Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at The NAMM Show

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is a pillar for businesses and human resources as they strive to create more inclusive workplaces that recruit top talent and drive sustainable growth and innovation.

The 2023 NAMM Show will feature a series of educational sessions designed to provide an understanding of DEIB and its vital role in our industry. From creating a workplace that fosters a sense of belonging for all employees to understanding how DEIB helps increase creativity and innovation, these can’t-miss sessions will impart knowledge designed to help your business hire, retain, and empower your employees and drive success. Highlights include:

Actionable Tips to Incorporate DEI Into Your Hiring, Culture and Marketing
Presented by: Kristen Cho (Reverb, Chief Marketing Officer) and a panel
Thursday, April 13, 1 – 1:30 pm, ACC, Level 1, Idea Center
For an industry that caters to music makers as diverse as the music they create, building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive business isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s key to growing your audience. Join Cho and a panel of experts as they share their experiences successfully building DEI into company culture, hiring, and marketing, including best practices for both starting and maintaining DEI practices in your business. This is a can’t-miss half-hour for any and all business owners, managers, HR professionals, and marketers.

Overcoming Roadblocks to Diversity
Presented by: Laura B. Whitmore (Positive Grid, Senior Vice President of Marketing) and a panel
Friday, April 14, 12 – 1 pm, ACC, Level 1, NAMM Member Center
Join Whitmore and a panel of female industry leaders as they break down challenges and potential solutions to foster diversity in the musical instrument industry and beyond. Prepare to walk away from this session with real ideas, tips, and action items to make it happen!

Embedding Equity: An Arts-Integrated Approach for Nonprofit Leadership
Presented by: Young Audiences for Learning featuring David Dik, DJ Brooks, and Jessica Hebron
Friday, April 14, 2 pm - 3 pm, ACC, Level 1, NAMM Member Center
Race equity work is everyone’s responsibility and this session will explore how to achieve equity at the board, staff, and audience level. Hear transparent reflections from Arts for Learning Maryland, the founding affiliate of the largest arts in education network Young Audiences. Arts for Learning Maryland is in the ninth year of its race equity journey, rooted in building a liberatory culture. We will share how we got started, what tools we used, and when we failed, regrouped, and grew as an organization. 

It Starts with Us: Driving Diversity of Thought in the Workplace
Presented by: Anne Buchanan (Guitar Center, Chief People Officer), Fedra Galustian (Guitar Center, Vice President of Organization Development), Amatia Golbodaghi (Guitar Center, Organizational Development Manager)
Friday, April 14, 4 – 5 pm, ACC Level 1, NAMM Member Center 
This session will include a discussion around the power of perspective, our internal thoughts that lead to action, and the impact diverse perspectives have on productivity within a team.

Looking for more opportunities to engage in conversation surrounding DEIB? Check out some of the other options to connect with other industry professionals, including,

ReVoicing the Future: Envisioning the Music Industry of Tomorrow
Presented by: ReVoicing the Future Podcast Hosts, Stephanie Lamond (Artist, Writer, & Creative Producer), Natalie Morrison (D’Addario & Company, Inc., PR Strategist), and Julie Olson (Julie Olson Music)
Thursday, April 13, 3 – 4 pm, ACC, Level 1, Member Center
In this period of dramatic change in both the music industry and the world at large, there is incredible potential for positive progress. The Women of NAMM ReVoicing the Future team will challenge attendees to compose their vision of the ecosystem they want to work in, taking inspiration from how we all might show up as our authentic selves in our careers and the concepts of success and legacy. Whether an emerging professional or legacy leader, you will leave with new allies in building this future together.

Women Behind the Mic: Podcasting in 2023
Presented by: Myki Angeline (Audacy, 98 Rock), Broadcaster, Podcaster, & Producer), Laura Clapp Davidson (Shure, Retail Market Development Head), Stephanie Lamond (Artist, Writer, & Creative Producer), Natalie Morrison (D’Addario & Company, Inc., Public Relations Strategist), and Laura B. Whitmore (Positive Grid, Senior Vice President of Marketing)
Friday, April 14, 3 – 4 pm, ACC, Level 2, 202B
Join Davidson as she leads a discussion with some of today’s best and brightest female podcasters. Topics covered include the tech, the process, and the trials and tribulations involved with starting and maintaining a successful podcast. Come prepared to learn and ask questions!

For the full NAMM Show schedule, including these DEIB sessions and more, please visit https://www.nammshow.org/event/the-2023-namm-show/plannings/RXZlbnRWaWV3XzM3Njg0NA==.