A trailblazer in media technology, Kylee Peña has leveraged her extensive experience at industry powerhouses like Netflix and Adobe to drive innovation and inclusivity across the field while contributing her expertise to The Junior League of Los Angeles.
Inspired by a committee that taught broadcast technology to women in the 1990s, Kylee created a new video production committee within JLLA to enhance visual storytelling and upskill league members. Kylee has been a member of the league’s Communications Council for several years and will serve as the council VP next year.
At Netflix, Kylee was a founding member of an employee-led advocacy group to increase representation in production. Kylee led multiple Netflix Hack Day teams to victory, and contributed to producing the first 4K HDR anime short Sol Levante, which was nominated for an IBC Innovation Award.
At Adobe, Kylee has been part of the launch of major new workflows inside flagship video editing software Premiere Pro, including Text-Based Editing which received the HPA Engineering Excellence Award among other honors.
Kylee’s industry engagement includes contributions to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers’ Motion Imaging Journal, where she critically addressed matters of workflow and diversity. In addition to serving on SMPTE’s board, she’s an active member of the Television Academy Science and Technology peer group.
Throughout her career, Kylee has been dedicated to mentoring underrepresented individuals, aiding their progression from early- to mid-career stages. For three years, she led the postproduction industry nonprofit organization Blue Collar Post Collective, doubling its membership and expanding to Los Angeles and London.
Kylee has been recognized as a Woman to Watch in Technology, Top Technologist, and Woman in Post and Production, and was nominated for a RISE Broadcast Influencer Award. This influence extends to speaking engagements at major events like Adobe MAX and the National Association of Broadcasters among others.
Beyond the entertainment industry, Kylee is an active participant in her community. In 2023, she was elected to the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, a part of Los Angeles city government serving as an advisory body for local issues. Kylee also founded a nonprofit called The Second Act Foundation, supporting women over thirty transitioning to STEM careers.
With her commitment to advancing diversity and elevating emerging talent, Kylee Peña continues to shape the future of media technology, civics, and community engagement, inspiring a new generation of leaders.