In the music industry, I have realized how important it is to open doors for others. Being a Latina in this industry means walking into quite a few locked doors. These barriers are not just about lost opportunities. They often depend on gender or where we come from, making it feel like we're all trying to find a key that's hard to find.
After almost 15 years in this field, we have been lucky enough to enter rooms we never dreamed of. Having secured a seat at the table and pushed open doors that were once closed to us, we feel a deep responsibility to keep those doors ajar for others. This journey highlighted the unique barriers women face in the music industry and motivated me to ensure those doors remain open, particularly for other women who aim to make their mark and overcome the challenges we once faced.
In the MIDIA Women in Music 2022 survey, when respondents were asked what would encourage women and other “non-masculine gender identities” to grow in the music industry, mentorship and mentorship opportunities were overwhelmingly the top answer. It's a resource I wish I had when I started the business, as I often faced a lack of access to other women, and especially fellow Latinas, who could help me throughout my career. I've been fortunate to have many great colleagues who have inspired me, but I've always longed for that deeper connection and a safe space to have open conversations with women in this industry who have stood where I did or could offer new perspectives.
As a key member of the Symphonic Distribution team, I have faced the challenges of expanding a business in a small music market. As a Latina, these experiences have equipped me with the insight to provide the mentoring opportunities I have always wished were available to others. With the launch of the Women Empowered+ Program at Symphonic, we have created a proof of belief that mentoring can change careers and lives, especially for women.
Since the program's launch in 2022, we've connected 165 mentors from companies across the music industry with 340 mentees from the US, Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe and Africa. This initiative reflects our commitment to breaking down the barriers that disproportionately affect women in music by providing them with the guidance, support and opportunities that have historically been denied them.
As we prepare to launch the third year of our program this March during Women's History Month, I started thinking about what we're doing well and what we could do better in the future — not just at Symphonic but in the industry at large. With that in mind, I'd like to share some suggestions and ideas aimed at creating effective mentoring programs for women and gender diverse music industry companies committed to making an impact.
Structure Targets and Matching Protocol
Define program goals in advance, ensuring both parties have a mutual understanding of their roles, expectations, timeline, and time commitment. Begin the program with a clear framework, pairing mentors and mentees based on complementary interests and career goals. We created a simple Airtable form with all the details we felt we needed to fully understand each of our mentors and mentees.
Resources, Support and Honesty
Provide training and/or resources to prepare participants for effective mentoring relationships. The cornerstone of effective coaching is confidentiality, fostering an environment where open and honest conversations can take place, based on trust and mutual respect. Maintain a support system to meet challenges while allowing flexibility to meet different needs and schedules. This ensures that the program is both supportive and adaptable to individual circumstances.
Feedback and community building
Implement a continuous feedback loop to improve the program and recognize participants' efforts and achievements through the program through surveys. Foster a community of past and current mentees and mentors to encourage networking, shared learning and ongoing support, enhancing the overall impact and sustainability of the mentoring initiative. This can be done through Facebook Groups, Slack, Whatsapp or any other community building platform. We have found that some of the mentors and mentees can help by being the community manager for them.
By bringing out the next generation of female music executives through your mentoring program, we are in turn training the next generation of mentors who will be able to reach out and continue to help attract people. Whether leading or being led, we all contribute to the common goal of making things better for those who come after us.
As we prepare for another year of encouraging connections and growth through the Women Empowered+ Program, I am reminded of the transformative power when we choose to support and revitalize each other. We encourage every company in the music industry to create similar programs to cultivate more diverse talent, and we hope that our experience can be a guide for others to take action and inspire even more women to join our industry. In a world where the doors of the music industry seem heavy and unwelcoming, let's be the force that opens them wider, inviting in the voices of women who have been waiting for their chance to be heard. Together, we can ensure that the next generation of female talent finds a nurturing space where their goals are encouraged, supported by a community that understands the unique challenges they face and believes in the power of mentorship to change not just careers, but lives.
Janette Berrios is the vice president of corporate marketing for Symphonic Distribution, a leading independent music distributor with a global presence. It was included in Advertising signThe prestigious Indie Power Players of 2022 and 2021 list and was honored with the “Wonder Women in Latin Music” award presented by LAMC and Amazon Music.
