The Women in Audio student group hosted an all female alumni industry panel at 623 S. Wabash on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The event served to give students a chance to connect with industry professionals from different aspects of the audio industry to bring insight and expertise on working within a primarily male-dominated industry.
While the alumni panel took place in-person, students were also allowed to attend through Zoom.
Annabella Thornton, a senior and president of Women in Audio, said that the group has been trying to make the alumni panel happen for years to allow students to hear from professionals working jobs in the audio industry.
“Specifically, we wanted them to hear from women in the industry to get their authentic experience in regards to what it’s like to be a woman in such a male dominated industry,” said Thornton, a senior double major in fashion studies and audio arts
The panel consisted of four industry professionals: Lauren Bayless, a touring production assistant and tech at Eighth Day Sound; Jackie Loupakos, a Level II audio visual technician at AVI-SPL; Zoe Veasy, an acoustical technician at Cotter Consulting and Jayme Mattler, a voiceover producer and director.
Thornton hosted and asked questions throughout, encouraging panelists to share personal career journeys, highlighting the value of networking, internships and being open to new opportunities.
“I think there is a cultural shift happening, and it’s generational, and it’s low, but I think it’s happening. I don’t know if there’s other ways to make it more equitable, other than people believing that it should be equitable,” said Mattler.
Loupakos emphasized creating a more equitable culture involves working with companies who create community and culture that welcomes diverse, fresh perspectives.
“I think it’s having companies sustain and support women, not just, like, have an initiative to just hire women and then have that be the end of it,” said Loupakos.
Specific advice included dressing appropriately for interviews, being open-minded, and leveraging relationships with professors and industry contacts.
Veasy said as women in a male-dominated industry, “we need to make space for each other.”
“I think that’s super important, helping people out and kind of helping each other rise to the top together,” said Veasy.
While talking about their career journey in music, Bayless, a recent Columbia grad and previous WiA president, emphasized the importance of being open to new opportunities.
“You can quickly know if you love it and it’s the best thing, and you’re so happy you took it, or you worked there for a year, and you’re like, I don’t like this time to find something else,” said Bayless. “Now you have that experience, and hopefully you learn things that you can build off of what you learned at that job.”
Students were given the chance to engage in Q&A with the panel asking for advice on building a network, timing when pursuing a career and what working in the audio industry looks like from the outside in.
“One of my favorite parts about working in the audio industry, and having this job, is that you never stop learning,” said Bayless. “My role on a tour is a PA tech; I’m learning the modern tech position, I’m learning the RF tech position, the front of house tech, I’m learning so many little things along the way.”
First-year audio arts major Anjelise Ayala said that the panel gives students the confidence for an early start in careers for women interested in audio engineering.
“I just thought it would be good to see these other people, women that graduated from here that are out there doing something that I would also love to be doing once I’m done here,” Enayala said.
The panel concluded by encouraging students to pursue diverse experiences and building a supportive network to navigate career setbacks and succeed in their fields.
“I think it’s just important to be able to celebrate women and their achievements,” said Ayssa Spielman, vice president of Women in Audio and senior and audio engineering major.
Copy edited by Manuel Nocera
Resumen en Español:
El miércoles 20 de noviembre, el grupo estudiantil Women in Audio organizó un panel de la industria de ex alumnas en 623 S. Wabash Ave. El panel se llevó a cabo de manera presencial, pero los estudiantes también pudieron atender por Zoom.
El evento permitió a los estudiantes conectarse con profesionales de diferentes aspectos de la industria del audio para brindar información sobre cómo trabajar dentro de una industria dominada principalmente por hombres.
El panel también fue presentado por Annabella Thornton, estudiante de último año y presidenta de Women in Audio. El panel estuvo formado por cuatro profesionales de la industria que compartieron sus trayectorias profesionales personales.
Resumen en Español por Araceli Ramirez
Resumen en Español editado por Manuel Nocera
