Chapters

New shesaid.so Dublin chapter Co-Director: Nikki Raymond

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shesaid.so Dublin are absolutely thrilled to announce that Nikki Raymond will be coming on board as the Co-Director of the Dublin team. Nikki will work side by side with current Chapter Director Lisa Murray to organise, coordinate and oversee the Dublin chapter as they launch into an exciting period of fresh activities and collaborations for the coming months and year ahead.

The Dublin chapter of shesaid.so, founded by Shauna Watson in 2018, initially focused on organizing skill-sharing workshops covering various music industry topics. They also partnered with the inaugural music festival "We've Only Just Begun" in August 2018, which featured an all-female lineup. In 2020, leadership was passed to Lisa Murray, who adapted the community to operate online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborating with organizations like IMRO, West One Music Group, and the National Concert Hall to host workshops and webinars. Now, as the pandemic subsides, the chapter, led by Lisa and co-director Nikki Raymond, is gearing up for a series of events and collaborations, including educational workshops and panel discussions in partnership with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), to support the Irish music scene.

We sat down with Nikki Raymond, and here’s a Q&A to get to know the newest member of the shesaid.so Dublin chapter! 

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Nikki and I work in the music industry as a Promoter Assistant. I’m also an artist manager and a music reviewer for The GOO magazine which is printed locally here in Dublin. It took me a couple of years to figure out what career path I wanted to take after college. It blew my mind when I realised that you could have a career in live events and at that point the decision was made for me. I’ve also spent the last few years travelling whenever I can and have lived in four different countries (so far..). As much as I love exploring the world, I think my heart belongs in Dublin.

Top 3 Albums?

Melodrama by Lorde, An Awesome Wave by alt-J, Where I Should End by Saint Sister

Favourite music video?

Fell In Love With A Girl by The White Stripes

Favourite lyric?

"I was housed by your warmth, thus transformed" - Shrike by Hozier

Favourite album cover?

Melodrama by Lorde

Dream festival headliner?

Daft Punk

Best gig this year?

Hozier in The Academy

Best gig ever?

Paul McCartney at Tinley Park Amphitheatre, Chicago in 2017

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Cat Ryan, KhakiKid and Big Sleep 

What’s your favourite song right now? 

'I Think I Lost My Number Can I Have Yours?' by milk.

What are you looking forward to most as the new Co-Director of shesaid.so Dublin?

First of all, I am incredibly excited to be working alongside Lisa. I met her for the first time last year at a shesaid.so event and because of that I ended up reconnecting with an old college friend who I now manage - the universe works in weird ways. I’m also really looking forward to organising as many seminars, workshops, showcases, panel discussions and networking events as possible because there is an amazing community of like-minded people out there - it will be phenomenal to give people a space and a platform to amplify their talents and expand their skill set

Statement from Lisa:

I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Nikki to the shesaid.so Dublin team. I met Nikki at one of our shesaid.so Dublin Cocktails and Chats mixer events last year and we clicked immediately! Her enthusiasm, drive, passion and professionalism are going to make her an incredible co-director and I’m beyond excited to enter into this next season of shesaid.so working with Nikki by my side. We already have lots of exciting things on the horizon so stay tuned!

If you have any questions about becoming part of shesaid.so Dublin, feel free to reach out to use on Instagram or via email. 

Join shesaid.so Dublin

Amsterdam Chapter of shesaid.so Relaunches with Industry Leaders Melissa d’Engelbronner and Connie Chow

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We’re thrilled to announce that the Amsterdam Chapter of shesaid.so is reignited by music industry veterans Melissa d’Engelbronner and Connie Chow. Amsterdam is city is known for creativity, tolerance and pushing boundaries and therefore it's only natural that the team relaunches a community that mirrors this same spirit.

The Chapter’s objective is to establish an inclusive and comprehensive platform dedicated to supporting women in music at every stage of their careers, including students, junior-level professionals, seniors, and those in C-suite positions.

Connie and Melissa want to foster a vibrant community where individuals from both Dutch and international backgrounds can unite, share their experiences, and collaborate with one another. They believe it is imperative to cultivate an enjoyable and engaging atmosphere where members can connect and find inspiration while building meaningful relationships within the music community.

Melissa d’Engelbronner, a seasoned professional with close to a decade of experience in the music industry, brings her wealth of knowledge to the forefront. Having begun her career working on brand campaigns at agencies, Melissa's journey eventually led her to FUGA in 2015, where she ascended from coordinator to Head of Audience Strategy. Over the last three years, she has been instrumental in building an award-winning team dedicated to global 360 marketing campaigns for independent artists. Her passion for mentoring and uplifting her peers drives her commitment to supporting women in the music industry.

Connie Chow is the Dance & Electronic Marketing Strategy Director at FUGA, having joined in February 2021 after spending 8 years as Executive Vice President at Little Empire Music. At FUGA, Connie built out the distributor's Dance & Electronic division, and has acquired and worked with prominent labels including Insomniac Records, Hospital Records, STMPD, Revealed, Hexagon, and Dim Mak. Connie is also on the executive board for AFEM, a Recording Academy voting member for the Grammy Awards, and an inspirational mentor for the Asian American collective across the entertainment industries.

The objectives of the shesaid.so Amsterdam Chapter include:

  1. Establishing an inclusive and comprehensive platform dedicated to supporting women in music at all career stages.

  2. Challenging the stereotype of Amsterdam as primarily a hub for dance music by celebrating and promoting various genres within the music industry.

  3. Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that encourages collaboration among individuals from Dutch and international backgrounds.

  4. Providing valuable resources and networking opportunities to empower women in music to advance their careers.

  5. Facilitating mentorship programs connecting aspiring women in music with established industry professionals.

  6. Cultivating an enjoyable atmosphere for members to connect, find inspiration, and build meaningful relationships within the music community.

To celebrate this exciting relaunch, shesaid.so Amsterdam is hosting a Vrijdagmiddag borrel mixer on Friday, October 20, 2023, from 15:00 to 17:00 on the 4th floor of the FUGA office.

Space is limited to the first 100 people, so be sure to RSVP:

https://bit.ly/ADE_Vrijmibo

For those looking to get involved, there are several opportunities:

For more information about shesaid.so Amsterdam and its re-launch, please visit https://www.shesaid.so/amsterdam/

Contact: amsterdam-team@shesaid.so

CTA: Join Whatsapp community, Follow on LinkedIn, Sign up for our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/shesaidsoams

Welcome shesaid.so Nashville!

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We’re excited to announce the newest chapter of shesaid.so in Nashville, Tennessee!

Chapter leaders Jenny Reader and Kiki O’Connell are both Brits now living in Nashville and were united via shesaid.so earlier this year, both fueled by the mission to create an extension of the family in Music City. 

Having carved different paths within the music industry - Jenny with almost two decades in the independent sector of recorded music as a marketer, and Kiki as an artist, producer and people, operations & culture executive - they are excited to bring their unique perspective to the community.

The chapter will have a regular mixer for members, as well as holding workshops, events and showcases to provide a valuable network and support system in Nashville. 

If you’re interested in joining the Nashville chapter please follow/DM them on Instagram @shesaidsonashville - and save the date for their first mixer on Thursday, September 21. 

If you know anyone who is local to Nashville and in the music industry, direct them to the sign up page to join the community as well.

We can't wait to see what the Nashville chapter accomplishes!

Chapter & Sign Up Form

Read more about Jenny & Kiki.

shesaid.so South Africa Open Call: ALL ACCESS Programme

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shesaid.so South Africa presents ALL ACCESS, a training programme designed specifically for women and gender minorities in the music industry. The Chapter’s mission is to break down barriers and provide equal opportunities for all members to advance their careers in specialised roles. The initial iteration of ALL ACCESS focuses on event production in partnership with Rocking The Daisies - South Africa's biggest Music and Lifestyle experience.

Eight participants will be selected to attend a one-month training program in August 2023. At the end of the program, three participants will be selected for work placements with Steyn Entertainment, Untitled Basement, The Fam, and Other Village People.

Participants in the workshops will receive R800 to cover transportation costs during the training period. Work placement participants will receive R5,000 per month for three months. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world projects and learn from some of the best in the business.

Key dates

Application deadline: 17 July 2023

Participant Selection: 18 - 31 July 2023

Training Programme: 5, 12, 19, and 26 August 2023

Work placements: 4 September - 30 November 2023

Click HERE for more information and to apply.

Follow shesaid.so South Africa on Instagram for more updates.

shesaid.so Montreal: Project Crescendo

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Musicaction Foundation and shesaid.so Montreal are proud to present the 28 professionals who will be participating in the inaugural edition of Project Crescendo, an initiative aimed at supporting women entrepreneurship.

shesaid.so MTL is the local branch of an international network of creatives and entrepreneurs working in the music industry. Their aim is to create opportunities, dialogue, and space for local women and their allies. This chapter was founded in 2021 after a year of consulting women who make our scene thrive, building on their needs and experiences to create an organisation that empowers, connects, informs and entertains. They also build bridges across Tiohtià:ke/Montreal’s different communities through eclectic programming, insightful networking and radical inclusion. shesaid.so Montreal has been announced as a partner by the Canada Council for the Arts this year to present the Polaris Music Prize Long List in support of extraordinary and diverse musical talents from across Canada.

Project Crescendo is an innovative project that aims to provide emerging professionals in the francophone Canadian music sector with the opportunity to benefit from the transfer of experience and knowledge through the mentorship of recognized and experienced female entrepreneurs in the industry. It also aims to create and expand the professional network of women in music through opportunities for exchange, mutual support, and sharing while highlighting successful female role models. These are all essential elements for professional development and addressing the access gaps and gender inequalities in the industry, as highlighted by women in the study funded by Musicaction published in March 2022.

You can read more information about the project’s Phase 1 & 2:

Phase 1 - Entrepreneurship Support of the project, support is provided to 4 early-career entrepreneurs for the next year, allowing them to deepen and acquire new knowledge and skills to better support the artists they work with and strengthen their businesses.

Phase 2 - Advisory Hour Bank will provide entrepreneurs and early-career employees with access to professionals in various fields of expertise. Whether seeking information, seeking advice, or accessing specific professional expertise, each of the selected 10 participants will have access to 20 hours of consultation over the next year.

Selected participants : Flavie Mélançon, Garance Chartier, Julie Frigault. Natalie Aloessode-Bernardin, Elma Bos, Julie-Anne Cloutier, Léonie Bourassa, Leslie Cortés, Luna Choquette-Loranger, Maude St-Armand Coucy, Monira Cormier, Nelly Jourdain, Sima Dell’Olio, Joanie Moreau.

Senior accompanying participants : Krista Simoneau, Jacynthe Plamondon-Émond, Stéphanie Moffat, Suzie Hamel, Anne Vivien, Dorothée Parent-Roy, Émile Tremblay, Gaby Gauthier-Durand, Jenny Thibault, Kyria Kilakos, Martine Groulx, Roseline Rousseau-Gagnon, Sabrina Cousineau, Sonia Ceseratto. 

Congratulations and best of luck to the 28 professionals selected for Project Crescendo's inaugural edition as they embark on this exciting journey!

Read more about the project and first cohort HERE.

Connect with shesaid.so Montreal’s team HERE.

shesaid.so UK Chapter Director: Lauren Elliott-Griffiths

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We are thrilled to introduce our new Director for shesaid.so UK, Lauren Elliott-Griffiths. Help us give her a warm welcome to the shesaid.so UK team!

Hi, I'm Lauren and I work at Red Bull, looking after their media partnerships. Prior to that I was working for Live Nation. Music is a huge part of my life; when I was about 12 I would head up to the local skate park where local bands would play every Friday night and then when I was old enough, I would come up to London just to see my favourite bands play. My taste in music is varied to say the least but I love finding new artists and bands.

Outside of work, I am a qualified spin and level 2 fitness instructor, I love running - it's my aim to complete the big 6 marathons, skiing and surfing.

What are your top tips for finding your first music job?

I have always had a passion for music from trying to start a band in primary school, to going to the local skate club to listen to local bands play through to Friday nights spent at venues in London catching my favourite artists. I think taking that passion and pursuing, and not letting anyone tell you otherwise would be my top tip for how to get into the industry. It is one of the toughest but those are always worth the hard work to get there. Never let anyone tell you otherwise, if you have a dream and a goal in mind, just jump in with both feet, I truly believe that pays off. And my second tip would be to leverage anyone you know, start small, attend networking events even if they are out of your comfort zone, add people on LinkedIn that you believe would be a good connection and start to build it up. Those around you are there to support and push you forward. 

Women you admire.

Three women in my life that inspire me would be; my mum (she's one of the strongest women I know), my friend and mentor Teresa Palladino (she has gotten me through a lot in my career and is always my sounding board) and my friend Agi (who is one of the most positive and beautiful people I have ever met). 

Tips for staying grounded on a tough day.

My top tips for staying grounded on a tough day, are getting yourself outside, go on a walk or move your body in some way, a good coffee and a great soundtrack - music for me can instantly change my mood and has definitely gotten me through the toughest moments and the happiest moments in my life. 

What does community mean to you in one sentence?

Community to me is belonging, feeling supported and trusting that there is always someone there whether it's in tough times or happy times. 

We are thrilled to welcome shesaid.so Iceland!

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Their launch event will take place at Loft Hostel on November 5, during the Iceland Airwaves Festival and Conference and you can RSVP HERE.

The Icelandic chapter is being started by Anna Jóna Dungal, Hrefna Helgadóttir, Kelechi Amadi and Kim Wagenaar. What they all have in common is having spent significant time abroad, where they individually came to appreciate the value of strong communities to share experiences, collaborate and accelerate career growth. The team decided to formalise themselves for women and gender nonconforming people under the banner of the global shesaid.so. The Iceland Chapter will aim not just to strengthen itself by connecting internally, but also build on this global brand to strengthen and build on connections to the international music industry. 

The goal is for the organisation to start in 2023 with four big events over the year and a series of smaller networking meet-ups. The chapter will be run by 5-8 industry professionals and artists who together make up the board, and then any woman or gender nonconforming person in Iceland can join as a member. Members will pay a small annual fee to access the events, the global community, job opportunities in the industry and much more and is open for all women and gender nonconforming people who work in music in Iceland. The organisation will look to educate, inspire, connect, and entertain its members offering up opportunities to network, and showcase talent both at home and away – which will serve the wider music community in Iceland by making the industry more equal and more visible. 

"When I moved back to Iceland during the COVID pandemic, I was really missing a sense of community around the work that I was doing. Getting the opportunity to connect with dozens of women through the Keychange program in 2022 made it click with Kim and I that this is what’s missing from the Icelandic scene: a safe space for women to connect around the work that we do in music."

– Anna Jóna Dungal, titill 

When they approached me, I instantly felt like this was something I should participate in. I‘ve worked mostly with women in my collectives as an artist and project manager, very powerful and legendary women whom‘ve inspired my in lifechanging ways. There‘s some crazy magic that happens when those projects work out. But those women-fronted collectives and teams are rarely the case in the music industry, and I think shesaid.so can path the way for that magic to flourish.

– Ása Dýradóttir, Mammút

We are thrilled to welcome shesaid.so Iceland to the #shesaidso family and extend our vision and mission further into the European market. Wishing the team a successful launch, and can't wait to see what they will accomplish! We’re so looking forward to seeing your success in our global community.

— Andreea Magdalina

Founder, shesaid.so