ADVISORY BOARD

Mayola leads the strategic development of social impact-driven partnerships with public figures, creators, and entertainment media publishers at Meta. In her day-to-day, she identifies change objectives to facilitate on and off-platform activations aimed at bringing awareness and social change through issue-based campaigns.  Additionally, Mayola assists with diverse community partnerships projects to help ensure that Meta is optimizing its impact on key events/partnerships to drive equity, promote inclusion, and support the development of partners who are historically underrepresented in these spaces.

Before joining Facebook, Mayola co-led the strategic development and execution of artist-led criminal justice campaigns including John Legend’s #FREEAMERICA and Common’s Hope and Redemption Tour. Prior to that, Mayola developed social impact campaign concepts for film and television at Participant Media where her campaign portfolio included Academy Award-winning films and series GREEN BOOK, WHEN THEY SEE US, and A FANTASTIC WOMAN.

Mayola earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs from The New School and a Bachelor’s degree in from The City College of New York. 

Bahareh Kamali is Executive Vice President of Strategic Development for the ViacomCBS MTV Entertainment Group.  She is the chief liaison on all deal negotiations for the Group, reporting to Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer. Kamali’s oversight includes the Group’s nine-brand portfolio—MTV, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, Smithsonian Channel, Pop TV, CMT, VH1, TV Land, Logo and their respective content studios—and MTV Documentary Films.  Kamali works closely with the Business and Legal Affairs department, production, Diaz and President Chris McCarthy. Kamali facilitates deals for non-scripted and scripted content as well as for talent deals. She first joined Viacom in 2003 as a director in the Business and Legal Affairs department before moving into strategic development roles for brands including MTV2, VH1, MTV, CMT, Logo and MTV Studios. In 2020, she was instrumental in conceiving of a plan and orchestrating pacts for MTV Entertainment Group’s first-in-class Diversity, Equity & Inclusive initiatives to bolster a new generation of BIPOC and Women creators including a $250 million commitment to support third-party production companies in-house as well as a directors program that will give rise to new multi-cultural narratives and voices.  A graduate of the University of Maryland, Kamali started her career at PBS and the Screen Actors Guild.

As Co-President of Roc Nation Records, Omar Grant consistently amplifies talent, fosters creativity, and enables GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum superstars to markedly exceed their potential and ascend to unparalleled heights. Throughout his illustrious career, the venerable executive has spearheaded seminal records for everyone from Rihanna to Kylie Minogue and signed the likes of DJ Mustard. Achieving single and album sales in excess of 100 million worldwide as well as multiple GRAMMY® victories and nods, his approach relies on a classic instinctual sensibility.

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“I pride myself on being a record maker first and foremost,” he exclaims. “For me, it’s about getting into the studio alongside the talent, digging in really deeply, and making a definitive album. I’m there to empower artists to be their most creative.”

In many ways, growing up in The Bronx groomed him for an eventual career in A&R. In high school, he went from DJ-ing local neighborhood parties to identifying his path. He admits, “A&R reps seemed like the cool guys when I was seventeen, so I researched and studied Steve Stoute, Chris Lighty, and a bunch of other people.”

While interning at Columbia Records, he caught the attention of Matthew Knowles. Impressed by Grant’s work ethic, Knowles invited him to act as assistant tour manager for Beyoncé’s historic Dangerously In Love Tour. Among many duties, he walked JAY-Z to the stage nightly and started to develop a rapport with the Roc Nation founder and legend.

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Following the tour, he spent three years at EMI Publishing, signing everyone from Solange Knowles to STREETRUNNER and Rico Love. After a stint at Epic Records, he joined Roc Nation as Director of A&R in 2011.

Amongny accomplishments, he oversaw Kelly Rowla Here I Am, including the double-platinum smash “Motivation” [feat. Lil Wayne]. He handled A&R for Rihanna’s Unapologetic, which not only became her first #1 debut on the Billboard Top 200, but it also sold four million copies and earned a 2014 GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Urban Contemporary Album.” Continuing this successful collaborative partnership, he spearheaded the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Home featuring Rihanna and the superstar’s second consecutive #1, ANTI, which boasted the six-times platinum “Work” [feat. Drake]. Not to mention, he guided Big Sean to his second straight #1 on 2017’s platinum I Decided.

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2013 saw Grant sign powerhouse producer and artist DJ Mustard and A&R both 10 Summers [2015] and Cold Summer [2016]. Mustard notably made history as “the only person to win both BMI Producer and Songwriter of the Year” at the 2015 BMI Awards. Additionally, he earned another smash with the gold-certified 2018 hit “Want Her” [feat. YG & Quavo]. Along the way, he A&R-ed key releases for Kylie Minogue, Justine Skye, and more in addition to signing Latin Hit maker Tainy, Dutch DJ’s Yellow Claw and the legendary Buju Banton. Splitting his time between New York and Los Angeles, he became Head of A&R, SVP Roc Nation Records in 2016.

In the end, Grant only just begun making records that influence and impact the culture on a grand scale.

“I want to help artists make music that lasts,” he leaves off. “I still listen to everything I grew up on. I’d love to give listeners a timestamp for their lives with these albums.”

Randy Spendlove is an American record producer, songwriter, Grammy Award winner, and music executive. As President of Worldwide Music and Publishing at Paramount Pictures, Randy Spendlove oversees all aspects of music supervision including: publishing, licensing, scoring, and clearance. He has worked with artists such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Linkin Park, Green Day, Imagine Dragons, Ryan Tedder, John Legend, and U2.

Randy grew up in San Francisco and has always had a passion for music. He has been playing professionally since he was fifteen, and at twenty-five his passion shifted towards production and A&R. In 1993 Randy moved to Los Angeles to work for A&M Records. His first project was Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation.” Randy then moved to Miramax, where he became President of Motion Picture Music.

Spendlove joined Paramount in 2005 as Executive Vice President of Music and Creative Affairs, and was promoted to President of Motion Picture Music in 2007.  He supervises Music Creative, Music Production, and Music Business and Legal Affairs.  A typical day for Randy could start in a boardroom and end in a recording studio. He calls it “an honor and a privilege to come to work everyday and do what you love.”

Randy oversaw the creation and production of the single “Sledgehammer” an original song written for Star Trek, and first ever IMAX music video. In 2014, Randy executed the production of “Glory” by John Legend and Common, which won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Under Randy’s supervision, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never brought in $73 million at the US box office. Never Say Never is the highest grossing music concert movie to date.

Randy Spendlove won a 2004 Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture for Chicago. He also co-supervised the music and co-produced the soundtrack album for Dreamgirls, which was nominated for three Best Song Academy Awards. In 2012, he was ranked 69 on Billboard’s Power 100 list. 

When asked what the future holds for the film and music industry, Spendlove said, “It’s constantly evolving and changing. All I want to see is people continuing to be passionate about music, and to feel how I feel about it. When music and film come together in the perfect way that gives you the chills, there is nothing more powerful.”

Herb Trawick is the creator, executive producer and co-host of influential and popular Pensado’s Place.  Seen in over 200 countries by 6 million people a year, Pensados Place just passed its 400th episode and is the leading digital media show in the audio space.

Creativity combined with taste and relentless execution is his mantra. From manager to label exec, Broadway producer to author, exec producer to talent scout, co-host to advisor, Trawick remains true to that vision. 

With real results. As manager and executive producer, Herb built Brian Mcknight into an R&B superstar with 20 million albums sold, global tours and 30 plus Grammy, American Music, Billboard, Emmy and Image award nominations. As a talent scout Trawick signed Robin Thicke and Tyrese Gibson.  Client Dave Pensado is a mixing legend with hits on Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Shakira, Wiz Khalifa, Christina Aguillera, Afrojack and Jill Scott among others. Herb was a partner of the legendary creator of Earth, Wind and Fire Maurice White. He took the EWF catalog to Broadway and was a producer of the play Hot Feet. Herb is a multiple winner of the Manager of the Year award.  And in 2016 was inducted as a Living Legend in the category of Creative Visionary.

From marketing chief at Solar records to running imprints at Interscope, RCA, Mercury and Capitol along with consultancies at Motown, Def Jam and Primary Wave publishing,Herb has been asked to lend his expertise his entire career. He is sought out speaker at various schools and trade associations,  an advisor to the 1500 Sound Academy, a board member to Opera Noir and has added tech to his arsenal with recent Facebook and YouTube strategic relationships. When asked why such a diverse career arc, Trawick replied "Why not? Its a privilege and a blast.”

At 20 years old, Becki turned her passion for music into a career in audio, with a job managing the office at Score One Recording. She has since worked in MI, Tour Sound, and with Integrators and Audio Rep firms, doing everything from Sales to Marketing.

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She has held many positions since coming to HARMAN 10 years ago. She started the HARMAN Professional Ambassador and Influencers Program in 2016, signing such names as Chuck D, Parliament Funkadelic and Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club. She is currently Managing Business Development for Recording and Tour.  

Daniel is the Head of Business Development for Timbaland’s premiere music tech marketplace, Beatclub. He runs all brand partnerships with hardware and software companies that operate in the music creator space. He is a music industry professional with a strong, proven track record in talent relations, management and music/ tech creative partnerships. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, and a rich history of building relationships with artists, brands, media outlets, record labels, music publishers, and other industry professionals, he has worked with several high profile artists in various capacities of the music industry such as, Kanye West, J. Balvin, Mos Def, Pharrell Williams, Frank Ocean and John Legend, as well as numerous emerging artists and producers. Daniel has also spearheaded Artist Relations and Creative Partnerships for music/ tech giants Splice and Native Instruments where he created production content products with major talents like Chad Hugo, SiA, Just Blaze, Grimes, Day Trip and many others. Daniel has amassed several notable achievements including: Holding a position on the advisory board for Ford Motors “Ford Fiesta” campaign; consulting on brand marketing strategy with established agencies (Code and Theory, Epiphany, Mass Appeal, MRY, Complex, and Weiden + Kennedy); Music Supervisor for 360i and working closely with marquee brands such as Adidas, Boost Mobile, Red Bull, Snapple, Truly and Dr. Pepper.

From Dublin, Ireland, Damien is a classically trained pianist and composer with broad and diverse experience in the music industry as a composer in film and theater, producer and arranger, songwriter, and lead singer of his rock band DÚBH.  With 35 years of experience in higher education administration, Damien is an enrollment management expert focused on music and arts education. The architect of Berklee's audition and interview process for admission, he pioneered the current Berklee College of Music Enrollment Management Rating system. And created and successfully implemented Berklee's institutional aid tuition discounting methodology. As Dean of Admissions at Berklee, an area of focus over the past two decades has been on shifting the enrollment at the college from being male-dominated toward gender parity.  A technology enthusiast and innovator. A passionate music education professional who believes in the innate value of music and the arts to society.

As SVP of A&R for Sony Music Publishing, Katie’s consistent aim is to bring valuable opportunities for SMP’s songwriters, artists and producers around the globe.   Beyond identifying talent as an A&R, her role is to elevate their unique creative paths.   With over 18 years of experience in the music industry, she has worked across many genres and received multiple recognitions from Billboard, Variety Hitmakers and more.  

Katie first turned a chance meeting with an A&R at Epic Records in her hometown of South Bend, Indiana into an opportunity for an internship in 2005, which eventually led to her first gig in music.   After getting her feet wet at Epic, she moved to Sony Music Publishing in 2008, as A&R manager.   Eventually she returned to the label side to RCA in 2014, as SVP of A&R.   2020 called her back to music publishing, where she was reunited with some of her previous clients at SMP.   

Over the years through her signings and A&R work via session match making and songplugging, Katie has had her hand in hit releases by Jack Harlow, Latto, Justin Beiber, Beyonce, Becky G, Coi Leray and Rihanna to name a few.   Some of her career signing highlights include Odd Future, Jeff Bhasker, Theron Thomas, Rob Bisel, Mikky Ekko and Charlie Handsome. 

Simone Price is a leader on Dolby’s Social Impact and Sustainability team, driving the company’s commitment to STEAM education for the next generation of diverse innovators, and leading comprehensive social impact storytelling. As an influential program designer, she leads the growth and expansion of Dolby’s investments in youth and early career education strategies, partners throughout the organization to ensure the company’s social impact and sustainability work is well-integrated in the business, and leverages the company’s technologies, educational resources, and talent to increase impact. Since joining Dolby in 2014, Simone has been an influential builder in the company’s social impact strategy, designing tools, resources, and strategies to continuously increase impact.

Prior to joining Dolby, Simone grew her experience in fundraising and program design, working at large health-based non-profits focused on research and public health. Contributing to national campaigns in support of a variety of community health and education programs, Simone become an excellent facilitator, connector, and program designer. As an advisor in many corporate and education-focused communities, Simone is committed to supporting and leading the expansion of well-structured social impact strategies in the tech and entertainment industries to help the next generations of diverse creatives better prepare for their futures.