Driven by our core ethos, centred around diversity and inclusion, the Ballantine’s True Music Fund returns for 2023. This year, the ten recipients include multiple African enterprises spearheading progressive and inclusive businesses that are helping to provide a solid foundation for their local communities. To help in that process, we’ve given three judges the opportunity to mentor the recipients and offer their expertise to help them drive their impactful cultural narratives forward.
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Meet our True Music Fund Mentors
SHANNIE MEARS
CO-FOUNDER & HEAD OF TALENT AT THE ELEPHANT ROOM
What makes you excited to be a mentor?
I’m looking forward to learning from the mentees & understanding their passions, ambitions & drive, to be inspired & looking at ways to support.
About
From interning straight out of university to building a business going into my 30’s, the journey has not been easy but it’s been worth it. A continuous wave of growth from growing and building communities to thousands of people, sitting on the board for the world’s biggest brands, forbes 30 under 30 and now soon to be mum. I know the importance of mentorship and am happy to be able to pass on what I’ve learnt along the way with True Music Fund.
Khaleel Johnson
(he/they) Cultural producer & experiential strategist
What excites you about being a mentor?
I hope to use my knowledge to help the mentees navigate current different roles within the industry, see the value in lived experiences & understand the importance of communities within the modern workplace.
Bio
Community and identity have been the common denominators throughout my work, from Trojan Records (BMG) to London Fashion Week and HE.SHE.THEY to Soho House. Currently working in high-end international travel, my desire for diverse representation within luxury spaces has augmented by working closely with grassroots talent while understanding the important role migration, mobility and globalisation plays within the broader creative landscape. I’m excited to utilise my gained knowledge to help my mentees explore non-traditional roles that are available in the music, art and cultural industry.
Get in contact with Khaleel on Linkedin and Instagram.
Stephen Mai
CEO and Founder of Woo (by ITV)
What excites you about being a mentor?
I’m looking forward to meeting people from diverse backgrounds & leveraging my experience driving culture through strategy & content to help the next generation of creatives & artists.
Bio
I’ve spent my career merging marketing and content to drive impactful cultural narratives underwritten by storytelling, activism and consumer products. I’ve done this for brands such as I-D, VICE LADbible, Boiler Room and MTV. I’m currently building woo, a new gen media brand and marketplace, I’m looking forward to leveraging my experience to help guide my mentees through the world of marketing, creative, sales and business.
Want to discover more about our True Music Fund? Click through below to learn more, and meet the 2023 recipients.
Meet The Ballantine’s True Music Fund 2023 Recipients
Driven by our core ethos, centred around diversity and inclusion, the Ballantine’s True Music Fund returns for 2023. Ballantine’s will be following their journey to understand how this funding will impact their work.
Meet the 2023 team
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True Music Fund
It’s time to take action. That’s why we have launched the True Music Fund. A £100,000 fund to support grassroots organisations actively working to achieve diversity and inclusion in music culture.
Discover more about the fund