CMA’s Women’s Leadership Academy Names New Class as Program Expands Its Industry Reach
- All Country News
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Country Music Association is investing in the next generation of music business leadership with the announcement of the newest class of its Women’s Leadership Academy, a program that has steadily become one of the organization’s most meaningful professional development initiatives.
Now entering its fifth year, the academy will welcome 16 women from across management, labels, touring, streaming, agencies and digital strategy for a 12-week leadership program designed to strengthen both individual careers and the broader country music business.
This year’s class arrives at a pivotal moment for the industry. As companies continue navigating shifts in touring, artist development, marketing, technology and workplace culture, the need for adaptable, connected and confident leaders has only grown.
CMA’s Women’s Leadership Academy aims to meet that need by giving participants practical tools while building a network that extends far beyond the classroom.
A record number of women applied for this year’s cohort, underscoring both the demand for the program and the depth of executive talent working throughout the country music ecosystem.
The class officially began with an opening reception on August 2 at The Chloe Nashville, where CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern and Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Philanthropy Tiffany Kerns welcomed participants. The first formal session followed on August 3.
“Every new class of the Women’s Leadership Academy reminds me how much talent and heart exist in this industry,” Kerns said. “This program was built to outlast its 12 weeks. The relationships, confidence and perspective these women gain stay with them well beyond the program.”
Kerns added that the ambition and openness of this year’s participants reflects the academy’s larger purpose: preparing leaders who will help shape what comes next for the business.
The 2026 Women’s Leadership Academy Class
This year’s cohort includes professionals representing some of the most influential companies and organizations in country music and the wider entertainment industry:
Elisabeth Ashley (Manager)
Kelly Bolton (Vice President, A&R, Warner Records)
Victoria Cappelli Greiner (Senior Director of Digital Marketing, Global Touring, AEG Presents)
Annie Flook (Vice President, Artist Relations, AXS)
Hannah Galluzzi (Vice President, A&R, MCA)
Claire Heinichen (Senior Editor, Country, Spotify)
Lindsay Hyslop (Director of Recorded Music, Canada, BMG)
Lucia Kaminsky (President, The Sandbox)
Marne McLyman (Manager, Maverick Nashville)
Kelsey Middleton (Head of Marketing & Digital Strategy, TRACK mgmt)
Amanda Quinton (President, Quinton Digital)
Alexis Rosenberg (Head of External Relations, WME)
Jamie Sudhalter (Head of A&R, The Core Entertainment)
Randi Tolbert (Senior Artist Manager, Q Prime South)
Margaret Tomlin (Vice President, A&R, Sony Music Nashville)
Jamie Lynn Younger (Vice President, Marketing, Big Loud)
The range of disciplines represented in the class is notable. Rather than focusing on a single corner of the business, the academy brings together women responsible for discovering talent, building artist careers, shaping tours, driving digital campaigns, managing industry relationships and determining how country music reaches listeners around the world.
That cross-sector structure gives participants an opportunity to learn from peers whose day-to-day responsibilities may differ, but whose leadership challenges often overlap.
Building Skills That Extend Beyond the Program
Over the next 12 weeks, participants will take part in weekly group coaching, peer discussions, hands-on training and sessions with industry mentors.
Executive coaches Lisa Gamble of Gamble Coaching & Consulting LLC and Nicole Provonchee of Bright Blue Consulting will lead facilitated sessions centered on both professional development and personal growth.
The curriculum will address personal branding, negotiation, conflict management, career advancement, self-advocacy, influence and confidence. Participants will also set personal and professional goals at the beginning of the program, creating a framework for measuring growth throughout the experience.
The academy’s emphasis on practical leadership reflects a larger shift within the music business. Technical expertise and strong results remain essential, but executives are increasingly expected to lead through rapid change, manage complex relationships and advocate effectively for their teams, artists and ideas.
By combining skill-building with peer support, CMA is creating a space where emerging leaders can strengthen those abilities before taking on even greater responsibility.
A New Alumni Network Extends the Program’s Impact
To mark the academy’s fifth anniversary, CMA is also formally launching the Women’s Leadership Academy Alumni Network.
The initiative will connect nearly 80 women from all five cohorts, turning what began as a 12-week program into a long-term professional community.
The alumni network will offer continued opportunities for mentorship, collaboration and development, while allowing graduates to support one another as their careers evolve. That ongoing structure could ultimately prove to be one of the academy’s most valuable contributions.
In an industry where relationships often shape opportunities, access and advancement, a sustained network of women across labels, agencies, management companies, streaming platforms and live entertainment has the potential to create influence well beyond any single cohort.
Five years in, CMA’s Women’s Leadership Academy is no longer simply a development program. It is becoming an industry pipeline, one designed to equip talented women with the skills, confidence and community needed to lead country music into its next era.
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