The Opening Act - One step closer to a more diverse future
It’s hard to believe we are now looking back at this unforgettable experience in October.
As we grow as a company globally, we try really hard to mirror the diverse communities we serve. To do this, we have to look into new avenues to reach the future generation. For us, The Opening Act did just that!
We hosted 80 students from across the nation for historically black colleges & universities (HBCU) for a day and a half experience. The conference program showed off an impressive lineup, a rockstar group of thought-leaders & industry experts. There were keynotes, panels, and workshops with senior executives from Facebook, Netflix and JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, & 2020 Shift. The experience was crowned by keynotes from Steve Pamon of Parkwood Entertainment and our very own Danielle Lee, sharing their personal & professional journeys.
“For every great production, there is an Opening Act. In similar fashion, we are hoping that Spotify’s The Opening Act is only the beginning of each of us walking the talk of Diversity & Inclusion. The Opening Act is a collaborative effort, a passion project, and we’re excited to tell you about it.”
– The Opening Act Planning Committee
The result? It was simply amazing!
We asked the students to provide us with some feedback related to the conference, workshops, & speakers – it seems as though they were super pleased!
“This conference allowed me to understand what the tech industry entailed and how there are a plethora of options for us minorities.”
“To some, a career in tech or music seems hard to achieve, but talking with people in the field showed us students that we can get there and beyond.”
“Learning that I am valued in a company such as Spotify”
The Opening Act was a two-day conference hosted at our office in NYC. 905 students from the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities of America applied, all with an essay on how music impacts culture or themselves. 80 students were invited and took part.
Many thanks to all the Spotify volunteers that made this happen, and to Isa Notermans, Hannah Wolf, Rochelle King, Danielle Lee, Troy Carter, Xavier Jernigan, Kene Anoliefo, Sebastian Torres, Elyse Hornbacher, BLK@Spotify, & The Application Review Committee
