PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADVANCE AND
THE INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC SUMMIT

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS NOVEMBER 30, 2023

TORONTO, ON – October 4, 2023 – Women In Music Canada is thrilled to announce the launch of their Leadership Accelerator Program presented in partnership with ADVANCE Canada’s Black Music Business Collective and the International Indigenous Music Summit. Applications for the program are now open here – deadline to apply is November 30, 2023.
 
Designed for mid-level industry professionals, in existing music companies, this national program aims to prepare women and gender diverse music professionals for advancement to senior management and director-level opportunities. A recent study by Women in the Workforce Canada cited that women represent only 31.5% of senior management occupations, and that in 2019, women held only 27.6% of board seats. Further to this, only 0.3% of leadership board positions are held by Black women in Canada. The WIMC Leadership Accelerator Program will serve as a catalyst toward fixing the issues identified in this study, catering especially to intersectional women and gender-diverse people, who have the least representation in organizational leadership roles, and as leaders in the music industry nationally.
 
Participants in the program will learn key leadership skills and fundamentals, using a hands-on, case study-based approach, including strategic negotiations, board governance, employee development and engagement, career mapping, and much more. Components of the program will include leadership education facilitated by top educators, one-on-one coaching, peer support and community building, and performance reviews.
 
“This vital program is centred-around connecting women and building a pipeline of success,” says ADVANCE Executive Director, Keziah Myers. “By partnering with Women In Music Canada, we are addressing one key pillar of ours that supports job readiness and exposure for Black music industry professionals.  Together we will empower and elevate Black women, and prepare them for decision making roles by offering tools and training which assist them as they excel in their careers. ADVANCE looks forward to supporting this program by participating in the jury and by advising around planning and execution. ADVANCE is excited to see this leadership offering reflect cultural diversity and propel women leaders forward.” 
 
“We are excited to be part of the building and inaugural launch of this program alongside ADVANCE and Women in Music Canada focusing on the advancement of equity-deserving and sovereignty-affirming groups across the music sector,” remarks Nicole Auger, Manager of Programming and Community Engagement for the Indigenous Music Alliance/International Indigenous Music Summit. “Providing more skills-building and mentorship opportunities for future women leaders within the Indigenous music community will strengthen capacity within the Indigenous music industry and support moving toward a more equitable industry for all.”
 
The program will be offered online, allowing folks from across Canada to participate from their spaces, while giving options for access times where needed. Sessions will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 25 to February 29, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT (7:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET). As an integral part of the program, the cohort will gather together for an in-person portion, hosted at ArtHaus, partner in supporting this initiative. Two thirds of the spots available in the program will be offered to companies, at a subsidized rate, for their aspiring leaders to take part, while the remaining one third will be offered, fully subsidized, to applicants not currently working in companies with the capacity to support tuition.  
 
“This Leadership Accelerator Program is integral to making changes in company leadership, and mentors to create sustainable change toward increased equity in the music industry,” adds WIMC Executive Director, Robyn Stewart. “It is with the support of partners wanting to lead the way in changing the face of leadership in the Canadian music industry, that we will be able to create and carry out this executive training programming, aimed at long-term industry-wide success.”

Women in Music Canada is continuing to seek corporate champions to help support this important program. For any organizations interested, please contact Robyn Stewart at robyn@womeninmusic.ca. 

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