Image Credit: Flyer
Femme It Forward, a female-led music and entertainment company, announced today that applications are now open for the Next Gem Femme Mentorship Program. The new initiative designed to empower and increase opportunities for young women of color in the workforce will pair promising talent with female industry titans and entrepreneurs in the music, media, entertainment, technology, and social justice industries.
Through a comprehensive year-long program, mentees will receive exposure to real-time projects, one-on-one coaching, resume building lessons, industry insights and expertise, and relationship building opportunities. The inaugural program will include 200 mentees who are young women of color, with at least half of those participants being current students or alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s).
“Year after year, women and girls continue to make significant strides in the workforce. However, due to a lack of exposure, visibility, and resources, women of color continue to be left out of the conversation,” said Heather Lowery, President & CEO at Femme It Forward. “With the help of our incredible mentors, Next Gem Femme will allow us to further demonstrate our deeply rooted commitment to providing access and opportunities for the next generation of leaders by eliminating the opportunity gaps and structural barriers that exist for young women of color.”
“Next Gem Femme is such a powerful program and I’m thrilled to be part of the inaugural group of mentors. Supporting young women by providing them with access to the tools and networks they need to reach their full potential is vital to ensuring equity in the workforce,” said Ethiopia Habtemariam, Chairman and CEO of Motown Records and Next Gem Femme mentor. “The ripple effect that Next Gem Femme will have will impact generations and disrupt, not just the entertainment industry, but the entire workforce for the better.”
Additional mentors include: Alaysia Sierra (Head of R&B, Apple Music), Amber Grimes (SVP of Global Creative, Capitol Music Group), Caroline “Baroline” Diaz (VP of A&R, Interscope Geffen A&M), Caroline Yim (Music Agent, WME), Chayce Cheatham (Label Partnerships, TikTok), Brianna Agyemang & Jamila Thomas (Co-Founders, #TheShowMustBePaused), Fadia Kader (Head of Media Partnerships and Creators, Clubhouse), Kirdis Postelle (Global Head of Artist Marketing, Amazon Music), LaTrice Burnette (EVP/GM, Island Records), Marquetta Moore (Vice President Music & Celebrity Relations, Revolt Media & TV), Nadia Rawlinson (Chief People Officer, Slack), NJ Ndure (North America Relationship Manager, Nike), Stacie George (SVP of Booking, Live Nation), Thea Mitchem (EVP of Programming, iHeartMedia), and Whitney Gayle Benta (Head of Artist and Talent Relations, Spotify).
The full list of mentors can be found at www.femmeitforward.com/next-
The application period for mentees will begin today and close on Friday, June 4, 2021. Mentors and mentees will be paired in June and July, prior to the Next Gem Femme launch in August. For more information and to apply, please visit www.femmeitforward.com.
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