Global Industry Spotlight

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Get tickets to the Music Bloom at The.BlkRoom: https://events.eventnoire.com/e/music...Visit https://www.theblkroom.org/ to learn moreInitiated by singer-songwriter Camila Vick, The.BlkRoom was created as a haven for artists within her circle to foster their creativity. A close friend of Camila's, Senite Barih, who was heavily involved in performing and recording at the time, sought a space for her own creative endeavors and became a frequent patron. Since then, a beautiful partnership started.Since the emergence of The.BlkRoom, through strong partnership, Camila and Senite diligently strive to enhance its success by drawing upon their shared passion and firsthand experiences as up-and-coming artists and creatives in the city. Their collaborative efforts aim to narrow the divide between opportunity and achievement for Chicago's artistic community. This began with the establishment of a safe and nurturing space, and has since evolved to include the curation of workshops, events, performances, and various other avenues for artists and creatives of all stripes to thrive and succeed in their respective mediums.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.This episode in sponsored by Dell For Startups https://www.dell.com/en-us/lp/dell-fo...Passionate about revolutionizing the music industry, Sylvain Martineau is the co-founder and CEO of Hall Up, a live and remote music production. Hall Up's mission is to offer musicians access to top-notch music professionals and a unique in-studio experience at each steps of the creative & production side of their music projects.Sylvain and his co-founder started this project in Spain for their personal needs. Having surrounded themselves with music industry professionals, they've noticed more and more interest in the concept. They have been bootstrapping since the beginning and focusing on expanding the team, both operational and of advisors, building a roster of professionals and their product with earliest customers feedback. Hall Up is now an incorporated Delaware C-Corp and has moved to the US for business opportunities.

Richie Davis is a guitarist and bandleader who is Chicago-based, co-founder/current member of the rhythm and blues band known as the Chicago Catz.Andrew Davis is a film director, producer, writer, and cinematographer who is known for directing a number of successful action thrillers including Code of Silence, Above the Law, Under Siege, and The Fugitive.We are talking about Stony Island. The film was released in 1978 to acclaim, but faded into the mist of cinema. Andrew Davis is back in his hometown to introduce “Stony Island” at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, November 17th, 2023.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.In this episode, we will be discussing with RUIDOSA - a Latin American + POC collective of artists based in Chicago, working together to promote & curate multifaceted events embracing music, art, & education for the community. Our guests: Yeshi Regalado - Founder of Ruidosa Art Collective, Head of Live Music & Events;Stephanie "Soli" Herrera - Founder of Amoxtli Book Club /  Founder & Creative Art Director for Ruidosa Art Collective;Francisco Garcia - Founder of Ruidosa Art Collective, Head of Live Music & Events.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. This episode is presented by Dell Technologies.Max de la Fuente, a 30-year-old with a deep love for music, technology, and business, brings a wealth of experience to the table as a professional drummer and entrepreneur. With a background in recording, touring, and advising artists, Max co-founded GrooveList, a leading music tech startup, serving as its CEO. Under his guidance, GrooveList has evolved into the largest music industry network in Latin America, connecting over 45,000 artists and 15,000 executives (+100,000 business meetings, both in-person and virtual) for potential business ventures. Now GrooveList has extended its business opportunities to the Music Licensing Business by providing an AI where Media, Entertainment and Retail companies can find and license music in an instant, and, music catalogs can join the marketplace in an easy and secure way (+1.5 million tracks in less than a quarter). Max has also co-organized +45 International Music Industry conferences in LatAm and in the US.

Korean director Park Dong-Hee was born in Iksan, in 1986. He graduated from Korea University, School of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering.He comes Chicago this year to present us his first feature, ‘Drive’. This is what he has to say about it: “Here we are in an ordinary place, but where humans are not allowed. In this place the film begins. In this place, desires cause pain, screams, tears and sweat, and finally… blood. I hope that the audience will be able to emotionally connect with my film, which promises to be quite violent”.Visit www.asianpopupcinema.org to learn more.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.A conversation with Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam, the director of the film "Harvest Moon" (Mongolia), that premieres this Saturday, at AMC NEWCITY 14!He was in the studio with the founder of Asian Pop-Up Cinema Sophia Wong Boccio, and the film producer Uran Sainbileg.Presented by Sophia’s Choice, Asian Pop-Up Cinema (亞洲躍動電影展) (APUC), is a bi-annual Asian film festival in Chicago, providing a platform for specially curated Asian films in their original languages with English subtitles.A must-watch, we recommend all our listeners to go to the premiere. Pinnacle Career Achievement honoree, director Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam is scheduled to attend the award ceremony before the film and Q&A after.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Takayuki is Managing Director of MusicTech Japan initiative where innovation meets across Japan and Global.From his longtime career as MusicTech consultant based in Tokyo, he has extensive knowledge, experience and network across Japan, US, EU and China.His career has included roles as Head of Mobile at MTV Japan and most recently Head of Digital Business Development for Universal Music Japan.He is also angel investor, guitarist and ramen lover.www.musictechjapan.org

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Sigtryggur (Siggi) Baldursson is the managing director of Iceland Music.He is also a veteran musician, having been a forming member of the Sugarcubes with Björk and others, one of the owners of music collective and record store Smekkleysa (Bad Taste) and has been running programs boosting the export of Icelandic music and musical entrepreneurs for 11 years as the head of Iceland Music. The music community in Iceland is very DIY and Iceland boasts an uncanny amount of internationally known acts, even though the population is less than Tulsa - Oklahoma.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Brent Craige is a seasoned entrepreneur and music industry expert, that brings over seven years of diverse experience, including directing music videos and managing artists. His leadership in a flourishing marketing agency and dedication to solving music rights issues fuel his CEO role as a driving force behind Jammaround - a platform that provides access to independent music rights professionals and self-service resources for music rights management and registration. This episode is supported By Dell Technologies.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Jaime Garza is a musician, producer, and cultural promoter in Chicago. In the past few years his band Dos Santos has tour the US extensively performing in festivals, breweries, independent spaces and venues. Mr. Garza is also a part of Pachanka Music Culture who have produced, co-produced and organized festivals, events and concerts booking local, national, and international acts. His unique experience comes from performing and booking independent latino artists ranging from roots, folk, and rock to electronic and modern music.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.With nearly three decades of experience as an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and a dedicated advocate for the creative economy in central Indiana, Polina has earned her stripes as a true go-getter. Throughout her journey, she has launched and managed multiple ventures, showing her mettle as a business owner, creative thinker, and influential leader.One of her notable endeavors is PATTERN, a non-profit organization she co-founded in 2010. Taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief for PATTERN magazine in 2012, Polina has been at the helm of over 170 successful events, mentoring over 150 interns and Creative Fellows, and publishing 23 issues of the magazine. She has also spearheaded more than 90 campaigns and projects, collaborating with local companies and brands that value culture and community.Although as a commercial photographer Polina has taken hundreds of portraits and executed diverse lifestyle campaigns for businesses of all shapes and sizes, her heart truly lies in building entrepreneurial ecosystems, enhancing community infrastructure, and creating inclusive opportunities for creatives and makers in the Midwest. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, driven by her passion to make a positive impact in these areas, fostering growth and empowering the vibrant creative community.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Orly K.G. – as seen in The Chicago Tribune, on WLS Radio, CBS Chicago, WGN News, and nationally on The Kelly Clarkson Show on NBC – continues to hustle her way into the comedy scene with her antics about marriage, shame eating, and her constantly decaying body. She’s appeared at Zanies Rosemont and Chicago, Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, Laughing Academy, The Lincoln Lodge, and at her weekly Wednesday open mic (Guinness & Giggles) at Chief O’Neill’s. Orly K.G. also produces Bad Momz of Comedy. This Jewish mom is funny -- but PLEASE do not call her Mrs. Maisel. Oy!For a listing of all upcoming shows, visit: chicagocomedyworks.com

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Piqued Jacks are pure energy. Alt/rock from Italy with an international appeal. With their latest single "Like an Animal", they represented San Marino at Eurovision Song Contest 2023.Their successes include: opening act for Interpol, Chevellle, Balthazar and The Boomtown Rats, plays on Virgin Radio,Radio Rai 1, SiriusXM, MTV and BBC Radio and performances during some of the best showcase festivals such as Eurosonic 2023, Linecheck, Canadian Music Week, SXSW and Mondo NYC.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Lester Rey is an ethereal Latin Soul singer who brings “chanteo,” a popular reggaeton flow with fast melody and rhythm, to his productions. The music strips down familial Caribbean rhythms and combines them with the modern sounds he has observed in his upbringing in Chicago. Listed on NPR World Cafe on "Latin Roots: The Best Alternative songs of 2019 and on Chicago's very own Vocalo radio "Live from Studio 10: Our 20 favorite performances of the decade," Lester Rey has spent the last few years taking his sound to a national and international audience called Juketeo, developed in collaboration with producer MoonDoctoR. Catch his latest project putting his innovative dance music and flow on display, Strawberry Moon, released June 2nd, 2023 on all streaming platforms.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Aga Samitowska is a music business professional and Web3 consultant, passionate about new technologies in the creative industry. For nearly a decade was related with Kayax - an independent record label based in Warsaw. As a Head of Digital Distribution, she was responsible for modernizing distribution in response to the dynamic development of streaming platforms. Manager of major Polish artists (Brodka, Nosowska). Initiator of the My Name Is New incubator for young talents. She also pursued her curiosity for new technologies in San Francisco / California, working for the venture capital fund Fifty Years. Today Aga focuses on Web 3.0 space offering training and advisory for projects operating on the intersection of Web 3.0 and the creative industry. She gave her first talk on Blockchain and Music in 2017.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Nick Heineman is dad to human Riley and pitbull Wall-E, an all-weather E-Biker, and has enjoyed playing the guitar, flute, and French horn. Being of service to social justice platforms that support communities has guided Nick’s entire career; including creative professional development for young adults who are court-involved or within social services. Nick first experienced the uniqueness of Chicago’s independent music community as a youth attending shows throughout Chicago. As an organizer at an independent bar in Logan Square, he saw an opportunity for shows to provide material support for Chicago’s hyper-local non-profits through organizing ‘community impact concerts’. Their modest successes and Nick’s leadership caught the attention of SocialWorks, a not-for-profit founded by Chance the Rapper. In late 2017, Nick was appointed SocialWorks Director of Programs and Project Director where he developed the hallmark event A Night at the Museum at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, as well as created national initiatives like My State of Mind. Subsequently, Nick served has also served with distinction at Trans Lifeline (the first transgender crisis hotline in the United States and Canada), Movement BE (an initiative empowering Southern California’s at-risk youths through creative storytelling), and Mindful Philanthropy (a program the develops direct connections between donors and mental health, addiction recovery, and community wellbeing initiatives). Nick has also enjoyed working to support music/arts education, life skills development, and family professional development throughout Chicago up until joining CIVL in 2022. As Executive Director, Nick's priority is to maintain CIVL's position as an advocate for Chicago's independent live music and performing arts venues. Nick has enjoyed serving the organization for one year as of May 2023. 

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Starting as an independent director and producer in France, Inès Bensalem directed and produced acclaimed short films (UN Women France Grand Jury Prize, Amnesty International) before becoming a professional producer of international award-winning feature-length documentaries and fiction films.Realizing how difficult it is to enter the creative industry without a network, to access jobs and talent in an efficient and simple way, she founded Onset: an app that helps artists, cast, crew and talent scouts to connect around audiovisual, performing arts and photography projects, for professionals and students.Thanks to a smart-matching technology, Onset helps you target jobs that match your profile and talents that match your search in real time.Onset allows creators access to a network, talents and employment opportunities in a free, efficient, and easy way to connect creators locally and beyond borders, and contribute to build equity in creative industries.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Fiona McEntee is a U.S. immigration attorney, a former international student from Ireland, and a naturalized U.S. citizen. She is the founding and managing attorney of McEntee Law Group and is a frequent media commentator on immigration options for startups. Fiona is a member of the Media & Advocacy Committee for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the bar association of over 15,000 immigration lawyers. She just wrote an eBook, U.S. Immigration Options for Startups: Accelerate Your American Dream, a comprehensive guide to the possible pathways to immigration for startup founders in the United States.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Melissa Villanueva is the CEO and Founder of Brewpoint Coffee in the Chicagoland suburbs. Over the past eight years, Brewpoint Coffee has grown to four coffee shops, a coffee roastery, an event space, and wholesale operations. Melissa is proud of building a thriving business that she 100% owns and leads, focused on social and environmental impact. Brewpoint Coffee has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Sprudge, and other publications for their mission on building an equitable and inclusive business ecosystem.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.The Global Industry Spotlight today is on Faith Anderson  - CEO of DBC Brand - which stands for Designed By Creatives, a Creative Digital Marketing Agency based in Chicago + Houston. DBC Brand is an agency dedicated to connecting creatives to employment opportunities in the business and technology industries.Faith Anderson is a digital marketing specialist, entrepreneur, and fractional CMO. Having begun her career managing the social media presence of emerging performers, she transitioned to full-time digital marketing work for major businesses including First Women’s Bank, Greenwood, Fruit Growers (Sunkist), and more. This transition led to her founding DBC Brand. A harmonious marriage of innovation and marketing prowess, Faith hopes other artists will resonate with the company's message of creative connection and community building. Since its inception, DBC’s team of creatives has successfully launched over 200 campaigns, assisted with raising over $200M in seed funding, and helped their clients gain over 40M followers across their social media platforms. Faith is also a passionate educator, having taught in the Entertainment Business program at SAE Institute Chicago and developed digital marketing curricula for graduate extension programs at the University of Pennsylvania and UC Berkeley.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Mahja Sulemanjee Bortocek is the Founder and CEO of High Haven. She brings with her over 15 years of experience in healthcare business development, including a decade of experience in cannabis. Ms. Sulemanjee has built marketing, outreach, and public relations strategies for an Illinois-based Multi-State Cannabis Company and is now establishing herself as the CEO of High Haven Cannabis a social equity company.  Mahja has acquired her master’s in public health and her master’s in business administration. Her passion to help others is noted in her valiant and persistent efforts in community service. She has been awarded and held officer positions, as a board member for several non-for-profits, and healthcare-focused organizations.Her efforts continue to aid the communities where she lives and works. Mahja aspires to bring awareness, safe accessibility, and compassion to healthcare and the new emerging hemp and cannabis industries.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. This episode was recorded at the South by Southwest Conference 2023.Janishia Jones is a music business executive, entrepreneur, and singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA. Raised in Paterson, NJ, Janishia began a long-standing passion for the performing arts as a violinist, self-taught pianist, classical dancer, and trained opera-singer earning her several titles in local talent competitions.​Upon graduating with an Associate in Recording Arts, Bachelor in Music Business, and Master in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, Janishia has led a decade long career working for some of the most revered music companies in the world including SRC / Loud Records, eOne LP, and Kobalt Music Publishing. Currently, in her role as a music publishing senior executive at EMPIRE, her expertise in copyright & royalty administration has resulted in her becoming responsible for the success of some of the greatest songwriters & producers of our generation.  Long-time advocate for artist's rights, Janishia founded the self-management & artist development platform Brok'n Records LLC in 2010 as a vehicle for DIY artists to maintain their independence in a changing music environment. Serving as a safe space and to bring awareness to socio-economic issues affecting black millennial women, she founded Fresh 'N Sassy Productions, a podcast & multi-media platform, whose premier exhibit 'Taking Up Space: a music + art pop up' showcased the talents of local black female artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Catera is a media production company that connects creatives with businesses through live event production, brand campaigns and content creation. Catera was founded and led by its owner Kennita Hickman, an award winning music entrepreneur,  urban cultural micro-influencer, writer, content producer, and executive producer. Her 23-year career has spanned writing, public relations, voiceover talent, event production and artist management. Artists managed include The Cranberry Show, Tapebenders, and B ALXNDR. Prior to her work at Catera, she wrote for various music publications including Urbanology, Relevant, and The Source. She currently serves on #IVOTED Board and MIlwaukee Theatre Alliance. Previous boardwork includes Above the Clouds, faith-based art and youth organization, Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) and Repairers of the Breach. She is also Radio Milwaukee’s 2021’s “Milwaukee Music Ambassador of the Year” and WAMI’s 2013 President’s Award recipient.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.After studying languages and literature, Coralie worked in higher education. She then moved into start-ups, innovation and project management, with a focus on the media sector. Today, she has made content creation and management her passion. She coordinates events and logistics in her job by working as part of Wallifornia - an Entertainment & Technology hub based in Liège (Belgium), where startups, professionals & investors develop together the future of their industries.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Wavlake is a Chicago based music and podcast technology startup that uses bitcoin Lightning payment technology to help creators worldwide unlock more value from their work. The company has raised a pre-seed funding round led by Trammell Venture Partners. The investment will be used to build and market tools that enable a new wave of digital audio content that is integrated with open payment technology, allowing for creators worldwide to unlock more value from their content and giving them the ability to universally accept near instant payments.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Emily White is a Partner at Collective Entertainment and the Founder of #iVoted Festival. She is the author of the Amazon #1 best-selling "How to Build a Sustainable Music Career" and "Collect All Revenue Streams", and hosts the book’s accompanying podcast of the same name. The podcast is the #1 Music Business podcast globally, charting on six continents with listeners in 115+ countries.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Sharon Tapper is Executive Director of the Music Managers Forum-US (MMF-US). Former SVP Music Publishing at Razor & Tie Music Publishing and VP Creative at Kobalt. In 2008 elected to and served on the NY Chapter of the GRAMMY’s for multiple terms as both Governor and Secretary. She served six consecutive years as Co-Chair of the NY Chapter Advocacy Committee and remains an active member. In 2019 she was elected to serve on the NY Chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP). Ten years ago, she Co-Founded the New York City Creative Community (NYC3).

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Presented by Dell Tech for Startups Andrea Wallace (aka Super Dre) is an entrepreneur, a software developer, a musician and a creative. Wallace wears many hats and that’s the way she prefers it. As a natural relationship builder, connections with people have taken her all over the United States from Los Angeles to Detroit and now back to Grand Rapids.In this episode we will be talking to Andrea about her tech company Opnr - a B2B, double-sided marketplace platform that uses data to connect musicians with concert organizers offering performance opportunities. Its easy-to-use, organized system professionally harnesses all relevant social media and music distribution channel data with the purpose of being to book opening performance opportunities for artists and help concert promoters and venues sell tickets.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Esau Melendez studied film & video at Columbia College in Chicago and soon after began working with the Spanish Broadcast Network, Telemundo, and WYCC. He has directed and produced various commercials and music videos with his production company, Clandestino Films Inc. The award-winning documentary Immigrant Nation!: The Battle for the Dream was featured on PBS nationwide and was funded by Latino Public Broadcasting in 2010. He was part of WGHB Producers academy in 2013, a fellow of Kartemquin diverse voices in 2015, and a classic member of New day films. In 2017 he produced a series of short documentaries for WTTW’s project Pilsen: My Neighborhood which illustrates stories of people who lived in Pilsen and made a positive impact in the community and also did work for the FIRSTHAND series on Segregation in Chicago.  He recently finished editing the eighty-episode series The Chair for spirit used media. The Chair tells the story of the history of Catholicism in the United States.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Amalie Briden is a director, founder, mother, artist and music specialist, currently serving as Innovation Manager at BPI - British Phonographic Industry. BPI represents the UK’s recorded music industry, which is one of the most exciting and thriving music sectors in the world. British artists account for one in eight albums purchased by fans around the globe.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.CEO & Co-Founder of Let's GIG - Booking & Music Services, Ricardo acts as manager and agent since 2016 working with artists such as Luedji Luna, Mel, Majur, Giovani Cidreira, Tuyo, Rico Dalasam, FBC, and more. Also member of the Consulting Board of São Paulo Internacional Music Week - SIM São Paulo. As Festival Producer and Curator, he is the co-founder of Festival CONTATO that takes place in São Carlos, countryside São Paulo, since 2007. As entrepreneur was owner and programmer at the music venue GIG also in São Carlos (2013/18). At the moment is also majoring in a MBA on Business Management  at USP/ESALQ (University of São Paulo).Show less

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Brice Albin Yamedzeu has over 13 years of experience in the media and audiovisual, first as a radio host, then as a producer and TV host. Currently, Brice Albin is the founder and CEO of Y Productions (Y Prod), focusing on content production and development of cultural and creative industries in Cameroon. Brice has equally been the Cameroon correspondent for the program 'Couleurs Tropicales' by Radio France International' ( RFI) since 2013. In addition to this, he is the Brand Ambassador for the highly esteemed Cognac Brand, Hennessy.Show less

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.DAWn Audio exists because the creation process for musicians and artists today is broken. The team has developed a new category of software that enables artists anywhere in the world to plug-in and co-create real-time with their favorite production tools. Rather than build a new tool for artists, DAWn Audio's web-app bridges compatibility with the existing tools artists use and love today.A New Orleans based startup, DAWn Audio's mission is simple: to promote artists creativity. We envision a world in which a global community of co-creators finds a common home to further share the passion that already drives the music industry. Our technology is the foundation to making DAWn Audio that home.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Matt Mandrella advocates for the City’s growing music sector, and helps oversee music-related strategic planning initiatives and economic opportunities.Prior to relocating to Huntsville in January 2022, Mandrella worked at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. There, he was involved with all aspects of marketing for the iconic Graceland campus and for Graceland Live, a new music venture with Live Nation focused on bringing renowned touring acts to venues at the property. Before working at Graceland, Mandrella spent more than a decade in one of the nation’s foremost music cities – Austin, Texas – where he worked for a variety of different venues, festivals and companies involved with booking and promoting live music across the USA such as Fun Fun Fun Fest, Mohawk, SXSW and Do512 (DoStuff Media).Mandrella originally hails from the Mobile area and earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Alabama.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Pixie has been the sole owner and operator of one Australia's longest running live music venues The Zoo for the past 6 years and has experience as an artist and venue booking agent, head of A&R, within record labels, distribution, publishing, artist management and closely with festivals and international touring promoters.She has a deep appreciation and understanding of small business and has been self-employed and working in live music over the past 10 years.Pixie is the founder of FEED MUSIC, a tech based platform where musicians, businesses and fans can connect and engage in mutually beneficial collaborations.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Félix Barros Ribalta, serial entrepreneur working since 2011 in innovation and associativity for the music industry. Founder of Evento Medido / Measurevent, impact measurement and sustainability analytics for events. President of MUSTACH - Music Tech Association Chile (+20 companies). Co-founder and former Secretary of IMUVA, Association of the Music Industry of the Region of Valparaíso, and Content Director of VAM / Hub Musical music conferences. Artist Incubation & Acceleration Director at Probeta Music (feat. Veró, Luciano Altair, Bahía Conejo, SIMH).

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Jocelyn is a self-taught fashion designer, dream chaser, chicagoan, wife, dog mom, get sh*t done kind of gal. She founded her clothing brand, Swap & Strut, after realizing she was in an unfulfilling finance career. After years of feeling stuck in her 9-5 job, she became fed-up with playing small and decided to quit her career and commit to pursuing her dreams of becoming a fashion designer.Now, she is building her fashion brand, with a mission to make the world a better place for women. In 2022, she started the “Quit your Job and get Creative” podcast to empower women to pursue their dreams.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Bio: Drew truly embodies what it means to be a musical entrepreneur. He's toured the country as a guitarist, found his passion as a DJ/MC and co founded Fun House in 2016 where he's helped other artists, entrepreneurs and creatives scale their business. Drew's natural energy is incomparable, contagious, and is something every brand or event needs to be elevated to the next level.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Bio: As the very first Executive Director of Illinois Women in Cannabis, Amor leads a vibrant community of women interested in working in the Illinois’ nascent regulated cannabis industry. IWC champions women with diverse backgrounds, entrepreneurial spirits, and innovative ideas, and so does Amor. As the former Director of Strategic Initiatives for 2112, Chicago’s first incubator for creative industries, she focused on creating meaningful programming, raising capital, and developing advanced professional development initiatives. Within Illinois’ burgeoning cannabis industry, Amor sees vast opportunity to use her experience in order to create more equitable economic opportunities, drive innovation, and encourage entrepreneurial initiatives.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Sam Hulick is CEO of ReelCrafter, a platform for musical artists including composers, musicians, and songwriters, to showcase their music to potential clients. He has a dual background as both a BAFTA-nominated and NBC News award-winning composer, most known for his work on the Mass Effect Trilogy, and as a web developer, having worked with global brands such as Coach, 1-800-Flowers, Diageo, and Crate & Barrel, among others.Over a decade of art directing for national and regional brands has built Sara Pocius's experience in all aspects of advertising strategy and design. Her integrated experience stretches from Las Vegas to Kansas tourism, fried fish to lactose-free milk, fine spirits to peanut butter—and covers social, digital, broadcast, eCommerce, and print.Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, she co-founded ReelCrafter, a SaaS for audio professionals to showcase their work to potential clients, and heads creative & strategy.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Bio: CHAN C. SMITH is a multi-platform filmmaker and content creator. She is currently a represented Director with Tessa Films. Her work includes narrative filmmaking, documentary, editorial and branded content.Chan has created content for brands such as Nike Chicago, Parents Magazine, the NBA, and the Biden/Harris campaign. She is committed to exploring unique methods of storytelling, from the inception phase to final deliverables.Previously, she served as the Multimedia Producer at EBONY and JET Magazines. Chan has directed, captured and produced interviews and cover shoots with high profile celebrities such as Ava Duvernay, Kevin Hart, John Legend, Jurnee Smollett, Chance the Rapper, NBA Stars Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook, and notable public figures including Nikki Giovanni, Van Jones and Sandra Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal.Chan is passionate about telling stories that are centered around the human experience in an effort to inspire, inform, and invigorate the masses. Chan can pivot from being a one “Chan” band to directing vast stories with her trusted ensemble.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Mario Rubén Carrión is a Puerto Rican filmmaker & photographer based out of Brooklyn, NY. Mario has worked with Fania Records, Museo del Barrio, Discogs, Jameson, Remezcla, Tasting Table and the Caribbean Cultural Center and African Diaspora Institute.He has curated and directed teams of visual artists for the New York Latino Film Festival and Afro Latino Festival NYC.Mario has been resident documenter for nightlife events such as Rosa Perreo, Oriza, Vibras NYC, Que Bajo?! and has been published by Rolling Stone, Vibe, Complex, El Nuevo Día and Okay Africa, among others.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Anthony Spina is a highly creative and collaborative beverage leader, with a proven record of success in leading innovative marketing initiatives for nationally recognized organizations.Together with Matt Sievers, he is creating SYSTEM ELECTROLYTE CHARGED SELTZER - The First Inclusive Drinking System, meant to fill the void in a rapidly changing beverage industry and give choice, control and consciousness to the modern beverage drinker, a variety 9 pack that includes (3) 12oz cans of 0% ABV, 5% ABV and 8% ABV.Prior work experience has included senior brand manager for White Claw hard seltzer, brand manager for Old Style beer and field + culture marketing for Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Bio: Melissa Thornley is a leadership consultant, content producer, and writer specializing in emotional intelligence and media arts. She is also the Director of Marketing for Pravda Records, one of Chicago’s longest running indie record labels celebrating its 38th year working with artists across a wide variety of genres including indie rock, alternative, pop, soul, experimental, alt country and punk.Over her two decades in advertising and film production, she led world-renowned creative editorial and visual effects teams in Chicago, New York, and London. She also represented music houses and production companies for broadcast and content projects.She is Chair of the Board of Directors for Free Spirit Media, a not-for-profit whose mission is to transform media and society by partnering with emerging creators primarily from Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Michelle Breyer is the Chief Marketing Officer at SKU, the nation’s first CPG accelerator. She joined SKU after spending 20 years in the beauty industry.Named one of the 50 Most Influential People in the Multicultural Market by Women's Wear Daily in 2015, Michelle Breyer is a visionary entrepreneur who took a personal frustration over her curly hair and built it into the largest social-media platform for hair. Numerous haircare brands launched on NaturallyCurly.The company, which grew to include an ecommerce site, a consumer insights division and an experiential marketing company, was acquired in 2018 by Essence Ventures.Over the past two decades, Michelle has consulted with numerous beauty companies to help them develop, position and launch right products and to create the most effective communication strategies to connect with this valuable consumer.Before launching NaturallyCurly, Breyer was a business reporter with daily newspapers in Texas and California, focusing on retail, real estate and consumer products. A year-long special project on the explosive growth of Whole Foods Markets won several state and national awards.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Bio: Aimy Steadman is a Co-Founder and COO at Future/Proof, creators of BeatBox Beverages - the World's Tastiest Portable Party Punch™ one of the best-selling US RTD cocktails. Future/Proof, recently awarded one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000 Fast-Growing Privately Owned Companies in America, is a disruptor in the beverage alcohol market that provides innovative solutions that drive incremental profit in high-growth categories. Aimy Steadman serves on the following nonprofit boards: Naturally Austin, Naturally Network, and Entrepreneurs Organization: Austin.  Steadman has also received a handful of notable national as well as global accolades, most recently Austin Chamber’s A-List 2020 in addition to being featured in a recent book entitled The Immigrant Hustle.

The Only 3 Questions You Need to Answer to Develop Your Marketing Strategy.Dakota has developed and implemented marketing strategies, campaigns and events for start-up companies as well as Fortune 500 businesses across a variety of industries including hospitality, gaming, healthcare, technology and philanthropy. His personal hall of fame includes developing two highly recognizable citywide art campaigns, fundraising videos for cancer research, and enduring original concept creations within well-established industries.

CEED’s mission is to develop and connect entrepreneurs who want to grow as leaders, build their companies and give back to their community. At CEED they get access to mentors, networks, knowledge and capital they need to grow. Building a community of entrepreneurs is paramount in their approach, as their work is based connecting entrepreneurs into peer groups, for learning and networking. CEED is present in 11 countries in South-East Europe and Africa and have engaged over 20,000 leaders through different learning activities.

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.Bio: James VanOsdol is a podcaster, broadcaster and journalist whose media career found him on the air and behind the scenes at some of Chicago’s most celebrated radio stations (WKQX, WGN, WXRT, WLUP). As a digital reporter, he’s earned multiple Lisagor awards in Chicago, as well as a national Edward R. Murrow award.Podcasting since 2006, he’s now entering his ninth year of hosting the celebrated hyperlocal Chicago podcast, “Car Con Carne.” James isn’t always behind the podcast mic; he’s also produced podcasts for Double Door, Accenture, Deloitte and Rivet 360.