Joanna James is an award-winning filmmaker, dedicated advocate for women and brand strategist & storyteller.
Joanna James is a communications strategist and ecosystem builder who helps organizations unlock growth through storytelling, strategic partnerships, and workforce development at the intersection of hospitality, food, agriculture, education and social impact.
As the CEO of Joanna James Films, she develops cinematic storytelling and strategic media initiatives that help businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits and industry leaders strengthen their brands, engage communities, inspire talent and accelerate growth. She specializes in crafting authentic storytelling with high quality film production combined with expert media strategy, digital marketing & distribution to an expanded target audience— so your story resonates with the highest visibility and reach it deserves.
Joanna directed, wrote and produced the award-winning documentary, A Fine Line, with its national broadcast premiere on PBS, reaching audiences on every major airline and cruise line and leading educational institutions, including Harvard University and the Culinary Institute of America. Awarded Vanity Fair’s “Best Documentary by a first-time filmmaker” and gaining over 450 million viewers— the film elevated national conversations around leadership and gender equity in hospitality, sparking policy change and creating greater access to resources for women in the culinary and hospitality industries across the globe, building an international community.
She is also the Founder of MAPP, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing workforce development to build a more sustainable food system by merging storytelling with skills training.
Her work has been featured in The O Magazine, NPR, Forbes, The Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and The James Beard Foundation. Joanna is a sought-after speaker and advisor whose clients and audiences include Google, PepsiCo, Marriott International, Compass and hospitality organizations—helping them leverage storytelling to strengthen brands and build meaningful partnerships.
Prior to filmmaking, Joanna was a newspaper reporter at The Boston Globe, where she was awarded Best Environmental Reporting from the New England Press Association and covered the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.
Joanna hopes her work will help make a more level playing field for her three daughters, Ava, Mariella, and Zoe — and couldn’t do it without the love and support of her husband Charles, the ultimate feminist.
FILMMAKING
Our vision is to raise the voices of the unheard through emotionally evocative films that inspire and create empathy. We do this in various formats — documentaries, docuseries, branded content, and film.
Film
Branded Content
Docuseries
The Restaurant Ecosystem
ADVOCACY
MAPP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization merging storytelling with skills training and workforce development to raise industry standards and create a sustainable culinary and hospitality industry. We have transformed the culinary and hospitality landscape into a more inclusive and thriving community building leaders through Mentorship, Advocacy, Purpose, and the Power of community (MAPP). MAPP produces an annual conference and advocacy summit on Capitol Hill bringing together world renowned chefs, culinary and hospitality professionals, media, legislators and Fortune 500 companies including long standing partners like PepsiCo, Delta Air Lines, Distinguished Vineyards and Marriott International.
One of the annual MAPP Conferences hosted in Miami, Las Vegas and special international events in Paris, London and Greece.
Keynote Speaker Joanna James launching the inaugural MAPP Women in Leadership Conference in Fort Lauderdale, 2021.
Joanna with MAPP members at the annual MAPP Advocacy Summit on Capitol Hill, advocating for paid family leave; affordable, accessible, high quality childcare; and small business support.
SPEAKING
Joanna James’ personal mission is to inspire empathy and action through her filmmaking, advocacy work, and public speaking. She is a motivational speaker on issues of women leadership, navigating motherhood and career, inspiring our youth to tap into their full potential, trends in the culinary and hospitality industries and creating enticing policies in the workplace that lead to a more productive, purpose driven workforce.
She has spoken to cohorts at influential organizations like Google, PepsiCo, and Chevron, and prestigious universities including Harvard and The Culinary Institute of America.
