Kayla Lee
Listen to the Interview (approximately 1 hr 10 min) or download it.
Graduated in 2011 with a major in Music Business. Principal Instrument: Voice
Position: Director of Business Development (Marketing) at Coshx Labs.
Overview: Post-Berklee, Kayla worked first at a music theater box off, then got an unpaid internship at a studio while working part-time at the Apple Store at the “Genius Bar.” Kayla’s internship turned into work as an assistant engineer, which turned into being the person engineering assistant for singer Claude Kelly. However, after a couple of years in music “I’m noticing that my favorite part of the job–and what I’m strong at–is relationships–getting to know people and helping people communicate. Not plugging in microphones and other technical stuff. And I’m thinking what does this mean for me careerwise.” Some online research and tests later Kayla decided she’d be good in sales. Many applications and a craigslist ad later, she landed a job wish Glopak, selling glass vials. She started part-time to make sure it was a good fit, then success + pressure to to pay her student loans made her go full-time. In under a year, she was promoted twice (!) to sales manager, then to marketing director for the parent holding-company. One of the sub-companies was in high tech, which Kayla decided interested her. She used online resources to find start-ups which could use her services, getting two part-time jobs (top get experience while she was working her old job), then found her current position in late 2015.
You can see Kayla’s LinkedIn profile here.
Choice Quotes: “I’m much more creative than business development peers. I took a lot of songwriting classes–we were taught how to brainstorm, and to respect our creative thoughts and not to reject ‘crazy, off-the-wall’ ideas out-of-hand. ” Often my ideas worked.”
“I love what I do, so I’ve probably worked 16-hours days without noticing it. I’ll just be there thinking of stuff.”
“Network! Be able to say “Hey, I majored in music, and that’s why this is GREAT for you.”
“Make sure your network is ‘open’ — get to know people in many different fields who know people in many different fields.”
Kayla with her partner Annie. “”I’m noticing that my favorite part of the music assistant job–and what I’m strong at–is relationships and getting to know people and helping people communicate. Not plugging in microphones and other technical stuff. And I’m thinking what does this mean for me careerwise?”
Kayla with her brother and baby nephew. “One thing that’s important to understand, and I wish Berklee and other places taught, is about what it’s like to be a 20-something. There’s so much pressure to have everything figured out, but parts of your brain are still growing and it can feel really overwhelming, and that’s OK.”
See the full index of successful Berklee alumni.