Meet the Panelists! Behind "Women in Content"
Join us for our "Women in Content" panel at Sole Space on April 8, 2017, from 6:10 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Our "Women in Content" panel will discuss the ways women begin their careers in content, how they choose their stories, and most importantly the lessons they've learned as curators. This event is open to everyone and all ages. Meet the ladies of "Women in Content" below.
Mariecar Mendoza
Born and raised in the Bay Area, growing up with a love for music, Mariecar would sneak out of her house as a teen to catch all the cool shows from Santa Cruz to San Francisco and Oakland. Fast-forward a couple decades and she’s now the arts content editor for the San Francisco Chronicle where she manages coverage of the Bay Area pop music and pop culture scenes for the publication’s Datebook section and online platforms. Prior to that role, Mariecar was the features digital editor for the Los Angeles News Group (now the Southern California News Group) specializing in music, food and festival coverage for that region, which included everything from the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and San Diego Comic-Con to major awards shows like the American Music Awards and Emmys.
She got her start in news, however, and spent several years as a reporter for several publications, covering city hall, crime and courts as well as education. Mariecar is a proud alumna of the Chips Quinn Scholars Program, which provides training and mentoring to minority student journalists, and an active member of the Asian American Journalists Association.
Fun Fact: Mariecar can’t help herself when it comes to karaoke – and she’ll sing just about any Amy Winehouse song in the catalog if you let her.
Go-To Advice: Don’t be scared to speak up – but, as a mentor of mine once told me: “Mean what you say and say what you mean.”
Stay Connected: Follow Mariecar on Twitter @SFMarMendoza and on Instagram @sfchronicle_scene.
Nastia Voynovskaya
Nastia is an Oakland-based freelance journalist covering primarily music, art and culture. She previously served as the music editor at East Bay Express and the online editor at Hi-Fructose Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Noisey, KQED, SF Weekly, SF MoMA Open Space and other outlets. She was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, raised in the Bay Area and Tampa, Florida and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2012. When she's not writing she's DJing, going to shows or participating in political organizing.
Fun Fact: Nastia is trilingual.
Go-To Advice: Be confident about the value of your work and never sell yourself short. Be creative and stay on multiple hustles.
Stay Connected: Follow Nastia on Instagram and Twitter at @nananastia.
Special Says
Special has known she wanted to be on the radio since she was 10 years old. She first started her career on San Francisco State University's KSFS with her show 'Special Sundays', while at the same time interning at 106.1 KMEL. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Electronic Communication Arts, she went to New York to intern for Sirius XM's 'All Out Show' on Shade 45. She then returned to the Bay Area where she can now be heard on 106.1 KMEL's The Mansion Show every Saturday night from 12-5 a.m. and seen on YouTube with her segments Special Delivery, Creators Cut, and Special Education.
Fun Fact: Special won "Best Personality" at a baby pageant, at just 6 months old.
Go-To Advice: Understand the importance of deadlines but don't let that limit or deter your creating.
Stay Connected: Follow Special on Instagram at @specialsays_ and Twitter at @specialsays.
MJ Livingstone
MJ’s music industry journey has been vast and varied, having been involved in different facets of the business since college. As a Junior at Loyola University Chicago, she interned at Biz 3 Publicity, a renowned boutique PR company whose roster includes the likes of Diplo, Danny Brown, Migos, Sampha and more. It was here that MJ learned the core of music PR and writing and solidified her passion for promoting artists and subculture movements. Hungry to learn more, MJ took a summer internship at Mad Decent where she learned the ins and outs of small independent labels and what it's like to wear many hats to promote, sell, and publicize an artist's work. After graduating in 2012, MJ set sail to New York city and joined the team at TMWRK management as a management assistant. Here she aided in the day-to-day management of each artist on the roster (Diplo, A-Trak, Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus, etc) and directly supported each head manager. After a year of hard and dedicated work, MJ decided to move back west and return to a grassroots approach to artist promotion. In 2016, she joined music and culture publication Rehab Online Magazine, where as Features Editor, she’s helped carve a space for artists who would otherwise go unnoticed. MJ is passionate about writing and unveiling cool movements from around the world in efforts of constantly uplifting culture, especially for the younger folks. Find MJ at a local obscure and likely gritty show, near you. Otherwise catch her chillin’ at home with her cat Guillermo fervently producing her latest piece.
Fun Fact: Despite deceiving looks, MJ is one hell of a tree climber.
Go-To Advice: Don’t wait for opportunities to fall on your lap, most likely they won't. Be proactive and fight for what you want. Let your inner voice be your main compass. When something is “right” or “wrong” you’ll feel it through every molecule of your body. Find a team whose values and excitement align with yours and build on up. Don’t be scared to ask for help or advice. One day you’ll be the one giving it. Don’t be scared to make mistakes, it’s the only way we learn.
Stay Connected: Follow MJ on Instagram at @cyute_money.
RSVP FOR PANEL NIGHT HERE
Details: April 8, 2017 at Sole Space (1714 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA)
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Food & Drinks
6:10 - 7:00 p.m. | Women in Content Panel
7:10 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Women Behind The Scenes Panel