AWM Media Masterclasses are expert-led sessions on essential industry topics. The next Masterclass session on “Copyright, Contracts, and Cashflow: The Basics of What Growing Media Entrepreneurs Need to Know” will be released on December 9, 2025. In the meantime, AWM members may view past sessions via the Knowledge Center. Please email info@allwomeninmedia.org with questions.
Copyright, Contracts, and Cashflow: the Basics of What Growing Media Entrepreneurs Need to Know
The media landscape is changing fast. And today’s journalists, producers, and content creators are no longer just employees. They’re brands, consultants, and entrepreneurs in their own right. Whether you’re freelancing between contracts, launching your own media company, or building a digital platform on the side, one thing is certain: your ideas are your income.
In this training, entertainment and intellectual property attorney Ryanne Saucier will break down the essentials every modern media professional needs to protect their work, monetize their creativity, and secure long-term success when building & scaling your own business.
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Understand the key copyright principles that impact your creative work.
✅ Identify the most important contracts to have on hand for your business.
✅ Protect yourself as you transition from employee to entrepreneur, including what rights you retain in your content.
You’ll leave this session with clarity, confidence, and practical next steps to start building your creative empire. One smart legal move at a time.
Ryanne Saucier is a second-generation broadcaster, media, intellectual property and entertainment attorney who serves as Vice President of Legal Affairs for FOX Television Stations, LLC. She has served as in-house counsel for media companies for over 15 years.
In 2011, Ryanne was published by the American Bar Association in the book titled Entertainment Law for the General Practitioner, making Ryanne one of the youngest attorneys published by the American Bar Association on the topic of entertainment law. She has worked with various artists, musicians, filmmakers and projects related to the arts throughout her career. In addition to her legal degree, Ryanne is a 2015 graduate of the Broadcast Leadership Training school from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the premiere executive-style MBA program for leaders in broadcasting and media. Recognized as a subject-matter expert in her field, she is regularly requested to lecture on the topics of media law, copyright law, and trademark law, as it relates to the entertainment, social media, and traditional media industries.
In 2021, she began creating content on Instagram to inspire and encourage women in their careers, personal lives, and for their entrepreneurial businesses. She is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and Mississippi College School of Law. All of the foregoing pales in comparison to her favorite title and responsibilities of being wife to Dan and Mommy to her son and his fur sister Belle.
She is the creator and host of a new podcast How Do I Do This? with Ryanne that is being produced and distributed by FOX with the first episode dropping Tuesday, August 5. You can find her on LinkedIn and Instagram @Ryanne_Reimagined and @howdoidothispod
The Importance of Financial Literacy and Investing on the Journey to Financial Health *To be released January 13, 2026
Hypatia Capital presents the Hypatia Investathon, a step-by-step financial and investment literacy program designed to help you take control of your money and build long-term wealth with confidence. This program focuses on practical, actionable strategies: how to create a budget you can stick to, build a strong emergency fund, tackle debt, and start investing for your future. It walks you through essential concepts like compounding, diversification, and using ETFs in tax-advantaged accounts like a Roth IRA, and shows you how to align your investments with your values. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your financial game, the Hypatia Investathon is about building healthy money habits that put you on a clear path to financial freedom.
Patricia Lizarraga is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Hypatia Women CEO Index & ETF, investing in American public companies with women CEOs for performance and impact.
She has over 30 years of Wall Street experience, at firms including Allen & Co, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and Citi, and has been focused on investing in women since 2007.
Ms. Lizarraga Chairs the Audit Committee for Credicorp, Ltd. and Banco de Credito del Peru, the largest financial conglomerate and universal bank in Peru, respectively.
She is a Trustee of the Museum of Art of Lima. Ms. Lizarraga earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Yale University.
View Past Masterclasses
AWM Media Masterclasses provide educational information to members on topics related to the media industry and the advancement of women. If you have a suggestion for a topic of speaker, please email info@allwomeninmedia.org.
Interested in helping to advance the future of women in media? Consider investing in this empowering program as a sponsor. All support contributes to shaping the careers of media leaders and fostering a strong and diverse media landscape for the future. Please email becky.brooks@allwomeninmedia.org for more information.