Meet Angelé Cooper

Angelé Cooper

Class of 2023 BEQ Pride LGBTQ Leader Under 40

Pronouns: She, Her

Age: 32

Who or what inspires your leadership purpose? And why?

Samantha is my 14-year-old sister. She is so full of light, love, and drive. When I see her, I see the future of the next generation of Black and Brown girls and boys pursuing their hopes and dreams. This next generation inspires me to be the best version of myself every day. It is important as humans that we not only love ourselves but we love each other, we support each other, and we should continue to inspire each other. I intend to shed light on humanity, to spread love, kindness, and grace with every human that I encounter. ~Angelé Cooper

A statement from Angelé

Resilient. Relentless. Passionate. I am a director residing in Los Angeles, California. My experiences have driven me to direct stories that give a voice to the voiceless, represent the misrepresented, and bring visibility to the invisible. I have spoken on various panels, including SXSW’s “Bridging Diversity in Film & Television in 2019. I moved forward, becoming a finalist in The American Film Institute Directing Women Workshop and Sundance Episodic Labs. This year, I was featured on a PBS show called Black Excellence, speaking on mental health in black communities and media. My short film, Fever, had its world premiere in London at BFI Flare. I also got accepted into Grad School for my Masters in Psychology from Pepperdine University. I have utilized my experiences of being a Black lesbian from the streets of Southern California to give me a sincere, bold, and raw perspective through my filmmaking. I have experienced a lot of pain in my life, which allows me to empathize with others. My goal is to work with people who also want to direct unique stories, on television and in film, from an honest point of view. I desire to tell stories that show the humanity within us all to not only inspire but to allow others to know that they are not alone.

I want my films to allow people to love a little harder, forgive a little easier, and not allow this world to change that bright light within them. The truth is, we all have stories. We need to learn to be gentler with one another. My goal as a director is to be a risk-taker, not only empowering the marginalized but to tell stories that grapple with issues many are often too terrified to discuss. This is what brings out the humanity within us all.

To learn about more leaders recognized by BEQ Pride, visit https://businessequalitymagazine.com/MoreLeaders

To connect with this leader, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelecooper/