Our society holds a narrow view of success, predominantly defined by the alpha male. This is not the only way to lead effectively, though it has long been our primary cultural narrative. Until recently, men have dominated the workforce due to societal standards, so it is unsurprising that the success stories we hear predominantly feature men. But the world is changing: women vote, study at univers
ity, enter into the workforce, and are leaders. Unfortunately, women are still largely confronted with the single story of the alpha male as a means to success. The only way to overcome this obstacle is to recreate the narrative by welcoming new perspectives in order to establish a robust understanding of success and leadership. In our personal experience at Berklee College of Music, Valencia campus, the Global Entertainment and Music Business program invites a different industry professional to speak at each of our weekly seminars; only one of a year’s worth of speakers is female. This is not to put Berklee at fault, but rather to illustrate how all institutions and individuals are subject to these cultural assumptions. The Berklee Women’s Empower Symposium aims to change the conversation by broadening our perspective of what success and leadership look like in the Entertainment Industry. The Symposium, themed Portraits of Success, will showcase different stories to inspire men and women alike, and demonstrate that differences are strengths. Embracing this diversity empowers all of us as a community and as individuals. Students of today are the leaders of tomorrow: changing what we teach and how we teach it has the power to impact an entire industry, and eventually larger social paradigms. We hope for a day when events like these are no longer necessary. Until that day comes, Berklee will continue to make a space for diversity to flourish.
