Abby O’Neill Appointed Head of Cultural Programming & Strategy for Summit Series
Summit Series is excited to announce the appointment of Abby O’Neill as Head of Cultural Programming & Strategy. O’Neill brings over 20 years of entertainment strategy and programming experience to Summit Series, blending visionary leadership with expertise in curation, production, and brand partnerships, as well as a robust and diverse industry network.
As an NPR Executive Producer and strategist, O’Neill curated and produced over 100 Tiny Desk Concerts, and was pivotal in achieving a 3000% increase in viewership. Her curation of diverse hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and pop performances was instrumental in transforming the series into a global cultural phenomenon, showcasing cultural icons such as Anderson .Paak and Dua Lipa—still the top two most-watched Tiny Desk Concerts in series history. She also co-created the Tiny Desk Fest, featuring Megan Thee Stallion’s breakout performance, and produced the Tiny Desk White House edition with Common and Robert Glasper during the Obama Administration. O’Neill developed an innovative sponsorship and business development strategy at NPR Music that provided funding for editorial and event initiatives through strategic brand partnerships, driving significant revenue growth and empowering key initiatives. She also created and executive produced two seasons of NPR’s cultural conversation podcast “What’s Good with Stretch & Bobbito,” securing high-profile guests such as Dave Chappelle, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, and The Beastie Boys.
Under her own banner at Key Bridge Entertainment, O’Neill co-created Rock the Park DC, a free dance music festival in Washington, DC, now entering its fourth year, uniting the community with DJs like Just Blaze, Jazzy Jeff, Moodymann, and Rich Medina drawing over 5000 attendees annually. She also served as a producer on the new Muhammad Ali docu-series, Ali & Me, talent produced the Greatest Day podcast on Audible, exploring the iconic Gordon Parks photograph featuring over 200 hip-hop emcees. In recent months, O’Neill served as a programmer and curator for Summit At Sea, contributing to its recognition as the most acclaimed “at sea” iteration of Summit Series on Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages ship.
“I am thrilled to join Summit Series and contribute to its dynamic community,” said Abby O’Neill. “I look forward to rolling up my sleeves to aid in the expansion and diversification of Summit’s already transformative programming. By tapping into our collective network of visionaries to conceive further impactful cultural experiences, we will strengthen and expand this necessary community worldwide.”
“We are so excited to add Abby to our core Summit team,” said Jody Levy, Partner, CEO and Global Director of all Summit companies. “Abby’s extensive background in cultural programming combined with her strategic acumen, makes her an invaluable addition to our high-performing team dedicated to creating never-before-created experiences. We are confident that her passion and expertise will drive our initiatives to new heights, furthering our mission.”
For the past 16 years, Summit has fostered a global community of diverse individuals, including entrepreneurs, academics, athletes, artists, astronauts, authors, chefs, engineers, explorers, philanthropists, spiritual leaders, and scientists. Through a series of invitation-only experiences, Summit has created an ecosystem that connects and nourishes these high-intensity, uninhibited individuals dedicated to making a positive impact.
Summit Series was born out of a desire to create experiences for remarkable people to gather, connect, and inspire one another. This nexus for the creative and entrepreneurial community has become a powerful network driving cultural advancement, impact, and change. Rooted in a passion to unite global makers through immersive experiences, Summit Series events span six pillars: thought leadership, culture and performance, art and expression, hospitality, health and happiness, and impact. Ranging from 100 to 4,000 attendees, these events include Summit At Sea and the upcoming Summit Baja. In 2024, Summit launched Summit Membership, a global platform connecting artistic entrepreneurs, business leaders, and cultural influencers year-round, offering access to exclusive experiences worldwide.
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Abby O’Neill Appointed Head of Cultural Programming & Strategy for Summit Series
