FEMME IT FORWARD LAUNCHES NEXT-GEM FEMME

Women-led music company Femme It Forward has announced its mentorship program, Next Gem Femme. Designed to empower and increase opportunities for young women of color in the workforce, the program will pair promising talent with female industry titans and entrepreneurs in the areas of music, media, entertainment, technology and social justice.

Mentors include Motown Chairman/CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam, 4th & Broadway Prez LaTrice Burnette, Interscope VP of A&R Baroline Diaz, Apple Music Head of R&B Alaysia Sierra, Capitol Music Group SVP Global Creative Amber Grimes, Spotify's Mijeema Pickett, Columbia Head of Urban Phylicia Fant and many more. See the full list of mentors here.

Through a comprehensive yearlong 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, all young women of color, with at least half of those current students or alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“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 of 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/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.”

Learn more about Femme It Forward, a joint venture with Live Nation, here.