WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER?

The best leaders I’ve worked with, all had one thing in common.

They made people feel included and safe to speak up, challenge ideas, and take risks without worrying about being shut down.

Much of my music career was spent as a lone wolf in business development. I’d open the door, land the deal, incubate the account, then hand it over to account managers. Which is why the moments when I got to work alongside others, and acknowledge their efforts, were so memorable.

Like the time we pulled off a Bryan Ferry in-store signing at Selfridges to mark his new album release.

He was one of the first artists we worked with there, and the pressure was huge: a big name, high expectations, and zero margin for error.

I carried most of that weight myself, but when it came together, I knew how important it was to acknowledge the people who had backed me to pull it off.

Because recognition builds confidence; and confidence creates leaders.

Stats show that:

Think about that. People don’t walk away from work they love - they walk away from the way they’re treated. Leadership lives in the everyday stuff: how you handle mistakes, how you value people, how you show up.

So, where are you right now?

• Maybe you’re on the brink of leadership; ready for that next step, and curious about how you’ll shape the kind of culture you wish you’d had.

• Or maybe you’re already leading a team, and looking for ways to go deeper, to create trust, and to inspire others to rise with you.

Wherever you are right now, the industry needs you. More women in music need to step into leadership, and it starts with women like you creating spaces where we can be ourselves, lead our way, and carve a real path to the top.

And this is the work I do as an executive coach.

I help women in music explore the kind of leader they want to be - whether that’s stepping into leadership for the first time, or reshaping the way they lead a team.

Together, we look at confidence, trust, values, and how to lead in a way that feels true to you (not just what the industry has modelled).

What’s one thing a great leader did for you that you’ve never forgotten?

Always in your corner, Sarah.