Stories From Our Partners this International Women’s Day
This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on two inspiring women we’re fortunate to collaborate with here at Archie Rose. Kim Friedlaender from Live Nation and Rebecca Munro from the Sydney Opera House have carved out impressive careers in their industries, leading with passion, creativity, and determination. We sat down with them to discuss their journeys, the women who have inspired them, and their advice for the next generation of female leaders.
Kim Friedlaender – Business Development Director, Live Nation
Can you tell us about your role and what you love most about what you do?
I’m a Business Development Director in the Brand Partnerships team at Live Nation. My role involves developing new partnership programs across our Live Nation portfolio - including concerts, festivals and venues (+more!) – connecting brands, fans and artists and creating an authentic space for brands in music culture.
One of my favourite things about my role is the variety – both in terms of the type of partnerships I work on, and the different brands and people I have the opportunity to build relationships with, including the wonderful team at Archie Rose. No two days are the same and there is a lot of opportunity for personal growth and development. We also have an incredibly talented and passionate team that I’m fortunate enough to work with every day.
Who is a woman - past or present - who has influenced your journey?
That would definitely be Nicole Taylor. Nic led our team at DDB Sydney in my first role in advertising and went on to become the MD and then CEO. Her leadership style and the way she earned widespread respect made a lasting impression on me, particularly in terms of what it means to be a female leader in an often male-dominated space. She could hold her own in any room, was direct and assertive and called it like she saw it. At the same time, she was always respectful, deeply empathetic and caring about the people she worked with. To me she represents the ultimate example of the power of female leadership. I’m close friends with a lot of people who worked at DDB during this time, and we still talk about Nic and the profound impact she had on us early in our careers.
What’s a defining moment in your career that shaped who you are today?
A turning point for me was changing career paths and moving into the music industry. I didn’t have any experience in the industry when I started working at Live Nation. I’ve now been here for over nine years and have learnt an enormous amount over this period and had some incredible experiences. I feel very lucky to have found a career that is also my passion, and I now can’t really imagine working in any other industry.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to the next generation of women in your industry?
Work hard and back yourself. There are increasingly more opportunities for women in the industry as we move into the next generations – so don’t be afraid to take up space and voice your opinions. Have confidence in the value you bring to the table and always be working to expand your knowledge and skill set. Make the effort to build genuine relationships, both within your company and across the wider industry. The music industry is relatively small and having strong relationships and the ability to collaborate is important for progressing in your career. Women have a unique aptitude when it comes to intuition and emotional intelligence, something that has been enhanced over generations of navigating a patriarchal society. Make the most of this ability – it’s a superpower for building authentic connections, influencing change and leading with strength and empathy.
How can we create more opportunities for women in your industry?
Speaking specifically to Live Nation – as an employee I feel that the company has a genuine commitment to supporting and championing women. One example is supporting women (and primary caregivers) with parenthood, so that mothers in particular are not in a position where they have to choose between their career and their children. An initiative in this space is the Live Nation ‘Roadie Babies’ program where mothers or primary caregivers are able to bring their children and a caretaker on the road with them, with costs covered by Live Nation. There is however always room for improvement and more work to be done across the industry, for example creating more pathways for women in music industry roles that are typically more male dominated like promoting and production.
Rebecca Munro – Head of Brand & Marketing Campaigns, Sydney Opera House
Can you tell us about your role and what you love most about what you do?
I head up a team of talented campaign marketers at the Sydney Opera House. We develop integrated campaigns designed to engage with potential audiences, deepen their love for the House and drive awareness for the phenomenal range of shows and experiences that happen every day on site and online. I love leading the marketing for a brand that I have a genuine passion for, creating campaigns and content to make people laugh, cry or feel something. It’s a powerful thing to be a part of. There is also never a dull moment at the House and playing a role in bringing people inside is a privilege I don’t take for granted. Most of all I love the feeling I get as an audience member when I’m walking towards Sydney’s beloved, iconic building about to experience a performance – it gives me goosebumps and never gets old. There really is nothing quite like it.
Who is a woman - past or present - who has influenced your journey?
I have been lucky enough to work with some incredible women throughout my career. Kristen Eckhardt who is now the Chief Marketing Officer of Port Adelaide Football Club was a remarkable leader and colleague when I was in her team at Arts Centre Melbourne. Not only is she a whip-smart, strategic marketer, she steered and nurtured our team in a way that still influences me to this day. Whenever I find myself dealing with a difficult situation I often find myself pondering, what would KE do? It usually delivers me the answer I need. My beautiful Mum has also played a defining role in my career journey. She juggled an academic career with four children and a 60-year strong partnership with my Dad, and always made my sister and I believe we could achieve anything we wanted to in both our personal and work lives. That unwavering belief is something I would love to pass on to my two daughters.
What’s a defining moment in your career that shaped who you are today?
In my creative agency life as an Account Director I worked on a wide range of brands from tourism and not-for-profit to FMCG and entertainment. The exposure to a broad range of industries and brands really embedded within me the desire to invest my time wisely and work with brands that I am genuinely passionate about, particularly those that bring a positive impact to people’s lives. It may sound cheesy but this has been a great guide for me when considering where I want to spend my time from a career perspective.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to the next generation of women in your industry?
Use your voice and back yourself. It’s easy for women to feel that they can’t necessarily speak up in work settings because they don’t have all the answers or they give way to more dominant (often male) voices in the room. I’m sure most women would recall a moment where they were talked over in a professional setting or had the idea they raised a few minutes earlier repeated back to the room by a male colleague who passed it off as their own. Don’t doubt yourself. And Google Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk about the power of body language in building confidence.
How can we create more opportunities for women in your industry?
There are many inspiring female leaders in the arts, and the Opera House is no different. Our Executive and Senior Leadership teams are full of impressive women who I am lucky enough to work alongside, who inspire me every day. However, more broadly female representation in leadership and gender disparity continue to be a massive concern, something I’m very aware of when thinking about the younger generation of women graduating and entering the workforce. There needs to be systemic change to create better opportunities across the board not just for women, but for all people of diverse backgrounds. When we include those with diverse backgrounds and experiences at the table we enable more robust ideation and creative approaches to problem-solving, ultimately leading to stronger organisations and teams. Diversity is much broader than a gender issue, but there is no doubt that gender equality and representation are pivotal in creating more opportunities for women across the board.
