MARA BROCK AKIL has written and produced over 400 episodes of television, leaving her mark on Hollywood. Her groundbreaking body of work includes the television series Girlfriends (2000), a witty and honest exploration of the multi-faceted nature of Black womanhood. During its eight seasons on-air, it was one of the highest-rated scripted shows among African-Americans ages eighteen to 34.

Brock Akil then developed the spin-off series, The Game, which premiered in 2006. A quick fan-favorite, loyal watchers launched a social media campaign to save the series upon its cancellation, resulting in BET’s decision to renew the series and to develop additional episodes. When season four premiered in 2011, the series exceeded all expectations, drawing in 7.7 million viewers and becoming the most-watched scripted- series premiere ever on ad-supported cable. It continued on for a total of nine seasons, earning praise throughout its run for its verisimilitude and authenticity.

In 2013, Brock Akil developed her first one-hour drama for BET, Being Mary Jane, further cementing her ability to tell powerful and engaging stories that speak to women through honest, true-to-life reflections. Her work put BET scripted series on the map for the first time ever with back-to-back hits gleaning formidable audiences. She has continued this legacy with recent projects, including The CW’s Black Lightning and OWN’s Love Is__, where she made her directorial debut.

Beyond her work as a writer, producer and director, her peers have consistently recognized Brock Akil as a leader in the industry. In 2019, she was honored with the prestigious Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award by NATPE for exhibiting extraordinary passion, leadership, independence, and vision through her contributions to television. In 2017, she was inducted into Northwestern’s Medill Hall of Achievement, and received the distinguished Northwestern Alumni Medal — the highest honor bestowed upon alumni by the Northwestern Alumni Association. Some of her prior accolades include Essence Magazine’s Visionary Award during their annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, being named to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter’s Showrunner Power Lists, as well as to The Hollywood Reporter’s "Women in Entertainment Power100" multiple times.

In 2020, Brock Akil entered into a deal with Netflix to exclusively produce television shows for the streaming platform under her new banner, story27 Productions. Most recently, in 2021, The Game made history again by relaunching on its third network— this time streamer Paramount+— to great success and has already received its season two order. In 2021, Brock Akil founded the Writers’ Colony Residency to support up- and-coming writers/creatives. Also in 2021, she launched her own digital Dézine (i.e. digital magazine), InTheLandOfMara. The site is devoted to personal essays that promote her personal mission of how to live a creative life with a full heart, demonstrated by her thoughtful brand collaborations.

Lifting as she climbs is important to Brock Akil, especially in arts and education. A proud NU alum, she has served on Northwestern University’s School of Communications Advisory Board since 2015. Also beginning in 2015, Brock Akil served a two-year term on the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild of America, West. She was a Humanitas Prize Advisory Board member from 2014-2019.

In the early 2000s, Brock Akil served on her first board to help Center Theater Group at a pivotal time of transition— finding the successor to CTG Founder & Artistic Director Gordon Davidson to would build on his great legacy while broadening CTG’s reach to more diverse audiences. She recently joined the Advisory Board of Shero’s Rise in 2020, and continues to be an annual benefactor of Amazing Grace Conservatory and Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Alongside powerhouse industry peers Felicia Henderson, Gina Prince Bythewood and Sara Finney Johnson, Brock Akil endowed the Four Sisters Scholarship at UCLA in 2005.

In 2021, Mara expanded her passion for non-profit work and started her very own non-profit writing residency in Los Angeles, the Writers’ Colony. The Writers’ Colony is a launching pad for the next generation of Black screenwriters. It is a place for them to write, to belong, and to find their voice. Brock Akil resides in Los Angeles and is married to fellow writer/ producer/director Salim Akil. They have two sons, Yasin and Nasir.