January 2025

Entertainment veteran Sheila Ducksworth is presidentof the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture. Based in Los Angeles at CBS Studios, Ducksworth supervises development and production of content for broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

Ducksworth has worked in multiple facets of the industry, both as a buyer and a seller; and, across various distribution outlets, with production company, studio and network experience.

Ducksworth is executive producer of the CBS daytime series BEYOND THE GATES, which will be the first soap opera to debut on broadcast television in over a quarter century. In addition, this series will be the first hour-long soap opera to feature a predominantly Black cast in the history of daytime television.

Prior to boarding the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, Ducksworth spent three years as head of scripted television and production for Will Packer Media, where she executive produced the series “Ambitions” and “Wendy Williams: The Movie.”

Ever the tastemaker and innovator, Ducksworth previously served as CEO and executive producer of Ducksworth Productions, where she received a NAMIC nomination with Kym Whitley for “It’s Kymplicated”; executive produced the Regina Hall, Jill Scott, Eve and Brooklyn Sudano starrer “With This Ring,” alongside Gabrielle Union and Tracey Edmonds; and produced the film “Why We Laugh: Funny Women” with Lionsgate Entertainment, Codeblack Films and entertainment legend and executive producer Joan Rivers.

Ducksworth also served as head of television for powerhouse players Susanne Daniels and Tracey Edmonds, running development and production of their respective companies.

A native New Yorker, Ducksworth received her B.A. in economics and political science from Yale University.