Women Leading the Industry: Alicia Hirsch

To mark International Women’s Day, Sohonet is spotlighting some of the incredible women shaping our industry. Through a series of in-depth conversations, we explore their leadership journeys, the challenges they’ve navigated, and the perspectives driving media and entertainment forward.

We’re proud to begin with Alicia Hirsch.

Across a remarkable four-decade career, Alicia has held senior roles at some of the industry’s most influential studios, including MTM, Universal, and Fox. From her early days at MTM to overseeing global distribution and creative production on acclaimed series such as The Americans, Burn Notice, and The Killing, she has helped shape some of television’s most enduring storytelling. Today, she continues to consult, lecture, and mentor the next generation of industry talent.

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Let’s start at the beginning, how did your journey into the industry begin?

My journey started as a tour guide at Universal Studios. On my days off, I would go down to the lower lot and meet with editors to learn about editing because I knew how important it was if I wanted to become a producer  or a director. That was my start in making connections and networking. 

With strong determination I was able to meet people who guided and helped me pursue my career, get into the  Editors Guild and start working on such acclaimed shows as Fantasy Island, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere and Remington Steele. Soon after attending both USC and Pepperdine, I received my MBA.  

This helped me on my next chapter, moving to the management side. Combining my creative side with my MBA,  I became Vice President of Post Production and World-Wide Distribution for MTM Studios and was the executive  in charge of shows such as Newhart, WKRP in Cincinnati, Evening Shade and The Pretender, along with  countless MOW’s and Specials.  

After MTM was sold, I became Senior Vice President of World-Wide Distribution, Technological Services and  Special Projects for Universal Studios. After Universal Studios, I worked as clo-Producer on Nash Bridges and  The District, and consulted with major studios in various capacities.  

I then joined Fox as Senior Vice President of Post Production for FTVS and Fox 21 Television Studios, working  on cable shows, such as, The Americans, The Killing, Burn Notice, White Collar, Legends, Salem, Marc Maron,  Queen of the South and Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as numerous others. 

While at Fox, I got caught up in a “voluntary retirement program” and then began working as a Post Production  Consultant, specializing in assisting small and independent production companies, both domestically and  internationally, acting as a liaison between production, post, the creative and legal teams, as well as the Network  and Streamers, creating the post budget at the script level, generating the post calendar, hiring the post staff and  vendors, and formulating a post workflow.  

Some of my consulting clients have included: Alcon Television, Amazon, Adaptive Studios, Blumhouse, ITV  Studios, Klevan Longarzo, Vance and Blumensaadt LLP, eOne/DIRECTV, INSIGHT TV, FremantleMedia and  Prime Focus, to name a few. 

I’m currently involved in a number of shows, including Blade Runner 2099, and I also lecture at UCLA, USC and the WGA.

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What drew you to work in this industry? 

It has always been a passion since I could remember. I started acting when I was young and wanted  to pursue that, but my dad got sick and things changed. I don’t regret that I took a turn and my path led me to editing and then, after my MBA, moving over to the Executive side. I’ve had a great  career and worked with and met wonderful people along the way. It had its challenges, and being a  woman Executive at that time, it was noticeable in how you were treated. At one Studio, women were  treated differently, but you learned to overcome that, and know how arrogant/misogynistic so many of  them were, but you try to ignore them the best you can and not stoop to their level. 

It has changed for the better, but still not 100% in my opinion. Some good and some not so good.  Good because it’s a bit easier to get ahead as a woman, but sad, that the workflows, pressures and budgets are more stressful. 

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You mentioned some great stories from your career; can you share one?

I was fortunate to get the job at MTM as VP of Post Production and Worldwide Distribution. (which is another great story) MTM was like a family. 

Grant Tinker was CEO at MTM, but had left before I worked there. After he left MTM, he wrote  a book about his dreams. When I read his book, I knew most of the people he referenced since  they were still there at MTM and for some reason I decided to write Grant Tinker a letter to let  him know, if it wasn’t for his dream, I might not be here at MTM fulfilling mine. At the time he  was the CEO at NBC. Weeks go by and I forgot about the letter. 

One day my assistant told me that Grant Tinker was on the phone. I laughed out loud and I knew  it wasn’t him. I knew it was one of my friends teasing me, so I answered the phone and said “Hi Ted,” and he replied, “It’s not Ted, it’s Grant Tinker.” I laughed again. Then he said, “I got your letter and wanted to thank you for such kind words.”…

OMG, it really was Grant Tinker. It was one of the best days. We talked, and it was wonderful.

I have a lot of great stories and memories all throughout my career. Someone actually told me  that I should write a book. Maybe one day I will….  

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What part of your work brings you the most joy, and what fuels your passion and motivation in your  career? 

I don’t know what fuels my passion, but I do know that I love what I do, love to be creative, love to  work as a team and collaborate.

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What's the most unexpected lesson you've learned from a failure or setback in your career? 

There is one lesson that I’ve learned from setbacks (I don’t like the word failure; women do not fail). In my career, I did have people trying to hold me back. Unfortunately, it will happen. For me, it gave  me strength and determination and in those situations, I realized what was in my best interest was to  leave that situation and leave on my terms. As a result, I found something that was even better. 

You might be sad in the beginning, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Do not let people  put you down. 

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What's the most empowering career advice you've received and If you could give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be? 

I never received any career advice when I started out. I just knew that I wanted to produce or be the head of a studio.

If there is one piece of advice that I wish I received it would have been to work  within a production team or with a producer. That is the best starting point to learn and further your career, with the hope that you meet a mentor in the career of your choice.  

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What advice would you give a young woman starting in the industry? 

DON’T GIVE UP and don’t listen to people who put you down!!! 

Knowledge is power and unfortunately sometimes, you have to play the game when you are starting out. You are going to  work long hours and work hard, but in the long run, if this is what you want, then it will be worth it.  

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Have you ever had a moment in your career where you felt especially proud to be a woman in this  industry and what made it meaningful? 

I thought about this question and truly I don’t know how to answer this one. I am proud to be a strong  woman, but I don’t want the job because I am a woman, I want the job because I am good, smart and  capable. I hire people because they are good, I don’t look at anything else.

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Who are some female role models who have inspired you? 

Here is the sad truth, I did not have many female role models because at that time, there were hardly  any women…remember that I started in 1978. I had one woman as my boss and was so excited, but it turned out just the opposite. She was mean and not supportive, and I was shocked. As time went on, I did work with a couple of great women and that brings me to another great story.

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Tell us about it.

The Pilot of The Killing.  

Patty Jenkins was Directing. 

Veena Sud was the Show Runner. 

Nancy Cotton was Creative Executive at FOX  

Shana Fischer Huber was Post Producer. 

And Me, Post Production Executive…. 

It was 2011 and not that many women were in high powered jobs. The pilot was shot and we were in Post. We were all in Color Grading Bay (then it was called Color Correction). 

I looked around and said, “Hey guys, look around, it’s all women.” and the person who is coloring  the show is a guy (the colorist), and I made a joke…. “Let’s not talk about sports, let’s talk about shoes”. We all laughed, including the colorist. It was the first time that I had worked with an incredible group of women, and knew at that time, things were going to change (slowly, but it will happen). 

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What do you think are the most significant barriers for women in our industry, and how can we work  together to overcome them? 

We must support each other, encourage each other and work together as a team. There will always be  barriers for women, but as the song goes…“I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman”  

We will learn, fight for our rights, not be intimidated, and be kind and helpful when needed, and more  importantly, never give up.

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