![Femme It Forward Opens Applications For Next Gen Femme [Exclusive]](https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image001-10-compress.jpg "Femme It Forward Opens Applications For Next Gen Femme [Exclusive]")
Femme It Forward has revealed that applications are now open for the Next Gem Femme.
The mentorship program is “aimed at increasing career opportunities and trajectories of young women of color.”
The program “blends a wide range of industries by pairing promising talent with female industry titans and entrepreneurs in music, media, entertainment, and technology. After an impactful inaugural program, Next Gem Femme returns with over 100 mentors with careers in marketing, publicity, live & touring, business development, talent management, artist relations and more – from companies such as Apple Music, iHeartMedia, Live Nation, Spotify, Twitter, WME and YouTube. Each Next Gem Femme mentee receives professional coaching, industry insights, networking and relationship-building opportunities.’
“Just a year in, Next Gem Femme has already empowered many promising young women of color by pairing them with brilliant industry mentors who truly want to see them flourish,” said Heather Lowery, President & CEO at Femme It Forward, in a statement. “So many of the mentors and mentees have developed authentic lifelong bonds that will not only elevate their careers, but also enhance their lives. We’re thrilled to build off the incredible success of the program’s first year and grant even more opportunities to young women of color who will, in turn, create more equity in the workplace.”
Tierra Gray, a 2021 Next Gem Femme mentee said, “Joining this program has really changed my life. I have developed a genuine bond and friendship with my mentor Natina Nimene. She has been so supportive, encouraging and understanding towards my career path and my personal life. She gave me great interview tips, guided me through the process and put in a good word. This is my dream job so I am very thankful and appreciative for this program and my mentor.”
The program's second year will create opportunities for 100 mentees.
Also, at least half of the mentee spots to students from historically Black colleges and universities. The program states that select mentees will also be provided with scholarships, stipends and professional headshots.
According to Next Gen Femme, the program is “focused on long-term development, with each mentorship beginning with a one-year partnership and the opportunity to build moving forward. Throughout this time, mentorships will aim to balance exposure to real-time projects and scenarios with ongoing professional coaching, industry insights, networking opportunities and relationship building.”
Applications are now open and will close on June 3. Mentors and mentees will be paired in August.
Check out the mentor list below:
ADE’ OLATUNDE | CEO/Founder Music Blvd Group, Sync Con
ADRIANNA ARCE | Artist Manager/VP REBEL
AESHIA DEVORE BRANCH | Founder Pretty Girls Sweat
ALAYSIA SIERRA | Head of R&B Apple Music
ALEX MAXWELL | VP of Touring Live Nation
ALEXANDRA DEPERSIA | Artist Manager Patriot Management/i am OTHER
ALISON OLIVIERIO | VP Premium Sales Operations – US Concerts Live Nation
ANDILE NDLOVU | Artist Manager Electric Feel Entertainment
ANEKA MYLES | Marketing Partnerships – Creative Strategy Netflix
ANNA PLUMLEY | VP, Tour Marketing Live Nation
APRIL KING | Talent Agent WME | IMG
ARIEL LOPEZ | CEO/Founder Knac
ASHAUNNA AYARS | Founder The Ayars Agency
ASHLEY MOSS | Artist Manager TITLE 9 Inc.
BAROLINE | Artist Manager/VP of A&R Interscope Records
BINTA NIAMBI BROWN ESQ. | Head of Operations & Strategy A&R Keep Cool/RCA Records
BRENDA REYNOSO | Chief Vision Officer The Tiger’s Eye
BRITTNEY KING BROCK | Founder King Creative Group
CARLEEEN DONOVAN | Co-Founder/Publicist The Oriel Company
CHANTAL FELICE | Artist Manager Emagen Entertainment
CHAYCE CHEATHAM | Music – Label Partnerships TikTok
CORI MURRAY | Media Personality /Digital Content Producer /Journalist
DANIELLE S. PRICE ESQ. | EVP Republic Records
DAWN WHITE | Artist Manager/Founder You and Me Inc.
DENISE WILLIAMS WATTS | Global Head of Video Content Apple Music
DIANA DOTEL | CEO MTW Agency
DIMPLEZ | SVP Digital & Content Capitol Music Group
EBONIE WARD | Partner/Artist Manager Emagen Entertainment
ERICKA J. COULTER | SVP A&R Warner Records
ERICKA PITTMAN | Author, Brand Architect
ERIKA MONTES | VP of Artist Relations SoundCloud
EVANGELINE ELDER | CEO/Co-Founder Women Sound Off
GAIL MITCHELL | Executive Director R&B/Hip-Hop Billboard Magazine
GIA PEPPERS | Entertainment Journalist
HEATHER LOWERY | President/CEO Femme It Forward
INGRID BEST | Founder, CEO & Wine Negociant iBest Wines
JACQUELINE REYNOLDS-DRUMM | Music Agent ICM Partners
JAMIE CRAWFORD-WALKER | Head of Digital Strategy & Creative Content We The Best Music Group
JANEÉ BOLDEN | Senior Content Director/ Managing Editor Bossip/Global Grind
JASMIN NASH | Talent Agent CAA
JEANINE MCLEAN-WILLIAMS | President/Managing Partner MBK Entertainment Inc.
JENNIFER HIRSCH-DAVIS | SVP of Marketing Administration/Finance UMG ECLG/Island Records & Def Jam Recordings
JENYA MEGGS | SVP of Content Mass Appeal
JINI THORNTON | Founder Envision Business Management Group
JOYA WILLIAMS | Social Media Director A3C/TGS/Greenwood
JULIETTE JONES | COO Alamo Records
KAREN “KD” DOUGLAS | Talent Manager JenGeo Eight Entertainment
KATRINA LOPES | Founder/Artist Manager KL Management
KEI HENDERSON | President Third & Hayden
KELLY FLANIGAN | Capital Region President, US Concerts Live Nation
KRYSTYN “KP” PRICE | VP of Talent SpringHill Company
LATRICE BURNETTE | EVP Def Jam Recordings | President 4th&Broadway
LYDIA FISSIHAIE | Founder/Artist Manager THRSHLD
LYNN M. SCOTT | SVP HITCO Entertainment
MADELINE NELSON | Head of U.S. Independent Label Relations Amazon Music
MARQUETTA MOORE | Head of Talent Curation and Bookings Penske Media (PMC)
MARSHA ST. HUBERT | SVP of Marketing Atlantic Records
MASSAH DAVID. | Co-Founder/Creative Director MVD Inc.
MERLYNE JEAN-LOUIS, Esq. | Entertainment Lawyer Jean-Louis Law
MIATTA JOHNSON | Co-Founder, CEO MVD Inc.
MICHELLE LE FLEUR| CEO Omarion Worldwide
MISHA HEDMAN | General Manager, MBK Entertainment / Tour Manager, Her Music Touring
MISS DIDDY | CEO The Brand Group
MONIQUE JACKSON | CEO/Brand Strategist Monique Jackson Consulting
MONIQUE SEBASTIAN | VP of Entertainment & Entertainment Marketing Foxwoods Resort Casino
MONIQUE SOWINSKI | Director of Communications, Concerts Live Nation
MOYA NKRUMA | Artist Marketing Manager Fender
NANDY MASON | COO Culture Shock Studios
NATINA NIMENE | EVP, Promotion & Artist Relations Def Jam Recordings
NATALIE PROSPERE | Founder, Artist Manager Outliers
NAYDEA DAVIS | Sr. Director Production, Creative Services REVOLT
NEELA THADHANI | Artist Manager Range Media Partners
NEWAL DEHAN | Director Hip-Hop and R&B Artist Relations and Programs iHeartMedia
NICOLE JOHNSON | Strategic Partnerships, Music Meta
NICOLE PLANTIN | General Manager Khalabo Music
NUYORK | Program Director/Media Personality
NIKKIA ADLOPHE | VP of Communications and Culture Media Frenzy Global
NNEKA WITTER ESQ. | Counsel Twitter
PARIS COLE | Founder, Artist Management, Creative Director Outliers
PARIS C. JACKSON | Coordinator Femme It Forward
RACHEL JACKSON | Artist Partnerships YouTube Music
RACHELLE JEAN-LOUIS | Artist Manager
REA DAVIS | Journalist
RIKKI HUGHES | Executive Producer/Manager/CEO Magic Lemonade
SEAN MONIQUE FAUSTINA-SMOLAK | Director of Sales, Special Events LIVE NATION
SHANA R. STEPHENSON | Chief Brand Officer NY Liberty
SHARDE SIMPSON, Esq. | VP Operations Dream Chase Records
SHAVONNE DARGAN | SVP Strategy & Business Development CURATED at Live Nation
SHAYLA COWAN | Chief of Staff/Producer Will Packer Productions – Will Packer Media
SHONTINA Y. KUYKENDOLL | CEO Shontina.com
SIMONE MITCHELL | President Quality Control Music
SONYA LOKIE | EA, Office of the President Live Nation
STACIE GEORGE | SVP of Booking Live Nation
STEPHANIE RUSSO | Sr. Manager, Artist Relations & Programs iHeartMedia
SYRETA J. OGLESBY | Founder/Principal SJO PR
SYDNEY LEVATON | Manager, Entertainment Marketing PUMA
TAMIKA YOUNG-TORRINGTON | Head of Music, PR, & Communications Netflix
TASHIA ROBERTS | Founder Colina
TANISHA SCOTT | Creative Director and Choreographer
TAWANDA CARLTON | Global PR Director Media Frenzy Global
THEA MITCHEM | Executive Vice President of Programming iHeartMedia
THUY-ANH J. NGUYEN | Founder/President ECG Marketing
TIMOTHY ANNE BURNSIDE | Curatorial Museum Specialist Smithsonian Institution
VALEISHA BUTTERFIELD JONES | Co-President The Recording Academy
VIVIAN RAMIREZ | Entertainment Marketing & Talent Partnerships
WARDA BAIG | Talent Buyer Live Nation
WHITNEY GAYLE-BENTA | Head of Artist and Talent Relations Spotify
YOLANDA WHITE | CEO DAYO
YVES C. PIERRE | Music Agent ICM Partners
YVONNE MCNAIR | CEO Captivate Marketing Group
