Colette Lathan ’19 tells students to be the best at every job, even the small ones

Diversity in Hollywood has come a long way, but SU alumna Colette Lathan ‘19 says the entertainment industry still has work to do. 

Lathan, a creative executive at Acid and Tender Productions, spoke about representation, her career and the lessons she learned along the way in a discussion moderated by J. Christopher Hamilton, an associate professor at Newhouse and entertainment attorney. 

“Black people are sorely underrepresented in the industry,” Lathan said. 

Lathan said she saw a push for more diversity when she first entered the entertainment industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. However, she said that progress has slowed following industry strikes and layoffs. Still, Lathan believes the industry will move forward. She said networks need to create shows that reach different audiences, and representation remains an important part of making that happen. 

After graduating from Syracuse, Lathan started her career as an intern before working in a mailroom. She later became an assistant at Netflix before moving into her current position. From being a student working on various big projects to delivering mail, it wasn’t exactly the career she had imagined. But she told students those small jobs matter more than they might think. 

Whether it’s delivering mail or answering the phone at the front desk, Lathan encouraged students to be the best at whatever they’re doing. Doing the little things well shows the people around you that you’re someone they can count on. And in entertainment, those relationships matter. 

“Everyone knows everyone or knows someone that knows them,” Lathan said. 

She explained that the industry is smaller than people might expect. The people you work with early in your career could show up again years later, making it important to work hard, build relationships and treat people right. Lathan also learned that doing good work doesn’t always mean people will notice it. 

Looking back on her early career, she said one of her mistakes was assuming her accomplishments would speak for themselves. She was involved in projects and organizations outside her everyday responsibilities but didn’t always make sure her supervisors knew about that work. Lathan encouraged students to speak up about their accomplishments rather than waiting for someone else to do it for them.