Cultivate for 2020

Music Victoria is thrilled to announce the return of its women's leadership program, Cultivate for 2020. Supported by the Victorian Government, 'Cultivate' is a professional development program that aims to foster leadership and management skills for established women in Victoria's music industry.

The program matches participants with CEOs and experienced mentors who offer one-on-one leadership mentoring, enabling the participants to expand their leadership skills and advance their career. Beyond mentoring, the successful applicants will engage in a series of masterclasses, one-on-one personalised leadership training sessions and a full day women's leadership conference. 2019 Mentor, Co-founder & Owner of Lord of the Fries (LOTF) & Weirdoughs, Amanda Walker explains, "By joining forces within the space of trust, respect and collaboration, we have built a new platform for women across industries to rise up, break new ground and build even bigger dreams."

Mentors are individually selected according to the specific needs of each participant and will come from non-music industry related fields in order to give the Cultivate participants leadership insight from other industries. Mentors from the first intake of the program included CEO of Philanthropy Australia, Sarah Davies; Co-founder and Director Moxie Products and The Brand Maketh, Mia Klitsas; General Manager of Ticketmaster/Live Nation Entertainment, Aus/NZ, Jackie Antas and Board Director of Film Victoria & Holmesglen, Leonie Morgan AM.

2019 program participant, Director of A Hitch to the Sticks Festival and Industry Mentor at Collarts, Dallas Frasca says, "Cultivate has been one of the most rewarding opportunities of my career to date and given me a wealth of great leadership skills that I will apply for years to come in the music industry. Having the one-on-one support and guidance from handpicked coaches and mentors have nurtured my growth and facilitated some hugely positive results, both personally and on a grand business scale. Cultivate has totally changed the game."

Dallas was joined in the first round of the program by participants, Coco Eke: Label Manager, Bad Apples Music; Kate Duncan: CEO, The Push Inc.; Katie Besgrove: Co-Owner, Look Out Kid / General Manager, Barely Dressed Records and Sally Mather: Music & Marketing Manager, Corner Group.

"Women leaders in the music industry are breaking down gender stereotypes and inspiring a new generation of leaders in Victoria's contemporary music sector," says Minister for Women, Gabrielle Williams. "It is fantastic to see this new generation of female leadership which is bound to inspire more – because you can't be what you can't see."

Cultivate is open to application for anyone who identifies as a woman and is in or on their path to leadership and decision making roles within the Victorian contemporary music sector.

APPLY HERE APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 5:00 PM ON FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER