The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation announced the third annual Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER mentorship program, in partnership with She Is The Music, a global nonprofit that works to increase the number of women in music.
The mentors of this year’s collaborative program include: Founder of the music and entertainment public relations firm RondenePR, Róndine Alcalá; recording and mixing engineer and Vice President of N.A.R.S Records/Dream Asylum Studios Marcella Araica; Latin GRAMMY winning sound engineer Maria Elisa Ayerbe; Latin-GRAMMY-winning artist Goyo; Latin GRAMMY winning and GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter Mon Laferte; Mayna Nevarez, Founder & CEO of Nevarez Communications and Chapter Chair Women in Music Miami; award winning journalist Pamela Silva;GRAMMY-nominated engineer and vocal producer Simone Torres; Latin GRAMMY winning composer Mónica Vélez and SVP Marketing and Promotion at Sony Music Entertainment México Ana Villacorta López. Each mentor will provide one-on-one virtual mentoring sessions with young women who want to follow a career in the music and entertainment industries.
Paying-it-forward and forging opportunities for future generations is a core pillar of the Mentorship Program, and for the third year, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment Connect TogetHER Panel expanded access to these Leading Ladies expertise. Presented by Spotify for Artists, the panel was held on April 15 and moderated by mentees Stephanie Acosta and Valeria Peñaranda, who were in conversation with mentors Róndine Alcalá, Maria Elisa Ayerbe and Mayna Nevarez.
"Each year the mentorship program continues to evolve, we are grateful for the support of our mentors, the Leading Ladies of Entertainment who generously share their time and expertise to foster the next generation of women in Latin music," said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. "Together, alongside with She Is The Music, we work towards closing the gender gap within the Latin music industry."
"We are so proud and excited to continue to support and partner with Leading Ladies of Entertainment on our third year of the Connect TogetHER mentorship program," said Alexandra Lioutikoff, Co-Chair of She Is The Music Latin Committee, Group President of Universal Music Publishing for Latin America and U.S. Latin, and Board Member of the Latin Recording Academy. "Each year has given us the incredible opportunity to uplift more women in the industry and provide future generations with the tools to succeed."
The Leading Ladies of Entertainment initiative was created by the Latin Recording Academy in 2016 to honor and recognize professional and socially conscious women within the arts and entertainment fields who have made significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders.
