe is both meaningful and thoughtfully aligns with my purpose. I can’t wait for this next chapter,” Horne said.
Horne’s appointment comes amid a busy week for Brock Akil, who is preparing to shoot 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 on Sunday she will receive the Norman Lear Achievement Award as part of the Producers Guild Awards ceremony.