Alyssa Lanz, 29
Title: TV literary agent, United Talent Agency. Lanz represents Tracee Ellis Ross of “Girlfriends” and “Black-ish” fame, movie producer Andrew Lazar and comic book publisher Boom Studios.
Company: United Talent Agency primarily represents actors, directors and writers.
Financials: UTA is valued at between $700 million and $800 million, according to a person familiar with the company. UTA has more than 250 agents in Los Angeles County.
What is your position?
I’m a TV literary agent at United Talent Agency (UTA) where I represent a range of actors, writers and production companies.
How did you get involved in talent representation?
I got my start working in UTA’s mailroom after graduating Wesleyan University in 2012. Initially, I worked in the digital division before moving into scripted television in 2013. After a great deal of hard work, I rose through the ranks and was promoted to agent nearly four years later.
Do you have a mentor?
Yes, I’m fortunate to have many people in my life who I’m able to lean on for both personal and professional guidance. I believe that the extra support has made all the difference in the trajectory of my career.
Whom do you turn to for advice regarding your work?
I rely on a number of mentors at work for their sage advice, especially those who have walked the path before me. Even in the toughest of situations, it’s always a relief to connect with someone who has worked through the same issues and come out on the other side.
What are your long-term goals?
Personally, I want to continue fostering unique voices and build multifaceted careers for creatives whose work reflects a wide range of thoughts, backgrounds and experiences. I hope to help more series (that are) reflective of the diversity of our world today make it to air for audiences to enjoy.
What do you do for fun?
I spend my time traveling, reading new books, visiting art exhibits and going to the beach. The Annenberg Space for Photography is one of my favorite places, and the exhibit “Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop” is a must see.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the clients Alyssa Lanz represents. She no longer represents Jussie Smollett. It also misstated the number of agents United Talent Agency employs in Los Angeles County. UTA has more than 250 agents in L.A. County.
