Lisa Donovan is a Co-Founder and General Manager of Maker Studios, a next- generation, talent first media company, and a pioneer in the world of online video. She has been a driving force in guiding Maker Studios' exponential growth and success over the past three years. Her leadership and vision has helped Maker achieve over 2 billion views online per month across its now 5,000+ channels. With over 200 million subscribers and more than 30,000 new video uploads a month, Maker Studios was born out of Donovan's, along with co-founders Danny Zappin's and Ben Donovan's, desire to create a 360 approach to producing, creating and distributing original content on the web. The trio created the only network that offers development, production, management, promotion, distribution, sales, and marketing services packaged all in one space for partners. Donovan has helped expand the company from just 8 employees in 2009 to close to 300 team members at their Culver City, CA campus today.

After moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actress and filmmaker, Lisa teamed up with her boyfriend Danny Zappin to form Zappin Productions in 2005. Then in 2006, discovering that she could make content on her own through the YouTube platform, Lisa began creating videos with Danny and her brother Ben on her channel LisaNova. As an early adopter, Lisa’s popularity grew enormously attracting millions of views and making such series viral hits as “Hot Girls” and “Molly Is So Cool Like.” Stemming from the success of the channel, Lisa was one of the first YouTube content creators to cross over into mainstream Hollywood when she was cast on MADtv in 2007. Then in 2009, the trio, along with several other YouTube stars such as ShayCarl and KassemG, decided to form Maker Studios. The team began by launching the YouTube channel TheStation, which became a hub for talent to collaborate in the space.

Donovan has a unique ability to identify with talent effectively due to her experience in front of the camera and has inspired many to become content creators themselves. She has been a monumental force in the online content creating community working with up-and-coming and well-established YouTube talent along with such notable figures as Jane Fonda, Katy Perry, Jenna Elfman, Ralph Nader and Spike Lee. She has been referred to as “the best one woman show online” by Interview magazine and has been highlighted in The New York Times, Variety, Forbes, Wired, Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post and CNN, among many others. Her experience as LisaNova helps drive the Maker business model as a talent first media company.

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