Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Tioni.
Ashley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
“Do you know what I can be, a superstar on MTV? I don’t know, so can you tell me who I can be…” I wrote that song when I was about 8 years old. I loved to write songs and tell stories in creative ways, so I wrote, I drew, I painted, and made collages out of old magazines. I had so many dreams, but the one that never faded was a career in music.
I was too afraid to fully embrace my desire to work in the music industry until my granny passed away my junior year of college. She was my biggest cheerleader and made me feel like I could do anything. When she passed, I believed I’d be doing her and myself a disservice if I didn’t take action and fully pursue my dreams and live my life to the fullest. So, I decided to take action.
That summer, I got two internships – one at an artist development company, one at a music management company, while working at Burlington Coat Factory part-time. This experience helped land me an internship at Sony Music in New York, and once I graduated college with my bachelor’s, I graduated from the inaugural class of No Label Academy (an accelerated music program) at Harvard University hosted by IDK and was mentored by Shavonne Dargon (SVP, Strategy & Marketing – CURATED by Live Nation) from Femme it Forward’s Next Gem Femme Mentorship Program.
I had tunnel vision and was doing anything I could to secure a full-time role at a major music company. I sent letters, emails, DMs, and went to webinars networking events, watched interviews and biopics to learn everything I could to get me a marketing role at a major music company.
I met so many people throughout my journey who gave me essential advice and opportunities. I am so grateful because, without them, I wouldn’t have fulfilled the goal of moving to LA with a job and later receiving my “dream job” as a Digital Marketer at RCA Records.
My passion to create unforgettable moments with music artists lit a fire in me that gave me the courage to shamelessly pursue my goals and live life to the fullest. I’ve since written about those experiences in detail on my blog titled “That Industry Girl.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve had difficulty finding my tribe. It’s a challenge that comes with relocation, juggling my career, and “adulting,” – but by participating in mentorship programs and hosting my own events, such as the In the Mix Social, I’ve met more like-minded women in my local area.
Oftentimes I’ve also had imposter syndrome and didn’t believe I was talented or smart enough to be in certain rooms.
I remember curating an event in honor of Doja Cat for the Billboard Women in Music Award, and I had never put together an event of this scale. Despite my lack of experience, I had a vision to guide me, a team to assist me, and a budget to keep me in check. I got to work and just did it!
The event was a success, and I’ll never forget when Doja entered the venue with her pink Valentino look and told me she loved my outfit (an outfit that I got last minute that same day!). That was the cherry on top of the successful soiree and is a memory I use to remind myself of my value and what I’m capable of as I continue to navigate the industry.
We’ve been impressed with That Industry Girl, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Aș a self-proclaimed “industry girl” working in a major city, I experienced many challenges and blessings that allowed me to excel in my career and network.
As I posted about my achievements, I’d get messages from girls I never met or barely knew asking me how I did it, so I started writing about my experiences and giving bits of advice in my blog “That Industry Girl.” With it, I write as if I’m talking to my home girl or sister, sharing personal experiences about and what I’ve learned from them in hopes it’ll help someone else.
I also have subsets to the blog that include – “That Industry Girl,” where I discuss how we can build wealth where we are, and “Girl, That’s God,” where I share what I’ve learned as I continue to deepen my relationship with God.
I started the blog earlier this year, and I’ve received so much support from ladies who have recently graduated college, want to transition into a new industry, or simply live life to the fullest. It warms my heart to know that my experiences have been helpful to others. My goal is to continue to share my experiences and host more events like the In the Mix social to help more women get support throughout their journey.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The pandemic made me realize my superpower: I can make the dullest thing sparkle. Meaning I am extremely resourceful and will use what I have to create something worth sharing and paying attention to.
During COVID-19, I learned how to adapt to provide for myself. At the time, I was interning at Sony Music in New York, but I had to return to Michigan because everything was getting shut down. I returned home and worked virtually as an intern and a student, but I still needed money to support myself. Since I couldn’t go to my old job at the mall, I decided to use what I knew to make money.
I knew how to create digital marketing campaigns and websites, so I started my own business doing just that for small companies. Since I couldn’t do everything myself, I hired a virtual assistant and created my own intern program. This helped me generate extra money during the pandemic until the restrictions lifted and I graduated college. To this day, I still tap into the superpower I discovered in the pandemic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thatindustrygirl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleytioni/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytreed/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatindustrygrl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatIndustryGirl
