Brendan Kneeland is a Vice President at MediaLink, a strategic advisory firm at the intersection of Madison Avenue, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, and Wall Street. Brendan works with Fortune 100 CEOs, CMOs, and other top leadership across advertising, tech, and media companies to accelerate business opportunities, maximize the value of their ad agency ecosystems, and evolve internal and external brand strategies in a way that keeps his clients at the 'bleeding edge' of the media landscape. He prides himself on the relationships he builds with clients and is a strong believer in 'never forget where you came from' and paying it forward (and meaning it). Brendan has been a dedicated MENTOR in FUTURE NOW's nine-month Mentoring Program and in the Speed Mentoring events held throughout the year. We asked him to give us his take on MENTORING and best practices for MENTEES to maximize their experience with their MENTORS. Why are you so passionate about mentoring? For me it’s not worth it to be in the business of media or creativity if you don’t have people you admire, people who inspire you, people you have fun with. Mentorship – not just top-down, wisdom-from-a-cloud mentorship, but real down-to-earth and empathetic advice from people who give a sh*t about you – THAT has been the bedrock of my career. The business ecosystem is not fair and I think it’s vital to help anyone who’s motivated to have a career or a start somewhere. Being able to do it for other people who are motivated, people who are unsure of what they want, and everywhere in between – it makes me feel my most human. It’s a virtuous circle that feeds itself. Try it! How does one find a mentor? How did YOU find people to mentor you? I found mentorship initially in my career through the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS). Things that have been of interest to me – media/marketing summits, and networking events for LGBT young professionals – were some early spots that I picked. Honestly, if you take a couple of your biggest passion points and Google those nouns with ‘young professionals’ next to them, you’re likely to find something. FutureNOW is of course an excellent forum for this, whether it’s the annual event or speed mentoring…but I would just say that mentors are all around you. Lots of folks I’d consider mentors of mine are mentors of different ‘sectors’ of my life. I get a lot of motivation to be creative from a friend of mine, my age, who works as a data engineer but is writing his first novel, for instance. Some of my other mentors are more experienced coworkers or even old bosses with whom I’ve maintained contact after moving on to the next gig. I think it’s important to not fall into the trap of thinking that a ‘mentor’ has to come in a certain package and be a certain age above your own. Find people who have some experience and perspective and the motivation to be interested in providing that perspective, even if it’s in a limited time. When reaching out to a potential mentor, what should that first email or LinkedIn message say to best catch the person’s attention? I think if you can convey that you are reaching out in an informational capacity, explain how you came to know who that person was, and couch it (sincerely) with the idea that you want to, for instance, ‘learn more about them and their professional journey thus far as I hope to enter this field or that company at this time,’ people will be surprisingly responsive. This works much better though if you have an ‘angle’ of knowing them either via a 2nd or 3rd party connection. And please please please take command of the scheduling and make it easy for them. They are doing their day-to-day job, living their day-to-day life with their family/friends/other loved ones, and you’re asking for a piece of their time, so make it easy and then make it count! And don’t get discouraged if they don’t answer, especially on LinkedIn. One follow-up suffices – usually after that doesn’t hit I move on. What are the top 3 TO DO's on how to have a great mentoring experience? Candidness – you don’t have to share your life story but being open about what you’re motivated by or worried about or dealing with helps your mentor better cater the experience for you. Consistency – have goals, set them, and be methodical. Keep your meetings as regularly as possible and help them help you with strong organization. Proactivity – clue us into what you’re looking at / reading / consuming in media that are relevant to you and excites you and spurs a strong point of view. What do you think? How do you want to affect whatever it is you’re interested in? What does success look like or an ideal creative output look like? What are the top 3 DON’T DO's? These are more or less the inverse of the Do’s 😉 Don't be demanding – there is a difference between being candid about what you aspire to do and expecting folks to drop everything or to stick their neck out and use ‘relationship capital’ for a half-baked ask. Don't be inconsistent – not showing up when expected or otherwise wasting people’s time is something I as a mentor try very hard to avoid and my hope would be that whoever is approaching me for advice or an intro within my network would do me the same courtesy. Don't expect your mentor to have all the answers – mentors aren’t vending machines, nor are they mind readers. Help us, help you. If you’re not motivated to seek things out, how are we supposed to be on your behalf? How do I set goals, especially if I'm not sure what I want to do yet? I had a really hard time with this myself – I’d say, take stock of what you’re passionate about, what aspect of culture you consume or thing you want to be involved with, as well as what you’re good at, and plot all of it on a piece of paper. See where the intersections might be! Also, I would say it’s ok if your first job is not your ‘forever home.’ Sometimes goals and motivations reveal themselves to you as you do things.

Back in 2019, a little movie called “Hair Love” won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and shattered glass ceilings in the process. It follows the story of a little Black girl and her father as they attempt to style her hair for a special occasion. The Kickstarter to fund the film raised over $300,000—the goal was $75,000—and “Hair Love” quickly became a sensation. Last month, FUTURE NOW Founder and CEO, Peggy Kim, sat down with Carl Reed, one of the producers of “Hair Love” and Co-Founder of Lion Forge Animation. “I never thought that something we care so much about would resonate with other people,” Reed admitted about the film, calling the short’s Oscar win “amazing,” “crazy,” and “surreal.” Reed’s road to the Oscars started as a comic artist at age 15, when he hitched a ride with his brother out to San Diego Comic-Con on a whim, hoping to get some work. “I took the circuitous route,” he explained, starting as a comic book illustrator. Growing up as a big comic fan, Reed “didn’t realize [that] everyone didn’t just like comics or animation or things of that nature… I just assumed everyone did, because it’s pretty cool, how can you not like it?” Reed is completely self-taught. He didn't go to art school or take any art classes, but he did devour books on drawing and watched old VHS tapes from the library to sharpen his skills. He got jobs making art for commercials and eventually moved out to Los Angeles to do broadcast animation. He even started a marketing agency in addition to his comics work, where his team did everything from toy design to web design. “We did what we had to do to keep our office lights on.” “It’s a much better world [today],” Reed said. “I can’t imagine a better time to get started. There are no barriers to entry…. You can share your work instantly, and if someone likes it, you can have potentially millions and millions of people following your work and be generating revenue without the studio system [and] without taking the traditional route.” Reed shared some of the lessons he's learned throughout his career, especially the importance of community and feedback. “People have a really deep connection to things that they helped from the beginning.” He advised listeners to “build your own tribe” to give feedback and support. Reed also emphasized the imperative of getting things done. “Create content fast,” he said, explaining that improvement comes from feedback, and feedback only comes if you have delivered something. Many artists are plagued by crippling perfectionism, but “to pay bills… you have to get stuff out, and it won’t be perfect, but that’s the only way to grow.” Reed further commented that there is a time and place for passion projects, but they “will never, never be perfect. It won’t even be what you want—you’ll look at it and you’ll cringe,” even if no one else will. “You’re your own worst critic,” he said. The success of “Hair Love” has given Reed and Lion Forge a calling card with more open doors and people willing to take meetings, but he was quick to say that he and his partners still have to “prove ourselves every time,” and pitches remain nerve-wracking. “You have a very short time to basically infect the buyer or partner or whoever you’re pitching to with the love you have for the project,” and sometimes you have to boil a pitch down to the bare essentials. Reed seems to have found a good balance, especially considering that Lion Forge’s next big project, the television show “Iyanu: Child of Wonder,” has been picked up by HBO Max. On the topic of leadership, Reed admitted that he’s “still learning.” But, he believes that it is “crucial” to be “super upfront and super transparent and [to] have a lot of accountability…. Otherwise, you will never see your gaps and see where you can grow, and you won’t have the trust of your partners, employees, et cetera.” Reed has come a long way since he hopped in his brother’s van to go to Comic-Con. “I was the only Black person in the room,” Reed recalled of his earlier years. “There were these old-school philosophies about content [and] if it didn’t check these boxes, there was this perception that it wouldn’t work.” However, with hits such as “Black Panther,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and, yes, “Hair Love,” that mindset is shifting, slowly but surely. Reed values authenticity in his work: “I have a mission and a goal behind the type of content that I want to create,” he explained. “That content typically will be new and different… and will also represent diverse audiences and new voices and new perspectives.” “These old ways of doing things that are based on a lot of bias aren’t relevant,” Reed said. “You can’t quickly turn around a huge ship,” he acknowledged, but “you don’t necessarily have to ask for permission… The world is wide, wide open.” Three weeks after the Leadership Talk, Reed announced a new venture, Composition Media, an animation studio with an innovative approach to making animated film and TV content for a global audience, with much of the content highlighting minority and underrepresented communities. Reed continues on his road less traveled, paving a way for others, and he's not asking for permission.

Theft can look like many things: a nameless hacker stealing your personal information, a pickpocket nabbing your wallet, or even just a guy with a notepad copying your intellectual property. Throughout history, women often depended on the men around them for social status and respect, which made them easy targets for co-opting or taking credit for their ideas. It is time to give credit where credit is due. Here are three remarkable women to recognize this Women's History Month. Margaret Keane Margaret Keane is now known and celebrated for her famous "Big Eyes" paintings of women, children, and animals with very stylistically large eyes. However, the credit due her was long in coming. Keane’s husband, Walter, claimed the pieces as his own and began selling them in the 1950s. As more and more paintings were sold, he began mass-producing the paintings and merchandise and forced his wife to create more and more. The "Keane Eyes" grew in popularity. So did his abuse of her and her and her daughter (from a previous marriage). Keane finally filed for divorce and walked away from the millions of dollars her ex-husband earned in her name. It wasn't until five years later that she revealed that the paintings were indeed her handiwork. Her story hit the big screen in 2014 in a film called, “Big Eyes," directed by Tim Burton and starring Amy Adams as the artist. Keane passed peacefully in July 2022 and her memory lives on through her work. Sister Rosetta Tharpe When you think of “pop music,” you think of Michael Jackson. When you think “gravity,” you think of Issac Newton. When we think “rock and roll,” we ought to think of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Dubbed The Godmother of Rock and Roll, she pioneered the genre. Tharpe's performances, even down to her cadence and enrapturing stage presence, are the hallmarks of rock and roll, though few even within that music genre know of her influence. Seeing a black woman in her church dress work the stage with such a huge personality and her ability to play the guitar with such talent and skill was unheard of at the time. Even today, it's not the first image that comes to mind when thinking about rock and roll. She enchanted audiences all throughout the 40s and 50s and inspired the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and many others. Sister Rosetta Tharpe had an exuberant spirit and played the guitar with her soul. Sadly, she was buried in an unmarked grave with her legacy all but forgotten, while others borrowed from her and made their millions. She was finally recognized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Elizabeth Magie Families have enjoyed the beloved game of Monopoly all across the US since its patent in 1935. People played the game to alleviate stress and to distract them from the extreme poverty of the Great Depression. Charles Darrow, credited as its creator, lifted himself up from his bootstraps, sold the idea, and made millions. It is a perfect tale of American grit, an embodiment of the American Dream. In reality, the game was created as early as 1902 and patented in 1904 as "The Landlord Game" by a woman named Elizabeth Magie, who created it to criticize capitalism. The idea was stolen by a man named Charles Darrow who went off to make millions. Ironically, Magie's concept was turned on its head as the player's goal is to become rich while forcing opponents into bankruptcy by buying and developing pieces of property. The winner is the last one standing. Today the game is owned by Hasbro. Elizabeth had multiple patents, wrote poetry, and made great strides for women as a progressive, but she was never recognized for her most well-known creation. These are three examples of the many remarkable women who have contributed significantly to the entertainment industry throughout history. And, many more stories like these have yet to be told. _________ Campbell, Tori. “Stealing Art: When Men Took Credit for Women's Work.” Artland Magazine, 3 Aug. 2022, https://magazine.artland.com/stealing-art-when-men-took-credit-for-womens-work/. Karwatka, Dennis. “Elizabeth Magie and the Game of Monopoly.” Tech Directions, Nov. 2016, pp. 10–10. Lorusso, Marissa. “How One of Music's Biggest Stars Almost Disappeared, and How Her Legacy Was Saved.” NPR, NPR, 27 Sept. 2019, https://www.npr.org/2019/09/27/759601364/how-one-of-musics-biggest-stars-almost-disappeared-and-how-her-legacy-was-saved. “Margaret Keane.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, June 2022, https://www.biography.com/artist/margaret-keane. Pilon, Mary. “Monopoly's Inventor: The Progressive Who Didn't Pass 'Go' by NYtimes.” Nytimes.com, Admin Https://Www.hgsss.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2019/04/HGS-New-Logo_2019_siteheader-300x77.Png, 23 Nov. 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/business/behind-monopoly-an-inventor-who-didnt-pass-go.html?emc=eta1&_r=0. WALD, GAYLE F. “Cotton Plant.” Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock -and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, BEACON, S.l., 2023, pp. 1–3.

FUTURE NOW kicked off 2023 with a Leadership Talk with Melanie Washington, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Contract Advisory at MediaLink. Nicknamed the “contract whisperer," she leads the company’s Contract Optimization and Risk Evaluation (CORE) advisory practice and counsels global chief legal officers at brands and agencies through legal challenges around data compliance, risk mitigation, and quality assurance. In 2020, she negotiated a whopping $8 billion in contracts for clients such as Nissan, Disney, and Mattel. Washington graduated with a degree in communications and media studies from Northwestern University. After spending a decade in the marketing industry post-graduation, she enrolled in law school with the hopes of better understanding the legal complexities of the advertising industry. “Contracts are the most important part of the entertainment industry…. We’re no longer in the age of handshake deals or verbal agreements,” Washington explained. With hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, she believes it is crucial that marketing leads and Chief Marketing Officers understand the ins and outs of contracts and that fostering a culture of collaboration across different departments can ensure a company’s overall efficiency and performance. “Restructuring business goals and integrating them into global contracts is a lucrative practice for driving growth and incentivizing agency partners while holding them accountable.” This conviction is how Washington came to develop her current role at MediaLink. “I now work on both sides of the business: on the brand side, advising media businesses on how they’re structured, as well as on the legal affairs side, providing counsel on how new agreements are drafted through the lens of operational efficiency.” According to Washington, creating this new business at her firm is her greatest career achievement thus far. She had only been with the company a few months when she pitched the idea to the executive team, articulating the concrete ways in which this new venture would help optimize operations and drive company growth. To convince people to take a chance on her, Washington was relentless yet humble, admitting that she didn’t have all the answers but was willing to learn, and she demonstrated the value she could bring to the company. MediaLink under the leadership of its Founder and CEO, Michael Kassan, has always encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset, creative thinking, and a culture of innovation. For Washington, it has been a place where she has thrived, surrounded by some of the smartest people in the business. Washington shared with listeners that being an entrepreneur isn’t just about starting your own business; you can be an intrapreneur, an employee who channels that same creativity and innovation to find new revenue streams and identify ways to expand the business for an employer. The entrepreneurial mindset is having the courage to put yourself out there even if there is no blueprint to follow. The leadership talk came to a close with a question from the audience: “What is the best thing we can do as students or alumni given everything that’s going on in the economy, entertainment industry, and the world?” Washington gave three responses. The first was to “find a way to differentiate yourself.” With an overwhelming number of candidates competing for the same jobs, she encouraged the audience to consider what they bring to the table and how they will contribute to the companies. Washington’s second tip was to “just ask; the worst answer that you can get is a no.” People are often so afraid of asking questions that they miss out on opportunities. Whether it be going back to past employers for job inquiries or asking your mentor to reach out to someone on your behalf, remember that people will try to help if you ask. You have to take a chance on yourself in order for them to take a chance on you. Lastly, Washington suggested “speaking dreams into existence.” Presenting your goals with the spirit of success can help turn your aspirations into reality. You also don’t have to keep your dreams a secret. In fact, the more you talk about it, the more you will be held accountable for it. So, say it out loud. Be intentional about how you talk about your goals and get excited about the future. She attributes much of her success to her mentors and colleagues. Though she didn't know exactly what she wanted to do post-graduation, she was very intentional about the people she surrounded herself with. Being in the presence of ambitious, proactive, and talented minds opened up networks, fueled new ideas, and led her in the right direction. But, the greatest influence on her life? “I’ve engaged with many inspiring people throughout my career, but I have to say it all started with my mom.” Raised by a single parent, Washington says she saw her mother work tirelessly to give her and her sister the best education. “Although my time with her was cut short, I learned so much by watching her. She taught me to always champion and uplift others.” And, Washington does that in a myriad of ways, not the least of which is through her service as a board member of the FUTURE NOW Media Foundation and as a mentor to future leaders.

Streaming has revolutionized how viewers consume media and how advertisers promote their products, and Allison Levin, VP of Ad Sales & Strategy at Roku, has been one of the leaders in the forefront of this transformation. She sat with FUTURE NOW’s Founder & CEO, Peggy Kim, for a recent Leadership Talk. Levin was the first ever ad sales hire at Roku eight years ago, and she has gone from leading a team of 1 to a team of over 500. Today, Roku is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico based on hours streamed, and closed out 2022 with over 70 million active accounts globally. She has pioneered upfront deals with some of the largest ad agencies and holding groups and has been instrumental in growing Roku’s portfolio of clients. She and her team are responsible for driving new products and go-to-market strategy for the overall advertising business. Levin explains that since Roku is an engineering and product-first company, it requires a lot of translation. She has three main areas of focus: working internally to prioritize and determine what products are going to be the most interesting for advertisers; how they can best serve their consumers; and what partnerships will be the most strategic for the future. When it comes to partnerships, data and metrics are key. Levin says, “When an advertiser can measure the success of their campaigns can actually see the data and the insights, they're much more likely to come back to continue to spend to grow with us in the platform.” “What I love the most is helping to solve challenges for marketers with building new stuff. And you know, this, we’re still in the early innings of streaming TV. And so, there's still just so much we're building that's happening. And that's very, very exciting.” The clarity of Levin’s interests and passion for sales strategy and marketing has come with time, experience, and the guidance of mentors. A skilled debater in high school, Levin initially thought she would become a lawyer. But she changed her mind when she got into Boston University, where she majored in communications with a focus on public relations and then marketing. “I think, for me, the passion was always selling, telling stories, and helping to tell a story to a market that's backed by data and insights. And over time, you know, I had a boss who helped me to understand to see really, that my power was standing in front of those marketing programs and in front of those stories. And that sales is probably a good place for me to start.” During her conversation with Kim, Levin stressed the importance of curiosity and how it fosters innovation and growth. “My dad runs his own business, and he told me from an early age, ‘If you are going to be the chef, you better pick your own ingredients.’ For me, anything I do, I want to understand the components of it, I want to fully know the details. I do not necessarily need to be a part of all the details, but I at least need to understand it to be successful at it….You need to understand the ‘why and what’ behind it.” In an industry that is constantly changing and as Levin and her team continue to build and innovate, she points to the value of fearlessness. “Every day we wake up and think about how we can make the best TV streaming ad platforms for marketers and consumers. We reimagine what TV could be. All because TV was this way for 50-60 years on the linear side does not mean that experience has to be recreated for streaming.” Levin and her team continue to push the boundaries when it comes to the future of streaming. Innovation only moves forward when people are brave enough to think outside the box and dare to fail. Levin posits, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Brendan Dewley, Production Assistant at Late Night with Seth Meyers My name is Brendan Dewley, and I’m a recent alum of the University of Michigan. I’ve been a Production Intern and Production Assistant at Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBCUniversal) since August 2022, where I will be through the end of January! I moved out to NYC to write and perform comedy last fall so working at Late Night has been a dream come true for me and I love working at 30 Rock. I applied to the late-night comedy internships every year at school, but this past year I connected with alumni at NBCU and asked for advice. I worked a remote internship early 2022, applied the night applications went live for the internship, and went through two rounds of interviews before I got the call from my recruiter telling me that I had gotten the gig! FUTURE NOW helped me learn how to take the initiative and follow up with people on LinkedIn and via email even after brief interactions like at the FUTURE NOW Media and Entertainment Conference. I still keep in touch with a few of the mentors I met through the program.

Syler Hand, Cross Platform Optimization Coordinator at Nickelodeon Oh, what a year-and-a-half it has been! From graduating from Pace University to starting my first full-time job at Nickelodeon in New York City as a Cross Platform Optimization Coordinator, life has felt surreal. I always knew I wanted to work in the media and entertainment industry, especially after interning on the Social Media and Digital teams at Food Network and TLC in college. But landing a full-time job? On the coattails of a pandemic? That’s where things can get tricky. But thanks to a plethora of connections that I made through FUTURE NOW, that process was a lot less challenging (and scary). If you have told me I would be working on slime-filled, kid-tacular Digital projects three years ago, I would have been highly doubtful. Pandemic-related hiring freezes and general uncertainty shook the industry. So, I knew getting a job was going to be even more difficult. When I heard about the FUTURE NOW conference in March 2020, I knew I had to apply. This seemed like a great way to put myself out there (virtually, mind you) to expand my network and knowledge. Throughout the conference, I had the opportunity to speak with so many talented industry experts from countless companies and organizations. I made wonderful connections with attendees and speakers alike. I left the conference feeling so hopeful and inspired that I decided to apply to the Mentoring Program. After receiving my acceptance letter (another pinch me moment), I spent 9 months building a genuine personal and professional relationship with a highly skilled industry expert. I learned and grew so much during my time with her, and she even played an instrumental role in helping me during my job search at the end of my senior year of college (thank you, Lisa!). A year later, I got to interview her on ‘stage’ eat the Conference about our time together. The main takeaway from these experiences? Network, network, network. People want to see you succeed, even in times that may seem hopeless. Thanks to FUTURE NOW and all of its incredible opportunities, I not only ended up in my favorite industry, but I work at a company that was a major part of my childhood.

Claretta Bellamy, Digital Reporter at NBCBLK I currently work as a digital reporter under NBCBLK through the NBCU Academy Embed Program. While working under this two-year fellowship program, I’ve written stories about Black history, culture, entertainment, and health. I've also had the opportunity to travel to Selma, Alabama, and Buffalo, New York to report on-camera for NBC’s series about racial healing. I really enjoy working here because I’ve interviewed so many fascinating people making positive changes in their communities and have learned so much while speaking with experts about topics I care about. Applying to this program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my early career. FUTURE NOW was a critical component to my success. Through the program, I really understood the importance of networking and had many opportunities to engage with others. FUTURE NOW also provided me with a valuable mentor, Raquelle Zuzarte, who really guided me when I was applying for jobs and keeping track of positions. FUTURE NOW was an important stepping stone that helped form me into the individual that I am now, and I am so thankful that the program exists.

For most people, being in the room with their favorite artist only happens at a concert. But, for Parul Chokshi, it’s something that happens almost every day. She’s worked with some of the biggest names in music and most recently with rapper, Glorilla, whose song became viral on TikTok and earned her a record deal. FUTURE NOW Founder and CEO, Peggy Kim, spoke with Chokshi in a recent Leadership Talk about how she got her break in the music industry to eventually become the Senior Director of Talent Booking at Vevo. Chokshi’s passion for music started at a very young age, but she never dreamed that she could have a career in the music industry. Instead, she pursued another more viable dream of becoming a lawyer. “I really liked the idea of being able to argue something and being able to have something to back it up,” she said. She went to law school and eventually got a job at a law firm. But she discovered that “[It] wasn’t fulfilling me 100%.” While working at the law firm, Chokshi continued going to concerts and started networking with artist’s managers to see how she could get into the industry. She was strategic in her approach and discovered that the managers were often standing alone and willing to talk to her. “Usually, the artists that I would go to were at smaller shows, smaller venues. And they’re usually trying to do a meet-and-greet afterwards.” Chokshi's background in law helped her when networking with the artist’s managers. They took her more seriously. However, her legal experience didn’t exactly open the floodgates of opportunity. She knew she had to prove herself. “I was willing to start over,” she says “Unless I wanted to come in as an entertainment lawyer, I needed to learn a new industry. I can’t just assume that I can jump into being a manager somewhere.” Chokshi had a detailed approach and strategy to land a job in the industry. “What I did was made a list of all the music labels, all of the music companies, publicity companies, agencies—I made a list of all of them… I had over 100 contacts, and I would constantly call them,” she said. Her big break came from a person from Sony Music who remembered her and contacted her about an opportunity in music licensing for commercials and television shows. She jumped at the chance and as the saying goes—the rest is history. Chokshi’s story reflects that there’s no one way to break into the music or entertainment industry, but persistence and preparation are critical to success. She encourages emerging leaders to be active in the music scene by liking and following up-and-coming artists on social media. On the soft skills side, “I think… that interpersonal vibe and personality, and the fact that you connect and can click is really key.” A résumé reflects what someone can do but being conversational is a skill crucial in an industry where people are constantly connecting. For introverts, this might sound daunting. Chokshi admits that she can be an introvert at times, but that it’s important to put yourself out there and talk to people. Chokshi is passionate about helping the next gen break into the music industry. She says the industry is more open to younger applicants. “I think that the people in power have learned that the future of music is the youth,” she said. She encourages future leaders to show how they're staying informed and active in the music community. How are you finding out about new artists? Where do you discover new music? How do you show your passion for music? On a final note of the talk, Chokshi reflected on leadership and shared, “Recognize that you may not know everything. As a leader, you’re there for the team…[and] don’t feel as if you look less than if you admit that you make a mistake. You will never know everything, and there is something to learned from everybody.”