Meet The Women Of Beatport: Part One

Name: Nicky Böhm

Job title: Label Manager

What led you to your current job at Beatport?

Going to drum & bass parties in Bristol and London gave me my first proper taste of club culture, and after university I started working at a film production company for a music video director. Moving to Berlin in 2006 catalysed my switch from film to music and since then I’ve been lucky to work at various indie labels (Kitty Yo, !K7 and BPitch) in a variety of guises before joining Beatport in 2014. Being part of the Label Management team is fantastic as I get to work with so many different accounts across a myriad of genres and with a whole host of diverse personalities.

What needs to happen to encourage more diversity in your field?

We’ve got a 50/50 split in the label management department which is great. The next logical step is to have more female representation at the executive level.

Current favourite tune on Beatport:

Name: Samantha Luber

Job title: Senior Software Engineer, LINK

What led you to your current job at Beatport?

Honestly, a lifetime of passion and dedicated work in music and technology. Starting from university, I worked as a promoter in Detroit while studying computer engineering. Thereafter, working as a software developer by day and a hobbyist modular synth maker/producer and avid techno supporter by night in Seattle, LA, and (most recently) Berlin. Much of my past work is centered around creative innovations in predominantly technical applications.

I joined Beatport Engineering last year to build media streaming and content management services for providing more accessible access to music for DJs at all skill levels: the perfect position for combining my experience and lifelong interest in the field.

What needs to happen to encourage more diversity in your field?

More mentorship, training, and support programs for minority groups already working in the music and technology industries. There exist many “learn to code” and “learn to DJ/produce” opportunities targeted at bringing newcomers into the field, but less for supporting working minority professionals looking to grow beyond entry-level positions in their respective field. Retention is also important!

Current favourite tune on Beatport:

Name: Lilia van Beukering

Job title: Jr. Artist Relations Manager

What led you to your current job at Beatport?

Part of my cultural management studies at ICART Paris was completing a few internships. After reaching out to what felt like a trillion music companies in Berlin, I joined Jackmode Agency as a booking assistant in 2016. About a year later I started at Modern Matters and got the chance to learn everything related to techno, experimental and avant-garde music PR. Finally in 2018 I joined the Artist Relations team here at Beatport. It’s so gratifying to collaborate and meet with such a varied range of artists, as well as to be able to work on so many different products, projects and events. Above all though, you can’t compete with the office’s atmosphere, shaped by the music passionate people involved.

What needs to happen so more women are working in the same field?

In my experience, this part of the industry and artist management seem to be well represented by women. What I’d like to see happen: have more women at executive levels. We should also join women and women-identifying music industry groups, reach out to our peers as much as we can, show support and trust, and recommend them as much as possible! Talking about diversity and inclusion at work is crucial and we should be opening up about this topic more.

Current favourite tune on Beatport:

Name: Julie Jestus

Job title: Technical Project Manager/Product Owner

What led you to your current job at Beatport?

I was given my opportunity to work at Beatport by another strong female leader, Christina Duran (shout out!), over eight years ago. Since then, my career path has taken a detour I would have never imagined — starting in operations but finding my way into technology and product development. What I’ve found really special about my journey is how naturally I’ve been welcomed into the technology side of our business, which is a credit to the culture that Beatport has fostered, as well as having mentors (both male and female) who have encouraged and supported that journey.

What needs to happen to encourage more diversity in your field?

I firmly believe that embracing diverse perspectives is critical to success, and welcoming women into a sector like technology and product development goes to the heart of that sentiment. I’d love to see more women given the mentorship and encouragement I’ve received to break down the stigma surrounding women in technology.

Current favourite tune on Beatport:

Name: Jordan K

Job Title: Manager, People & Culture

What led you to your current job at Beatport?

I joined Beatport a couple of years ago as the Office Manager in our Denver office, with the added goal of re-integrating Beatport in the local DJ scene. My recent transition into HR means I’ll continue to nurture our global organizational culture via projects like integrating our new Beatsource team in our recently-opened LA office, lead our recruiting, take over shesaid.so Denver’s chapter and bridge our internal culture with the global DJ community at large with music-focused initiatives and events programming.

What needs to happen to encourage more diversity in your field?

I come from an admin background, which is already heavily represented by women, so I want to change the perception that admin roles must act as support to leaders, and instead show that it’s time to be the leaders ourselves. Alongside more representative leadership, I want more mentorship opportunities for the next generation of industry workers, who currently feel out of the status quo, to create a paradigm shift in who runs the music industry.

Current favourite tune on Beatport:

Name: Roberta Annecchino

Job title: Customer Support Representative

What led you to your current job at Beatport?

I am the oldest employee in the Berlin office: everything started more than a decade ago when me and my dog were travelling through Europe playing a bunch of uncommon records and working for the French-Berliner vinyl label Trenton Records. Berlin just bewitched me and I decided to stay after I got the job in the Customer Support department in 2008. I am a natural born problem solver and I could teach your grandma how to DJ with Beatport LINK in a few minutes! What I love about my job is all the people I talk to every day and of course the music — it’s like a big worldwide family When I am not working at Beatport I am a full-time mom and amateur puppeteer!

What needs to happen to encourage more diversity in your field?

Customer support is about empowering others with the knowledge of the products and a lot of patience. I would like to see more IT women involved in the support department: they have the skills to solve a technical issue and be polite communicators with the customers.

Current favourite tune on Beatport: