Where were you at in your music career when you had your first child? Was there much discussion about how that life choice would affect your career within the music/entertainment industry?

My partner and I were delightfully surprised with my pregnancy although we had previously discussed children.  I had always prioritized my career and its subsequent activities up until that point.  Throughout my first 15 years+ in the industry, there were very few female executives within the organizations I had worked with that had children or young families, so I immediately began to evaluate how my personal plans would impact my current and future roles and my ability to travel for work.  Unlike my male counterparts, I became the primary caregiver for my daughter at home all while needing to juggle working days in the office and evenings at shows/events while building strong relationships across my marketing and artist management responsibilities. 

As a working parent in the music industry, what are some of the biggest challenges you are facing?

Like most people with families, I would say that time management and work/life balance are the biggest challenges I face as a working parent in the industry.  I work with artists, who have invested themselves completely into their music projects, so I need to ensure that I am prioritizing their brands and strategies during the day but also taking (and making) the necessary time to nurture and guide my little one at home in the evenings and weekends.  Mom guilt is real!  Setting attainable expectations and boundaries for my time is essential.

What is one small change within the industry that could make a positive impact for working parents?

Hybrid working environments and flexible work schedules would have a positive impact for working parents.

Can you shout out another music mama doing great things?

There are a few ‘music mamas’ I would shout out: Joanne Marcano (artist management for Jester), Keziah Myers (Executive Director of ADVANCE), Samantha Taus (Sr. Manager of Media Relations, Sony Music Canada), Allison Kaye (President of SB Projects), Mez Tara (VP International, Epic), among others.  They all have inspired me, motivated me and sometimes helped keep me sane.

Photo Credit: Wade Hudson