What’s Brewing with RBC

Alicia Petrusa
Relationship Manager for Media & Entertainment at RBC

Alicia is a seasoned media professional with 10+ years of experience in producing, business affairs, and financial management. Her expertise lies in handling the logistical and financial aspects of media projects, such as creating budgets, interim financing, financial acumen, negotiations, contracting, creative consultation, and other key various development and production tasks. She maintains a pivotal role in demystifying the financial aspects of media creation by bridging the gap between creative entrepreneurs and decision-making stakeholders. Currently, Alicia is a Relationship Manager for Media & Entertainment at RBC, supporting the banking and financial needs of clients across the media sector.

Michael Steinberg
SR. Relationship Manager for Media & Entertainment, Commercial Banking at RBC

Michael has worked with both private and public companies in the film and television sector, with domestic and international production, distribution and broadcast partners around the globe. He has headed up legal and operations departments, led strategic planning initiatives and new business development. Working with independent production companies, Michael has also overseen the creative development, financing, production and sale of hundreds of hours of award-­‐winning programming.  This past industry experience helps to support his clients’ business needs, growth and success, identifying creative banking solutions for each unique business.

During his downtime, he is passionate about road biking, cooking for family and friends and is a neophyte beekeeper.  Michael holds a combined MBA/LLB from the Schulich School of Business and Osgoode Hall at York University.

Margaret Lewis
SR. Relationship Manager for Media & Entertainment, Commercial Banking at RBC

With a long-standing passion for film and television, Margaret is a seasoned business strategist in the film and television industry, boasting extensive experience in financing, strategic planning & operations, and distribution. Over the past three years, Margaret has helped producers and film and television businesses overcome numerous barriers to bring content to life and facilitate growth at RBC as a Sr. Relationship Manager in Media & Entertainment, Commercial Banking. One of her proudest achievements is establishing Canada’s first BIPOC-focused lending program called the BIPOC Emerging Producer Lending Program at RBC.

Prior to RBC, Margaret led the streamline of business operations in international distribution for Corus Entertainment’s Corus Studio.  She has also held various roles at TIFF, NBCUniversal, and was a CMPA Diversity Mentorship Trainee with Conquering Lion Pictures, and is an alumnus of the Reelworld Producer Program.

In her free time, Margaret is an avid sports watcher, a foodie, and is always thinking about the next destination to travel to. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management MBA, and was recently named one of the top women executives in the Canadian media and entertainment industry by The Hollywood Reporter for bridging the gap between art and commerce.