They say no more boys’ club in music SheSaid.So uses activism and peer mentorship to uplift women

Chi Chi Nwakodo was thrilled when she landed her first job in music last year — a threemonth internship at Black Sheep, the in-house agency of the global marketing firm Bartle Bogle Hegarty. But she knew it was temporary. The now-23-year-old Londoner wanted some guidance in navigating an often nontransparent music business, which, like much of entertainment, politics and media, has been shaken by widespread (and longstanding) accusations of sexual harassment and workplace misogyny.

In September, one of her bosses passed along an application for a private group, SheSaid.So, an organization that uses some of the same so-called “whisper network” mechanisms that have recently brought down workplace abusers. But SheSaid.So instead employs such peer-drive and largelyonline-based communities to give women an inside track to connections in the music business. “When I found that they were offering a mentoring scheme for women in music, I jumped at the chance, as these opportunities are rare,” Nwakodo said. With SheSaid.So, she found an experienced peer, Sharon Dean, who taught her about music supervision, sync and licensing, and helped her land her current job at the music publisher Sony ATV this year.

“I believe that the opportunity was always there for me. However, without Sharon’s help I doubt I would have been perceived in the same way,” she added. “Sharon helped me to assert myself with confidence and justification in my value. Having a community of women I could share my experiences with allowed me to not become disheartened at rejection or disappointment.”

SheSaid.So, now based in L.A. and London, is part job board, part activist forum and part mentorship program. In the wake of all the recent furor around

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Francine Orr Los Angeles Times MELINA POWELL, from left, Lottie Moore, Kathy Suarez and Andreea Magdalina and others are coming together to build a network of support to mentor and advocate for women in the music industry and foster the sorts of connections that most benefit men.