The CMA Women's Leadership Academy welcomed its newest class on August 3, MusicRow and CMAworld both reported, marking the fifth cohort since the Country Music Association program began. The program has supported more than 50 women since it started, and this year's group of 16 was chosen from a record number of applicants. The academy opened with a reception on August 2 at The Chloe Nashville, where CMA chief executive Sarah Trahern and senior vice president Tiffany Kerns delivered remarks, followed by the first official session on August 3.
Over the next 12 weeks, participants meet for four hour sessions each Monday, working with executive coaches Lisa Gamble of Gamble Coaching and Consulting and Nicole Provonchee of Bright Blue Consulting on topics including personal branding, negotiation, conflict management and self advocacy. "This program was built to outlast its 12 weeks," Kerns said. "The relationships, confidence and perspective these women gain stay with them well beyond the program."
The new class includes women from across the industry, among them Kelly Bolton of Warner Records, Hannah Galluzzi of MCA, Margaret Tomlin of Sony Music Nashville and Alexis Rosenberg of WME. As part of the program's fifth anniversary, CMA is also launching a Women's Leadership Academy Alumni Network bringing together nearly 80 participants from all five cohorts, MusicRow reported in a follow up piece on August 7. Kerns told MusicRow the idea for the academy came from noticing how few music companies had HR departments offering professional development, particularly for women navigating career changes coming out of the pandemic.
Kerns said the academy has grown a reputation inside the industry over its five years. "I'm most excited that we're not convincing people to apply, but that it's built a reputation," she told MusicRow, adding that alumni have gone on to support each other through job changes, layoffs and personal challenges well after their own cohort ended.
The program sits inside the wider country industry coverage the site tracks.
The facts
- CMA's Women's Leadership Academy is now in its fifth year
- This year's cohort has 16 participants chosen from a record applicant pool
- The program runs 12 weeks with weekly four hour sessions
- Executive coaches are Lisa Gamble and Nicole Provonchee
- CMA is launching a WLA Alumni Network spanning nearly 80 participants
- The academy has supported more than 50 women since it launched
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