At the Music Week Women In Music Awards, Girls I Rate founder Carla Marie Williams brought Mentor Me to life, interviewing a range of artists and executives about their careers. Here, she reflects on what went down and we hear from her star interviewees...
LARA BAKER
Co-founder, Women In Music Awards/Lead, songwriter & publishing partnerships, UK & International, Spotify
CARLA MARIE WILLIAMS: “Lara has always inspired me. From the moment I saw what she was building with the Women In Music Awards, I knew I wanted to stand alongside her. She’s helped create one of the most prestigious and purposeful events in the UK, one that not only celebrates women, but welcomes men into the conversation, too. That balance, that representation really matters, and I love Lara for leading it with such grace and conviction.”
LARA BAKER: “Fifteen years ago, myself and my [Women In Music Awards] co-founder Alison Wenham saw a pretty male-dominated industry and we just took it upon ourselves [to change that]. We realised that actually, there are a lot women, they’re just not always that visible in the industry. And now, here we are 11 years later…”
SKIN
Artist
CARLA MARIE WILLIAMS: “I rate Skin because she was one of the first Black women I saw doing something truly different, fronting a rock band, pushing the boundaries of her look, her sound and her message. As a young girl, seeing Skin own that stage as part of Skunk Anansie with such power and edge made me believe that I, too, could create beyond boxes and genres. She inspired the part of me that loves alternative music, and she taught me that boldness is freedom.”
SKIN: “I don’t think we’re at the point where we have the mentality of fighting for a seat at the table; I think we’re creating our own tables. We don’t need to be overlooked, we don’t need to be controlled; it’s lovely that we’re in our own space, connecting with our own people.”
LEIGH-ANNE
Artist, actor and activist
CARLA MARIE WILLIAMS: “I’m just so proud of Leigh-Anne. To see her journey from one of the UK’s biggest girl groups to stepping into her own as an independent artist is inspiring in itself, but what I admire most is how she uses her platform to educate, empower and create change. She’s redefining what independence and advocacy look like for women in music, and that makes her a real force.”
LEIGH-ANNE: “There aren’t many spaces that are dedicated to celebrating women and women in music. And also, seeing representation in the room is so good. This event is exactly what we need.”
PORTIA CLARKE-MILLANAISE
Head of marketing, BET UK & founder, Aisle Forty Four
CARLA MARIE WILLIAMS: “Portia’s love for Caribbean culture speaks directly to my soul. I admire how she brings her heritage into everything she does, blending creativity, strategy and marketing brilliance to build brands and campaigns that push culture forward. She’s a powerhouse and her ability to turn ideas into impact is something that I deeply respect.”
PORTIA CLARKE-MILLANAISE: “Having this space has allowed me to see that there are women who look like me, and having my first feature in Music Week was because of Girls I Rate.”
KATIE MELUA
Artist
CARLA MARIE WILLIAMS: “Katie is pure musical genius. Her artistry feels effortless – her songwriting, her lyrics, her ability to craft emotion through sound. She pushes the envelope quietly but confidently, and I love that balance of intellect and intuition in her work. She’s an artist’s artist and I love her energy.”
KATIE MELUA: “This is a really fun space to experiment and to try interesting things. I’ve just loved working with Carla; it’s been such an honour and such a pleasure, and I really feel that, yes, some amazing things could happen through Girls I Rate.”
PHOTOS: Chelsea Bostwick (B Visuals Ent) & Dana Ingabire
