music business executives

International Women's Day 2025

In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2025, shesaid.so is featuring a curated selection of artists and music industry executives who have made a significant impact on our community and the music industry.

Alba Blasi

Alba Blasi is the co-founder of Doble Cuerpo, a management and artistic development agency she runs alongside Borja Rosal. Doble Cuerpo represents Bad Gyal, Ouineta, L'Beel and Ikram Bouloum.

Since 2014, Alba Blasi has developed various artistic careers through communication and management. In parallel, she has also organized several parties in Barcelona, such as "Nueva Época" by Canada and "Club Marabú", where, in addition to being a co-founder, she coordinated programming and led communications.

Her connection to the music world runs deep. Since 2004, she has been the keyboardist for the Barcelona-based band Extraperlo, and she also co-created two former musical projects, Albaialeix and Granit.

What piece of advice has kept you going during challenging times in your career?

Alba Blasi: The advice that has allowed me to survive in this industry is "make things happen."

When we work with artists, whether emerging or more established, there are always challenges, obviously of different scales, but there are always objectives and goals. This creates a constant pressure to make things happen and to do so in the best possible way. Sometimes we are too demanding and think that if things don’t happen perfectly, we’ve failed, but that’s not true... making things happen, most of the time, is already a success in itself.

Ideally, we always work toward excellence, but sometimes just getting something to happen is a goal achieved. Make things happen, try to make them happen in the best possible way, but if they're not perfect, as long as you make them happen, you’ve succeeded. In the end, the small victories help you learn, build confidence and enable you to take on bigger challenges.

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned as a woman working in music?

Alba Blasi: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a woman working in the music industry is to be honest and always work from a place of honesty with all the parties that make up your ecosystem when working with an artist or specific project. This has also led me to spot many things and learn to collaborate with people I consider to be the most suitable for the job. In an industry often filled with ambition, egos, and few scruples, I believe that honesty can take you further than many people think.

Connect with Alba Blasi on LinkedIn & Instagram

Doble Cuerpo on LinkedIn & Instagram


BISHI

An artist, composer, producer, performer, technologist and broadcaster, BISHI has released three albums and several EP’s via her label Gryphon Records, as well as collaborating with the likes of Tony Visconti, Sean Ono Lennon, Jarvis Cocker, Daphne Guinness, The London Symphony Orchestra, The Kronos Quartet, fashion designer Manish Arora and as a soloist on Jonny Greenwood’s ‘Water, ’ with City of London Sinfonia, who have also performed her orchestral music.

BISHI composed and produced her first full original score for, ‘Maya, The Birth of a Superhero, ’ s VR experience shortlisted at Cannes 2024. Her first score for TV, Defiance: Fighting the Far Right, ’ aired on Channel 4 in 2024. She was part of a team developing an AI composer tool with the University of Sheffield and has created a voice model with Neutone AI.

BISHI’s music AV installation ‘Reflektions, ’ was commissioned for Coventry City of Culture and was exhibited at Body and Soul Festival, Ireland and Mack Sennett Studios, LA. BISHI was the first ever artist to have her work projected onto Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.

BISHI is the founder of WITCiH (Women in Tech Creative Industries Hub), a platform elevating women, trans and non-binary creative practitioners in tech. Bishi is on the board of directors for Featured Artists Coalition and The F-List for Music.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone just entering the music industry?

BISHI: Focus on your creative values and the slow discipline of music and creativity. We live ina fast pace reality where we are being constantly distracted by every shifting demandingtechnologies and the pressure to go viral or shout above the noise. I believe that themusic making and creativity itself is the seed by which everythinggrowsand the saviourin a dark storm.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

BISHI: Composing and producing the original score for ‘Defiance Fighting the Far Right,’ a documentary series which aired on Channel 4 2024. It was the first series I composed and produced the original score for, as well as the opening and credits music. I feel I can do anything now. Watching the preview screening st BAFTA was a dream come true. I felt like I’d landed.

BISHI’s Website | Instagram


Dalia Ganz

Dalia Ganz works at Warner Records as Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing. In her new post, Ganz works closely with the company’s various departments as well as its streaming partners to create and implement compelling, fan-centric online experiences and campaigns for the label’s wide-ranging artist roster at the label’s LA headquarters.

Having spent the entirety of her career with The Walt Disney company, Ganz worked her way from Marketing Assistant to her latest role as Vice President. During her time with Disney’s Freeform, Ganz oversaw all social media initiatives for the network, as well as leading synergy and partnership marketing with internal and external companies. Ganz played an instrumental role in driving the social media strategy for Freeform, including the development of several innovative campaigns that resulted in record-breaking levels of social conversation and industry awards.

Ganz spearheaded the award-winning Pretty Little Liars social media campaign and created buzzworthy campaigns for series and network tentpole events, including 25 Days of Christmas, Shadowhunters, The Bold Type, grown-ish, and Cruel Summer.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

Dalia Ganz: After working at Disney in Television for my whole career, I followed my passion and switched to music! I absolutely love my job (and the Warner Records fam) so clearly taking a huge career risk paid off. 


Nada Alhelabi

Nada Alhelabi is the Strategy Director at MDLBEAST and the Director of Programming at XP Music Futures. Music fuels her movement; traveling the world to understand the power of music and its impact on people. She is driven by the belief that music can improve wellbeing and create a culture of inclusivity – from festivals to sound baths, and everywhere in between.

At MDLBEAST, she's merging her passion for music and background in consultancy in Saudi and the region to help achieve the company's overarching goals and vision.

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned as a woman working in music?

Nada Alhelabi: One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned working in the music industry is that it’s deeply people-focused—human connections truly matter. Building relationships, being present, and engaging with others can open doors in ways you wouldn’t expect.

As a woman from the MENA region, I’ve encountered misconceptions, but I’ve also learned that putting yourself out there, meeting people, and creating genuine connections can break barriers.

At the end of the day, music is a universal language, and the industry is filled with people open to listening, learning, and collaborating. Authenticity and persistence go a long way.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone just entering the music industry?

Nada Alhelabi: One piece of advice I’d give to someone entering the music industry is to embrace every experience—because music is woven into our daily lives, both passively and intentionally. Whether you're on vacation, exploring a new city, stumbling upon a street festival, discovering artists on Spotify, or even just meeting new people at a club, every moment shapes your understanding of the industry. Never underestimate the value of these experiences; they give you insight into different scenes, audiences, and cultures. The music industry thrives on passion, and every specialty has a place in it. Stay curious, stay engaged, and let your experiences guide your journey..

Connect with Nada Alhelab on LinkedIn & Instagram

MDLBEAST Foundation | XP Music Futures


Yewi Omo

Yewi Omo is a music marketing specialist working across PR and brand partnerships at an international scale. Known for exporting indigenous sounds and taking them to a global stage, Yewi has worked with brands such as Red Bull, Afronation and Yam Carnival Festival, Live Nation and Warner Music.

Yewi has developed her expertise by running multi-channel marketing campaigns over eight years working with artists like Jammz, Jkaz, and international tastemakers like M.anifest (Ghana) and Odunsi (Nigeria). In late 2019, Yewi took three UK artists to Atlanta's A3C festival to showcase UK talent. Yewi is on the London team for women in music network shesaid.so.

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned as a woman/person working in music?

Yewi Omo: I've learned to always remain a student of my craft, continuously growing and evolving. Additionally, I've come to understand that building a strong network is not just about connecting with peers and mentors, but also about nurturing relationships within your entire community.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone just entering the music industry?

Yewi Omo: Never hesitate to ask questions – no question is too small. The more you ask, the more you learn, and the more you learn, the more you'll grow.

What piece of advice has kept you going during challenging times in your career?

Yewi Omo: The advice that has always driven me forward is this: sometimes, it's better to push through the door rather than wait for an invitation to enter.

Connect with Yewi Omo

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Music Insider: Linda Walker

Linda Walker is a music industry executive with a commitment to integrity and a passion for nurturing talent. She is known for her success in forming partnerships with top artists such as Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Dua Lipa.

Linda’s adept communication and stakeholder engagement have facilitated collaborations with major digital music platforms like Apple, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok and Amazon, driving successful campaigns worldwide.

She has been recognized as a prominent advocate for Women in the Music Industry, earning her a place in Music Week's Women in Music, Roll of Honour in 2020.

How did you get your start in music?

I used to spend all my spare time (and money!) in a local Indie Record Store. They got so used to me being in there, one day they offered me a job. I was working in a law office at the time, but I handed my notice in that same day, started in the record store the following week, and absolutely loved my job from day one. Through working in the store, I met many sales reps that worked for the record labels, and I basically drove them all crazy by asking them to get me a job! Eventually, through continually plugging away, I got an interview at Warner Music to be part of their sales team. I really thought I had messed up the interview, but I got the job and never looked back.

Your career has been marked by successful partnerships with globally renowned artists like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Dua Lipa. Can you share some key strategies you’ve employed to cultivate these creative commercial partnerships? 

Partnership is the keyword when you are working on campaigns such as these. Great relationships and a clear understanding of how your commercial partners work is essential to building a strong, commercially, and creatively impactful partnership. The starting point for me has always been to dig into the key objectives for a project from the artist, management and label’s perspective, and then to build a commercial strategy and partnership plan that achieves these objectives. With huge global artists like Ed, Coldplay and Dua, you must approach everything you do with a global mindset, building plans that are truly global in their ambition and reach.

Can you provide insights into how you approach and build strong relationships in the music industry - e.g. with stakeholders or music companies?

Relationships are a two-way thing and need to be nurtured, so be an active listener and remember, if you are building anything, you must keep coming back to it. I also think it’s important to be your true self, people will respect you for that and will generally see through you if you put on an act.

As a leader in transforming a music business into a predominantly digital operation, what challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

I remember when as a business, we first started speaking about digital music platforms, there was a slightly reluctant and fearful attitude towards the change. I always felt that we just needed to embrace the change and actively look for the positive impact it would have on our business. I jumped at the chance to work with iTunes when they first launched a store in the UK, as it just felt so exciting to be involved with something new and future facing. My point is, embrace the change!

What advice would you give to independent artists or smaller labels looking to optimize their strategies for a successful music release?

I don’t think there has ever been a better time to be an independent artist or label. You now have the tools to do so much for yourselves and you understand your audience better than anyone. There is an overwhelming amount of music released onto streaming platforms every single day, and it’s hard to get cut through, however, I would say focus your energy on what you can control, rather than what you can’t. Actively help your audience to find your music, they are your audience and your fans, not the streaming platforms’ so build that fan relationship and allow them to be part of your journey. This relationship goes beyond just streaming consumption so build a commercial strategy that encompasses all the elements that speaks to your audience.

What are some key trends or changes you currently observe in the music industry? - e.g. AI or anything else?

Well, leading on from the previous question, there is certainly an exciting time ahead for the independent sector. My old school record store self is delighted to see how well vinyl is doing and to see the indie retail sector so strong. AI is here to stay and will continually evolve, so as an industry, we need to grow with it, embrace the change and not be scared. There are going to be positive impacts, as well as negative, so the industry needs to pull together to harness the positives and work with legislators to protect against the negatives.

In your journey, how have you effectively balanced the creative aspects of the music industry with the necessary business acumen? 

Creativity is at the heart of the music industry, and I hope that never changes! Having a clear commercial strategy that delivers on short, mid and long-term goals, can easily weave together creative ideas alongside business ambition. One is not exclusive of the other.

What tips can you share with aspiring professionals to strike a harmonious balance between artistic vision and commercial success?

Understand what success means to you, it’s actually quite an individual thing to measure. Understanding this helps you to map out the steps needed to achieve your goals and how your artistry feeds into these plans. You should always remember why you do what you do and be your authentic self. Your passion, authenticity and purpose will drive you forward.

Tips on finding your first music job?

Work hard on building out your network and never be afraid to reach out to people who you find interesting and whom you think you could learn from. I can’t tell you how many people that I’ve never met before, have agreed to jump on a call or meet me for a coffee. The worst that can happen is that they don’t reply or say no, but you’ll probably be surprised by how many people will say yes. Also, don’t shut yourself off to one specific type of role, learn as much as you can about the industry (from your newly formed network) as there may be roles that you didn’t even know existed that spark your interest.

Tips for anyone who wants to get into your industry

Learn as much as you can about how the industry works. You have many resources available to you, so use them. And remember, music is a broad industry so don’t be afraid to explore all options.

Connect with Linda Walker

5 Questions to 3 Music Industry Execs: Temima Shames, Nikisha Bailey, and Ranya Khoury

In celebration of Women's History Month, we had the opportunity to speak with three accomplished women in the music business. We asked them five key questions about the industry, their experiences, and their thoughts for the future. Read on to discover their valuable insights and perspectives.

Temima Shames is a rising entertainment executive and entrepreneur with a core focus of innovating around music artists, creators, and influencers through content, brand partnerships, and more. Originally born in Israel and raised in New York, she’s the Founder & CEO of Next Step Talent – a full service management company that specializes in long-term career growth strategy and capitalizing on organic relationships with the individual talent they work with. Temima’s clients span those in comedy, acting, modeling, dance, among others, with an average social following of 10 million across platforms. Songs, records, and projects she’s been a part of have garnered 25 million streams and viral campaigns with more than 1 million recreates. Temima is an advocate for entrepreneurship and aspires to inspire others to take a chance at any age.

Who’s a woman that inspired you growing up?

My cousin always inspired me growing up as she was always spontaneous with traveling and trying new things. We both did gymnastics and always had a love for new experiences. In a family where being spontaneous and adventurous was out of the norm, this is what inspired me to expand my perspectives, think outside the box and fuel my “inner entrepreneur”. 

What would you say are the biggest challenges the music industry is currently facing?

Right now the biggest challenge in the music industry is over saturation and a lack of experimentation, uniqueness. We have seen a shift in focus from albums to singles which means there is a huge loss of development. We are so focused on short term success, that we are losing the storytelling and story building. With this new era of TikTok music, artists are creating songs for virality and less for connection. The music industry needs a reset. It needs something new. A sound that is missing and a shift in focus. TikTok is amazing as it gives opportunities to artists that would never have had a chance before. However, there is a specific sound that the app favors and that limits artists’ creative ability. I’m super excited to see what the next platform will do to level out the playing field. 

What do you see as the future of women in the music industry?

I see women taking their power and making the change to create equality within the music industry. Women are beginning to not take no for an answer and set their boundaries from day 1. We are seeing an increase in the amount of female producers, A&Rs and the amount of men working in marketing or publicity which used to be more female dominated areas of the industry. Women are now playing a role of educating the new generation of men about the inequalities and calling out subconscious behaviors as they occur. Instead of women being the “assistants”, there is an increase in female executives. In order to reach this future, women must educate men instead of creating a divide between each other in business.

Is there a particular project or achievement you’re most proud of?

In short, one of the achievements I am most proud of is the viral moment surrounding Brooklynne Webb’s “My Crown” release as this the first time I saw my entire team ban together to execute an idea. Each person used their different strength and brought it to the table. The execution involved a fully packaged plan with over 6 months of work, but not only that, the whole team pivoted the plan week of to react to what was happening in the comments. It was a game time decision with all hands on deck. The result of this was over 20M+ views and streams across platforms and a moment that showed how important building a strong team is. I’m also super proud of our relationship and talent growth on YouTube. Starting from nearly 0, we now have 3 clients over 1M subs and 5 more about to hit that markWe’ve truly expanded our company relationships across platforms. 


What advice would you give to other women looking to break into the music industry?

Use others' comments,, especially he “I usually think young women don’t have their sh*t together, but you do” one, as your motivation to push through. You only need a few people to believe in you. Be the disruptor and make that change.

Connect with Temima

Instagram –

@temimashames

@nextsteptalent

LinkedIn


Nikisha Bailey is a community-driven entrepreneur, entertainment executive, and philanthropist with a lifelong commitment to music. Professionally, the St. Louis native is General Manager of the Nvak Collective – a next generation record label & artist advocacy collective that embraces web3 to drive change for creators and intellectual property. The two-time Billboard R&B / Hip-Hop Power Player provides creative perspective to the company’s facilitation of A&R, marketing, and label operations across their diverse artist roster. Extending her influence throughout music and culture, she also serves as Vice President for The Recording Academy’s New York Chapter and an Ambassador for the Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC). On the entrepreneurship front, Nikisha owns and operates Philadelphia's Win Win Coffee Bar – handpicked by Goldman Sachs as a featured vendor at its 10KSB National Summit and adding Nikisha to Forbes’ Next 1000. Prior to the Nvak Collective, Nikisha was the VP / Head of A&R Admin at APG (Artist Partner Group) including additional stints at Atlantic Records and Def Jam Recordings working with acclaimed producers, studios, artists, and more. She now resides in New York and pushes herself to learn, grow, and pay it forward.

Who’s a woman that inspired you growing up?

My mom has always been and continues to be one of my biggest inspirations. As a black woman growing up in Missouri in the 60’s during Jim Crow, I can’t even imagine what she had to go through. She always had such a positive outlook on life and has instilled in me that no matter what your current circumstances in life, through hard work and consistency, anything is possible 

What tangible way(s) can women better support + celebrate each other in the music business?

We can have more open, transparent, REAL conversations. The music industry can be an extremely sugar coated industry where we tend to paint the best picture possible and have the all that glitters in gold mindset. The reality is, that this is far from what it is. Women are consistently undervalued, underpaid and expected to be happy with whatever circumstances are presented to them. When we can start having more REAL conversations as to what we all have experienced, I think that can only strengthen the common bond that we all have for the most part. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in music? I’ve also loved music.

I’m a former musician myself. In college I had to decide whether or not to be a jazz performance major or audio engineer major and I went with audio engineer! The jazz students were a little too intense for me lol. From there I had a professor that told me in order to really make it in the music industry, I had to either be in NY or LA. My professor was able to help me sort out an internship at Sony Studios that was 6 months out, so for those 6 months I worked 3 jobs and saved up $5,000 and left to pursue my dream in the big city with nothing but two suitcases!

Is there a particular project or achievement you’re most proud of?

My biggest achievement in my career was when I started as intern in a new city, a new industry and now work myself up to a GM position. I’ve also been able to establish such a solid network of industry friends and colleagues that are not only there for me in my professional life, but have been able to be such immense resources to me in my journey as a coffee roaster and distributor through my business, Win Win Coffee. 


What advice would you give to other women looking to break into the music industry?

Bet on yourself! Hone in your superpowers and what makes you innately you…and EMBRACE it! What is the one thing that you can do, that nobody does better? It’s the differences that you have experienced in life that bring value to the table. Own that part of who you are all throughout your journey.

Connect with Nikisha:

Instagram – @nikideebee

LinkedIn

Ranya Khoury is a rising executive in the music business with a track record for setting trends and being a first-mover throughout several entrepreneurial endeavors. Today, as the first U.S. hire for global dance label Spinnin’ Records, she is the stateside Streaming Director where she has worked tracks for Alok, Timmy Trumpet, The Chainsmokers, Joel Corry and many more. Prior to Spinnin’, her career has been rooted in digital commerce with previously managing Los Angeles-based DJ Kooze, creating new revenue models for Hits Daily Double as Digital Accounts Manager, and being a part of Universal Music Group’s streaming marketing team.

Who’s a woman that inspired you growing up?

I’ve had so many. I was lucky enough to grow up with a mom who was a complete powerhouse, so I’ve always had the impression that success as women, in whatever field, was possible. Hilary Duff was and still remains a big one for me. Rihanna, for obvious reasons. The list really does go on and on.  

What do you see as the future of women in the music industry?

As we begin to bring more women in leadership roles, our perception of what’s possible will begin to shift into a much more empowered place. Doorways will open for rising industry leaders. Role models will help inspire those looking to pursue a career in music. Companies will become more inclusive from the start. There’s still a long way to go, but we’re moving in the right direction. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

It initially was ignited through my unwavering passion for the music itself, but it wasn’t until my second year of college that I committed to pursuing a career in music. Once I learned that business and creativity coexisted in the space, I began immersing myself in the industry, where I realized how strong my passion for music really was. 

What advice would you give to other women looking to break into the music industry?

Give yourself permission to show up authentically. Don’t try to be one of the boys. Know your worth early on. Speak up. And always lead with passion and curiosity. 

How do you balance personal and professional life as a woman in the music industry?

It’s hard. it’s a practice that I’ll probably always work on deepening. Naturally, my personal and professional life tend to overlap. You meet so many like minded people in the industry, that they quickly become a part of your personal life. Your time spent in professional settings molds into what is typically thought of as personal time (there is no 9-5 in the industry). So, it becomes an act of prioritizing and enhancing any personal time you do get. Sometimes it's carving out time in solitude. Other times, it’s dining out with friends, most likely at Sugarfish or Found Oyster. Whatever and whenever it is, I make sure it's time well spent on things that renew and reground me. 

Connect with Ranya

 Instagram – @ranyakhoury

LinkedIn