Women Leading the Industry: Carin Mazaira

Carin Mazaira is a strategic marketing leader specializing in media, entertainment, and emerging technology. As an independent Marketing Specialist, she collaborates with companies including Volinga, AI on the Lot, and the Entertainment Technology Center to design integrated campaigns and events that connect creative communities with innovative tools and workflows. She has previously led marketing initiatives for Leica Geosystems, Disguise, Netflix, and Powster, driving brand growth and engagement across the M&E landscape. Carin is an active member of VES, HPA, and RISE, and serves on the board of Women in Virtual Production.

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

The part of my work that brings me the most joy is building connections between creatives and technologists, between emerging tools and real-world production, and between people who may not otherwise cross paths. I love creating spaces, whether through campaigns, events, or community initiatives, where people feel empowered to ask questions, share knowledge, and grow together. When I see someone leave an event feeling more confident about the topic, that’s incredibly rewarding. Being at the intersection of storytelling and innovation keeps the work constantly evolving and that momentum is what motivates me.

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

Be in the room with people you want to learn from. If you see an exciting event or meetup, don't be scared to attend on your own. Build relationships before you need them. This industry runs on trust and collaboration. Show up, ask thoughtful questions and follow up with intention. Your network is not about collecting business cards. It’s about building genuine connections. 

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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? What made it meaningful?

I recently joined the board of the LA chapter of Women in Virtual Production, alongside Ames O’Connor and LB Bunch, and I felt incredibly honored to be selected among so many talented leaders in our industry.I’m proud of the team we’ve built and of the opportunity to bring together strong women to make a meaningful impact on our community. What makes it especially meaningful is seeing the energy people leave with after our events, inspired to create, collaborate, and support one another. Watching women share resources, recommend each other for opportunities, mentor across experience levels, and confidently take up space in technical conversations is deeply inspiring. Those moments are a reminder that real change happens through community.

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Given the incredible women making waves across our industry, do you believe there's more our industry could do to support their advancement?

Progress is happening, but there’s still work to be done, particularly in access and visibility. We need to ensure women are not only included in conversations but positioned as decision-makers, technical leaders, and founders. The industry can support women through intentional speaker selection, equitable hiring pipelines and dedicated mentorship programs. Personally, I am tired of seeing male-driven thought leadership. Including more diversity in panels and mentorship helps build new perspectives and ideas. When women in technical and leadership roles are no longer seen as the exception, that’s when we’ll know meaningful progress has been made.

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What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally?

International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a reminder. It’s a moment to recognize the women who paved the way for us, especially in industries like media and technology that haven’t always been inclusive. It reminds me that visibility matters, mentorship matters, and community matters. I see it as an opportunity to amplify others, to acknowledge progress, and to recommit to creating spaces where the next generation of women can lead with confidence.

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