Understanding DGA Leadership

During their November 10 meeting, the Asian American Committee (AAC) hosted the discussion, Understanding DGA Leadership. In a conversation moderated by AAC Co-Chair Kevin Berlandi, Directors Kabir Akhtar, Karen Gaviola and Michael Goi, who all serve on the DGA’s National Board as well as various committees, discussed their paths to leadership and why showing up as leaders within the Directors Guild is so important.

Goi, a former AAC Co-Chair who currently serves as Co-Chair of the DGA Special Projects Committee, spoke about the importance of being committed to organizations that support us and how keeping them strong is an important work every member can engage in. He noted, “I hope that I help create a world of Directors who are better than I am, and I hope that I helped contribute to an environment fostering that outcome.”

Gaviola, who recently served as Co-Chair of the 2026 Negotiations Committee, revealed how her initial involvement was driven by her desire to work. She discussed putting herself out there to build and enhance her network. "Bryan Unger [a former DGA executive] asked me to be a part of a Negotiations Committee as my first real experience in leadership,” Gaviola recalled. “Since we were all out of work, I got to know everyone really well during that time including [then DGA First Vice President] Paris Barclay who encouraged me to get involved and run for the Board. Being a part of the 2008 Negotiations Committee really fostered a lot of fellowship amongst the group. The more time you give the more interesting you find out the DGA is, and it inspires you to want to participate more.”

Akhtar, a former AAC Co-Chair who currently serves as member of the DGA Board, shared his excitement in joining the Guild and his desire to get more involved immediately. He recalled meeting fellow Director Millicent Shelton when he joined the Guild and being advised to use the building. “I remember my first Asian American Committee meeting and how it felt to be in a room with us - a place where we all came together to build momentum that was industry wide. I was happy to be part of it and it made me want to better understand how the Guild worked so I could explain to others how the Guild works.” He also talked about the importance of helping people better understand how unions work and by extension the DGA.

Berlandi explored the history of the diversity committees and how these spaces have fostered building leaders within the union. The panelists also explored navigating the governance structure.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Kabir Akhtar
Akhtar’s directorial credits include episodes of the series, Going Dutch, Ghosts, Resident Alien, Never Have I Ever, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Sex Lives of College Girls, BH 90210, The Unicorn, Mumbai Calling, Saved by the Bell and Grown-ish; the pilot episode of Primo; and the relaunched edition of Unsolved Mysteries. Akhtar was nominated for the 2020 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for his “Opening Night” episode of the series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series; and he also won a Primetime Emmy for his editing work on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Akhtar has been a DGA member since 2005, currently serves as a member of the DGA National Board and previously served as a co-chair of the Asian American Committee.

Karen Gaviola
A DGA member since 1985, Gaviola, who began her career as an Assistant Director has served on the DGA Negotiations Committee for the past six negotiations cycles and was a Co-Chair during the last round. She currently serves as an Alternate on the DGA National Board and the Western Directors Council. She is Chair of the DGA Safety Committee and is a member of the TV Director Creative Rights Committee, Diversity Task Force, and serves as a Trustee for the DGA Pension and Health Plans. Gaviola has directed over 140 television episodes across all genres including The Boys, The Walking Dead and Paper Girls. She has also served as a Producer-Director on five series, including Hawaii 5-0 and Lucifer.

Director Michael Goi
Goi’s directorial credits include the feature films Megan Is Missing and Voyeur; the pilot of Avatar: The Last Airbender; and episodes of Brilliant Minds, Doc, Riverdale, The Rookie: Feds, Big Sky, Sexy Urban Legends, Pretty Little Liars and American Horror Story. He currently serves as a Co-Chair of the DGA Special Projects Committee and is Co-Chair of its Digital Day Subcommittee. He also currently serves as a Co-Chair of the DGA Television Diversity Task Force and previously served as a Co-Chair of the Asian American Committee and as an Alternate on the DGA National Board and the Western Directors Council. Goi has been a DGA member since 2015.

AAC Co-Chair Kevin Berlandi (moderator)
Berlandi’s directorial credits include episodes of NCIS, Found, Rescue: HI-Surf, The Blacklist, NCIS: Los Angeles, Walker, NCIS: Hawai’i, Bull, Partner Track and Criminal Minds. He also has assistant directing credits including features such as Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen; series such as Rush Hour and Blue; and mini-series such as Farmed and Dangerous and Dakota. A DGA member since 2007, Berlandi currently serves as a co-chair of the Asian American Committee and previously served two terms as a co-chair of the Committee from 2014 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2018.

About the Asian American Committee:

The Asian American Committee (AAC) was created as a networking group to provide a forum for interests and issues that concern Asian-American Guild members. Through outreach efforts in the entertainment industry that emphasize career development and skills enhancement, the committee provides a variety of networking opportunities as well as screenings, seminars and discussions with industry professionals.

For more information about the Asian American Committee, click here to visit their webpage.

Understanding DGA Leadership

A DGA Asian American Committee Event

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

About the Asian American Committee:

Pictures

Calendar