Global Industry Spotlight

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Wavlake is a Chicago based music and podcast technology startup that uses bitcoin Lightning payment technology to help creators worldwide unlock more value from their work. The company has raised a pre-seed funding round led by Trammell Venture Partners. The investment wil...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Emily White is a Partner at Collective Entertainment and the Founder of #iVoted Festival. She is the author of the Amazon #1 best-selling "How to Build a Sustainable Music Career" and "Collect All Revenue Streams", and hosts the book’s accompanying podc...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Sharon Tapper is Executive Director of the Music Managers Forum-US (MMF-US). Former SVP Music Publishing at Razor & Tie Music Publishing and VP Creative at Kobalt. In 2008 elected to and served on the NY Chapter of the GRAMMY’s for multiple terms as both Governor and S...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Presented by Dell Tech for Startups  Andrea Wallace (aka Super Dre) is an entrepreneur, a software developer, a musician and a creative. Wallace wears many hats and that’s the way she prefers it. As a natural relationship builder, connections with people have taken her all...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Esau Melendez studied film & video at Columbia College in Chicago and soon after began working with the Spanish Broadcast Network, Telemundo, and WYCC.  He has directed and produced various commercials and music videos with his production company, Clandestino Films Inc...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Amalie Briden is a director, founder, mother, artist and music specialist, currently serving as Innovation Manager at BPI - British Phonographic Industry.  BPI represents the UK’s recorded music industry, which is one of the most exciting and thriving music sectors in the...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. CEO & Co-Founder of Let's GIG - Booking & Music Services, Ricardo acts as manager and agent since 2016 working with artists such as Luedji Luna, Mel, Majur, Giovani Cidreira, Tuyo, Rico Dalasam, FBC, and more. Also member of the Consulting Board of São Paulo I...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Brice Albin Yamedzeu has over 13 years of experience in the media and audiovisual, first as a radio host, then as a producer and TV host.  Currently, Brice Albin is the founder and CEO of Y Productions (Y Prod), focusing on content production and development of cultural an...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. DAWn Audio exists because the creation process for musicians and artists today is broken. The team has developed a new category of software that enables artists anywhere in the world to plug-in and co-create real-time with their favorite production tools. Rather than build...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Matt Mandrella advocates for the City’s growing music sector, and helps oversee music-related strategic planning initiatives and economic opportunities. Prior to relocating to Huntsville in January 2022, Mandrella worked at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee....

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Pixie has been the sole owner and operator of one Australia's longest running live music venues The Zoo for the past 6 years and has experience as an artist and venue booking agent, head of A&R, within record labels, distribution, publishing, artist management and...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Félix Barros Ribalta, serial entrepreneur working since 2011 in innovation and associativity for the music industry. Founder of Evento Medido / Measurevent, impact measurement and sustainability analytics for events. President of MUSTACH - Music Tech Association Chile (+20...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Jocelyn is a self-taught fashion designer, dream chaser, chicagoan, wife, dog mom, get sh*t done kind of gal. She founded her clothing brand, Swap & Strut, after realizing she was in an unfulfilling finance career. After years of feeling stuck in her 9-5 job, she becam...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Bio: Drew truly embodies what it means to be a musical entrepreneur. He's toured the country as a guitarist, found his passion as a DJ/MC and co founded Fun House in 2016 where he's helped other artists, entrepreneurs and creatives scale their business. Drew&apos...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur.  Bio: As the very first Executive Director of Illinois Women in Cannabis, Amor leads a vibrant community of women interested in working in the Illinois’ nascent regulated cannabis industry. IWC champions women with diverse backgrounds, entrepreneurial spirits, and innovati...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Sam Hulick is CEO of ReelCrafter, a platform for musical artists including composers, musicians, and songwriters, to showcase their music to potential clients. He has a dual background as both a BAFTA-nominated and NBC News award-winning composer, most known for his work o...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Bio: CHAN C. SMITH is a multi-platform filmmaker and content creator. She is currently a represented Director with Tessa Films. Her work includes narrative filmmaking, documentary, editorial and branded content. Chan has created content for brands such as Nike Chicago, Par...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Mario Rubén Carrión is a Puerto Rican filmmaker & photographer based out of Brooklyn, NY. Mario has worked with Fania Records, Museo del Barrio, Discogs, Jameson, Remezcla, Tasting Table and the Caribbean Cultural Center and African Diaspora Institute. He has curated a...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Anthony Spina is a highly creative and collaborative beverage leader, with a proven record of success in leading innovative marketing initiatives for nationally recognized organizations. Together with Matt Sievers, he is creating SYSTEM ELECTROLYTE CHARGED SELTZER - The Fi...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Bio: Melissa Thornley is a leadership consultant, content producer, and writer specializing in emotional intelligence and media arts. She is also the Director of Marketing for Pravda Records, one of Chicago’s longest running indie record labels celebrating its 38th year wo...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Michelle Breyer is the Chief Marketing Officer at SKU, the nation’s first CPG accelerator. She joined SKU after spending 20 years in the beauty industry. Named one of the 50 Most Influential People in the Multicultural Market by Women's Wear Daily in 2015, Michelle Br...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Bio: Aimy Steadman is a Co-Founder and COO at Future/Proof, creators of BeatBox Beverages - the World's Tastiest Portable Party Punch™ one of the best-selling US RTD cocktails. Future/Proof, recently awarded one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000 Fast-Growing Privately Owned...

The Only 3 Questions You Need to Answer to Develop Your Marketing Strategy. Dakota has developed and implemented marketing strategies, campaigns and events for start-up companies as well as Fortune 500 businesses across a variety of industries including hospitality, gaming, healthcare, technology and philanthropy. His personal hall of fame includes developing two highly recognizable citywide art c...

CEED’s mission is to develop and connect entrepreneurs who want to grow as leaders, build their companies and give back to their community. At CEED they get access to mentors, networks, knowledge and capital they need to grow.  Building a community of entrepreneurs is paramount in their approach, as their work is based connecting entrepreneurs into peer groups, for learning and networking. CEED is...

Global Industry Spotlight is a conversational series focused on providing resources and insight for the creative entrepreneur. Bio: James VanOsdol is a podcaster, broadcaster and journalist whose media career found him on the air and behind the scenes at some of Chicago’s most celebrated radio stations (WKQX, WGN, WXRT, WLUP). As a digital reporter, he’s earned multiple Lisagor awards in Chicago,...