She notably served as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2011 to 2022.
Early in her career, Hudson served as the editor-in-chief of St. Louis magazine,[6] acted in several film and television roles,[7] and was a freelance writer.
[4] Hudson served as the executive director of Film Independent for twenty years, which she helped to build from a small non-profit to a widely respected viable arts institution.
[8] She also helped expand the organization's membership, produced the Spirit Awards,[5] and the Los Angeles Film Festival.
[9] In 2011, Hudson became the first person to hold the role of chief executive officer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Foundation includes educational initiatives, fellowships and grants, the Margaret Herrick Library[11] and the Academy Film Archive.
Hudson prioritized developments in technology and the modernization of its infrastructure which enabled greater global outreach, increased member communications and events, online voting, and streaming on the academy's proprietary streaming service, the Academy Screening Room, as well as an exponentially expanded social media presence.