Career Jam 2019 Focuses on Women in the Arts

On April 5, Berklee hosted its annual Career Jam, which provided an opportunity for students to network with artists and industry leaders, apply for jobs and internships, and hear from successful alumni and industry experts on a range of subjects, from 21st-century entrepreneurship to exploring the future of performing arts and immersive technology.

In support of this year’s theme of celebrating women in the arts and entertainment industries, the conference offered workshops and panels that discussed opportunities for women in sound design, technology, and the video game world. A highlight of the daylong event was the keynote given by Sylvia Rhone, president of Epic Records, who also received an honorary doctorate from Berklee.

Additional speakers included Dia Simms, president of Combs Enterprises, who turned Bad Boy Records into Combs Enterprises; Maverick Carter, founder and CEO of SpringHill Entertainment, a content company that he and LeBron James launched in 2008; and composer Ramin Djawadi B.M. ’98, who scored HBO’s award-winning television series Game of Thrones and Westworld.

The day culminated in a special concert celebrating Rhone and her numerous accomplishments in the music industry. Led by Rob Lewis, who has worked as the musical director, arranger, and producer for five-time Grammy Award–winning artist Christina Aguilera and other notable performers, Berklee students performed the music of Missy Elliott, Camila Cabello, Tracy Chapman, J.J. Fad, and Jason Mraz—whose careers were launched by Rhone.