Looking back, what impact did the Future Leaders programme have on you personally and professionally? Did it change anything about how you see yourself in the music or events industries?
Being a part of Future Leaders gave me a sense of purpose, doing something with myself, and I felt accepted into a space that felt prestigious. Someone recognised my potential, and I’ve met people through it, some of who have become friends. I recommended Future Leaders to someone who then became a Future Leader herself, and I’ve collaborated with another Future Leader. I have also gotten involved with Attitude Is Everything, and met a lot of cool people. I have gained a lot more hope in my potential as a chronically ill person.
What were the most valuable things you gained from being part of Future Leaders?
I had a lot of unresolved feelings about not fitting in with healthy world, but also not fitting in with disabled world. This meant I had a lot of internalised ableism and guilt and shame. Simply being a part of the Beyond the Music network and programme helped me to process and deal with things I hadn’t had a chance to verbalise with someone who understood before. In my mind, that had to take place before I could do anything. I started feeling like I belonged in a space, gained confidence, and lost some shame. There was a particular session where we talked about our experiences in the workplace, and that was a huge breakthrough moment as before it felt before like there was something wrong with me.
I didn’t know that OCD came under the neurodivergent umbrella until I did Future Leaders. Future Leaders was a big thing for me, and I felt really comfortable with all the neurodivergent people in the cohort. Future Leaders came to me at a really good time. When we went to London, it was such a big opportunity, where I could improve my confidence, especially with staying in a hotel alone. The programme gave me freedom and confidence.
What significant things have happened in your career since taking part?
I released my debut album as an artist. The programme gave me more clarity over what I wanted to do with my career, and I realised I wanted to be a musician and producer for people. I also put on my own headline tour in the UK, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without the confidence that I gained from being a Future Leader. I just recently launched my own freelance production and mixing venture called Zirconia Audio, which I also wouldn’t have had the confidence to do without having been a part of the programme.
What would you say to someone thinking of applying to Future Leaders?
Definitely do it because it’s just really useful to develop! You don’t know what you’re going to learn, where it’s going to take you, where you’ll be in a year from now, and you also don’t know how it’ll impact you in the long run. It might not be immediately obvious, comparing yourself to other’s achievements, but you have to get some time and perspective to see what it’s done for you. I go to networking events and am still part of the Future Leaders now. It’s also good to be around other disabled and neurodivergent people who are trying to make it in the industry.
It’s a programme for self discovery, experimentation, learning, and building confidence and knowledge. It’s a one of a kind thing – unique, tailored to you, really inclusive, welcoming, and you’ll feel like you belong somewhere, and might answer some questions and help you to process some things that have been going round in your head along the way. So definitely go for it!
