Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Gonzales.
Hi Emily, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Katherine (CEO & Founder): Back in October of 2022, I looked around a very crowded networking cocktail hour and thought to myself; there has to be a better way to do this. Cocktail hours can be a great way to meet a lot of folks at once, but they can also be a drain on our precious social batteries. After a long day of work, it can be hard to use up your last bit of fuel in a draining environment. In addition, while some people have no problem socializing with strangers, it can be very tough for some folks. We are told that “networking is net worth,” but what if your version of networking may not be successful in a crowded room?
With that, The Media Dinner Club was born – a dinner party series and online community built to supercharge your network through friendship! The Media Dinner Club has expanded to 35 Chapters – from Nashville to London, Houston to Amsterdam – has 75 incredible women on our leadership team, and over 1000 members.
We have built a way to network where you can “come as you are” and leave feeling rejuvenated, instead exhausted.
Emily (San Diego Chapter Lead):
I’m so grateful that Katherine founded The Media Dinner Club in NYC and recognized its potential to benefit women in other cities. My journey with The Media Dinner Club in San Diego began over a year ago.
As someone who works 100% remotely for a company headquartered in Texas, I appreciate the work-life balance compared to my in-office days, but I began to really miss the social aspect and camaraderie that comes from being around others in the same field.
The timing felt very serendipitous—one night, I checked LinkedIn and saw a post from Brianna Sudrla, a close colleague, about her Media Dinner Club experience in Chicago. I immediately reached out to see if there was a chapter in San Diego. When she mentioned there wasn’t one yet, she connected me with Katherine, to learn more.
I was instantly drawn to the concept—a casual, welcoming space where women in the industry could come together over dinner and grow their networks organically.
Soon after meeting with Katherine, I hosted my first dinner in March 2024 at BarElla in Pacific Beach with 12 women I had never met before. We kicked off the evening by reflecting on the MDC mission: Supercharge Your Network with Friendship. As the night went on, all the stress and anxiety from the day faded away—a shared sentiment among us. That sense of connection is exactly what makes every MDC event feel like the perfect midweek recharge and mood booster.
This week, we’re hosting the San Diego chapter’s 16th gathering at Salt + Lime in Del Mar, and it’s especially meaningful to welcome back members from that very first night while also embracing first-time attendees. Watching The Media Dinner Club grow has been incredible, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Emily
One of our biggest challenges in San Diego is the sheer number of social groups and networking organizations. However, what sets The Media Dinner Club apart is that we exist in the perfect middle ground between fun and professional networking—a space where meaningful connections happen naturally.
Since this is a volunteer-led initiative and I work full-time, balancing time and responsibilities has often felt like a game of Tetris. The first eight months were entirely grassroots, relying on word-of-mouth, one-on-one outreach, and social media to recruit attendees through a simple Google request form and tracker. Over 60 women attended various dinners (9 total) , with all communication managed manually through my personal Gmail—a challenge as interest grew alongside the true potential of the community.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Katherine (CEO & Founder) Beyond managing the day to day of building an infrastructure to support this bustling community, we’re working to expand what we can give back to the community that has given so much to us – Media is our common denominator, but friendship is the foundation. We’re striving to host more inclusive events for members and newcomers alike that blend industry insights with genuine camaraderie. We want to establish ourselves as a pillar in the community for the ambitious, navigating careers and workplace challenges while building lasting friendships, whether that be at your favorite local spot or global industry events alike.
Emily (SD Chapter Lead)
In San Diego, expanding our leadership team with “Dinner Leads”—Margarita Neymark, Victoria Polvi, and most recently, Nina Magliozzi—has been transformative in strengthening our community. They share a deep passion for MDC’s mission of connecting women in the industry and play a vital role in hosting our monthly dinners while contributing to the club’s ongoing growth. With their support, we’ve also organized two incredible events—a Holiday Social and a Galentine’s Social—both of which allowed us to celebrate our members while welcoming new ones.”
Our Galentine’s event was particularly special, bringing together 27 incredible women from across different marketing disciplines. We spent the evening socializing, networking, and getting creative with DIY charm crafting! One of my favorite moments was seeing the wide range of career stages and specialties represented in the room—with no agenda beyond simply enjoying each other’s company.
One attendee shared:
“Feeling inspired by the incredible women leading the way in the media industry! A huge thank you to Media Dinner Club for hosting such a dynamic and empowering event. It was a great opportunity to connect, learn, and be energized by the stories and experiences shared.”
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our leadership team, particularly Margarita Neymark, whose commitment to supporting San Diego’s local businesses has been invaluable. She introduced us to Alex Montelbano, CEO & founder of Kove, a local brewery that generously provided space for our events and continues to be a huge supporter of our club.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Emily: The Media Dinner Club doesn’t follow the traditional mentor-mentee model. Instead, we’ll be launching a friend-to-friend membership program designed to challenge conventional mentorship structures. The goal is to create a space for mutual growth—where the line between mentor and mentee blurs, allowing women to learn from one another in a more dynamic way.
The Slack community has also been an invaluable resource for San Diego members and beyond. With over 700 members and dozens of dedicated channels, the network extends far beyond city limits.
Just last week, I received advice from a VP on best practices for quarterly reviews while simultaneously helping a specialist refine her resume for an upcoming interview. The connections go beyond professional development—whether it’s meeting up for a Pilates class with a visiting NYC member or planning a group gathering at SXSW, it’s incredible to know that wherever you go, there’s always a friendly face from MDC waiting to connect.
Pricing:
- $5 x month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themediadinnerclub.com
- Instagram: @themediadinnerclub
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/103154437/
