Donna Friedman Meir is president of kids' programming and production for National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F), where she leads the effort to make original kids' entertainment informed by the underlying mission of National Geographic and its commitment to the exploration and examination of our world. Her mandate is simple: To excite kids to explore their world.



In the three years since the formation of the National Geographic kids' TV group, Friedman Meir and her Los Angeles-based team have put into development and production several high-profile children's series/specials including, "Toot and Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies," "Are We There Yet?" and "Iggy Arbuckle." She is succeeding in her strategy of forging development associations with leading "A-level" creative talent around the world. Under Friedman Meir's guidance, the National Geographic kids' TV group has struck creative relationships with an impressive roster of award-winning producers, directors and writers, including Blueprint Entertainment, Peter Egan, Ginger Gibbons of Grand Slamm Children's Films, Jill Gorey, Barbara Herndon, Holly Hobbie, Holly Huckins, J.J. Johnson, Stu Krieger, Tom Lynch, Leo Nielsen of King Rollo Films, Gretha Rose, Paul Rugg, Guy Vasilovich, Wang Films and Andy Yerkes.



National Geographic kids' TV taps into the deep resources of National Geographic Society's robust editorial platforms and programs, and complements National Geographic's kids' offerings, which include a highly successful kids' magazine, home entertainment, an educational Web site, toy licensing, the National Geographic Bee and book and school publishing.



Together with her executive team, Friedman Meir is cultivating relationships with studios and all major broadcast outlets in the United States and abroad, as well as working closely with National Geographic's feature and giant-screen film divisions to bring quality kids' productions to the big screen.



Prior to joining National Geographic in February 2003, Friedman Meir was executive vice president at Kids' WB! and oversaw all creative aspects of this highest-rated kids' broadcast network's programming. During her four-year tenure at Kids' WB!, she led the network to outstanding growth. She was instrumental in helping the network earn 10 straight Saturday morning sweeps victories, including delivering sweeps ratings highs in various key demographics. Among the hit series she acquired, developed, greenlit and supervised were "Jackie Chan Adventures," "X-Men: Evolution" and "What's New Scooby Doo?"



Friedman Meir came to Kids' WB! from Nickelodeon, where she was vice president, marketing and associate creative director for Nickelodeon Latin America, and played a key role in spearheading the launch of the cable network's channel in Latin America. Earlier in her career at Nickelodeon, she held various positions in marketing, consumer products and new media. Friedman Meir also co-authored the highly touted "How To Nickelodeon" handbook, the original guide to the cable network's brand identity and philosophy.



A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Friedman Meir was a John Harvard scholar as well as a Ford Foundation Grant recipient. She currently serves on the board of the American Center for Children and Media, and was a member of the design committee of the Children's Museum of Los Angeles. She was named one of the top 25 most powerful women in television by Electronic Media in October 2002.