2026 Awards

Cathy Olson

Talent

Founder, Hollywood & Mind | Contributor, Forbes

Cathy Applefeld Olson is a social impact entrepreneur and veteran entertainment industry journalist. She is the founder and CEO of Hollywood & Mind, the entertainment industry’s collective advancing positive mental health through events, initiatives, intersectional dialog and storytelling. Hollywood & Mind supports those who work across music, film, TV, the creator ecosystem, tech and sports, while also helping scale the role of people and industries of influence to spark hope, spur action and disseminate resources out in the culture. The fifth annual Summit will take place in May in Los Angeles and On Location events bring conversations and community to cities including Nashville, New York, Atlanta, and DC. A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Cathy has spent most of her professional career reporting on the music and entertainment industries, and sharing stories of artists, actors and executives for publications including Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Cynopsis and Cablefax. She remains a frequent contributor to Billboard and has a platform covering entertainment on Forbes.com, home of her column Mind Reading, which features interviews with culture influencers about their mental health journeys. Cathy and her husband Brent are the parents of two young women, Olivia and Jacqueline, who inspire them every day. When she’s not immersed in family time or work, you can probably find her out listening to live music.

Confirmed Summit attendance does not confirm an Awards appearance, performance, or honor.