Episode 60: Cheryl Boone Isaacs – A Journey from Pan Am Stewardess to Hollywood Leadership

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In this episode, we are joined by Cheryl Boone Isaacs, a former Pan Am stewardess from 1972 to 1974 who went on to build an extraordinary career in Hollywood. 

Her journey is a remarkable one that spans aviation, Hollywood, and film education. She began her professional career as a Pan Am stewardess from 1972 to 1974, an experience that gave her a global perspective and a deep appreciation for storytelling and human connection.

After leaving Pan Am, Cheryl moved to San Franscico where she held various jobs. However, she always thought about either going back into aviation or pursuing her dream of being in the film business inspired in part by her brother, Ashley Boone, a pioneering film executive. 

Learn more about Ashley here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/he-was-star-wars-secret-weapon-why-was-he-forgotten-1275211/

Through him, she attended an advanced screening of Star Wars before its release in May 1977. That moment proved transformational and solidified her belief that the motion picture industry was where she belonged. So, she packed her bags and moved to Hollywood. 

Over the decades that followed, Cheryl worked on the marketing, publicity, and release of some of the most iconic films in cinema history. 

Her credits include Forrest Gump, Titanic, The King’s Speech, Braveheart, The Artist, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Right Stuff, Once Upon a Time in America, The Wedding Singer, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Spider-Man 2. She also worked on two Indiana Jones films and five Star Trek films.

Behind the scenes, Cheryl broke significant barriers. She became the first African American woman to lead a major studio marketing department at New Line Cinema, and later the first African American to serve as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she guided the organization through a pivotal period of reflection and change.

Today, she continues shaping the future of storytelling as the Founding Director and Professor of Practice at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University (film.asu.edu). 

In that role, she mentors students and builds a program grounded in Sidney Poitier’s legacy, emphasizing inclusion, leadership, and real-world industry experience.

From the skies of Pan Am to Hollywood studios and now the classroom, Cheryl Boone Isaacs’ career reflects a lifelong commitment to storytelling, leadership, and opening doors for future generations. 

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A very special thanks to Mr. Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC and president of the Pan Am Historical Foundation and Pan Am Brands for their continued and unwavering support!