Jana Babatunde-Bey
Board Member
Jana Babatunde-Bey is a veteran media industry executive, film and television producer, and legacy builder. Mrs. Babatunde-Bey is the founder of J. Bey Entertainment, LLC, a film and television production company focused on content with rich character-driven narratives that inspire, enlighten and entertain. Her critically acclaimed six-part docuseries titled AMEND: The Fight for America, premiered February 17, 2021 on Netflix. She was an Executive Producer on Apple + feature HALA, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was the first feature launched on the Apple+ Platform; as well as the multi-award winning, and African Academy Award nominated, SPRINTER. Mrs. Babatunde-Bey produced WILL, the groundbreaking memoir by Will Smith, Executive Producer of WILL the Audiobook presentation, and produced both the domestic and international WILL LIVE show & book tour of the title.
Mrs. Babatunde-Bey served as the CEO and President of the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation; a private non-profit that supports charities in the area of education & arts, health & wellness, social empowerment, and environmental sustainability, from 2015 - 2021, and currently serves as a member of the WJSFF Board. During her tenure, WJSFF formed key strategic partnerships, contributed to numerous grants for national, international, and grassroot organizations, and was established as the social impact vehicle of the Smith’s family collection of brands. Mrs. Babatunde-Bey also created and launched the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation’s Careers in Entertainment Initiative, founded by Mrs. Pinkett Smith in 2015, providing access and opportunity to over 6,00 members and aspirational youth interested in a career in the entertainment industry through networking and internship opportunities across the world. For over two decades, Mrs. Babatunde-Bey played a vital role in building Overbrook Entertainment, Smith’s and partner James Lassiter’s signature film and television production company, holding dual positions during her tenure as both Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff to Mr. Smith. She currently also serves as a Board Director for the Smith Family Office, and has participated in various speaking engagements, conferences and festivals across the nation in her capacity as producer, executive and thought leader.
Mrs. Babatunde-Bey grew up in Inglewood, California. She received her B.A. in Communications from the University of California, Los Angeles and completed her Executive MBA at Pepperdine University in 2017. She thrives on new challenges, is passionate about the connection between social empowerment and storytelling. She is a world traveler, avid reader, the proud mother of five children, and devoted wife of over thirty years.