After a week of celebrating Billboard Canada’s Women in Music and The Weeknd’s highly anticipated show in São Paulo, I’ve been reflecting on my conversation with Melissa Mahood, General Manager of XO Records and Artist Management at SALXCO. I had the privilege of learning from her during the Leadership and Management Business Essentials workshop, as well as the Breaking Barriers as a Woman in Leadership panel moderated by Iva Zelic, Chief of Staff & Partnerships at Hxouse.
Melissa is one of Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music top executives. As an artist manager of one of the world’s biggest music labels, her leadership and business acumen are unparalleled.
Key Takeaways from Our Valuable Conversations:
“Human capital is the most important component to a successful album campaign and an artist’s career overall.” During the leadership workshop, we explored the in-depth growth of artists like The Weeknd, NAV, and Chxrry, but most importantly, the teams behind them. Success is built on the collective talents of managers, creatives, marketing teams, producers, legal teams, PR and media experts and sync licensing teams, all orchestrating the behind-the-scenes work of an album.
(Image Source: Lotus Tsang)
The pandemic posed challenges, forcing artist teams to pivot quickly. In the workshop, we brainstormed ways to strategically engage fans and sustain momentum. Our group proposed social media campaigns and digital technology collaborations to support these initiatives.
XO Records’ preparation for The Weeknd’s 2021 Super Bowl Halftime Show, alongside the release of The Highlights, took meticulous planning over 9 – 12 months. This involved onboarding multiple pillars of talent including legal teams, the NFL, touring agencies, creatives, marketing teams and media partners to pull off such a large-scale event.
Authenticity and Balance in Leadership:
A quote she said stuck with me:
“Being a woman makes me the best leader and is the best superpower to harness and not hide in any situation.”
Melissa emphasized the importance of authenticity, especially for women in leadership. “Being yourself,” she said, “means showing up with kindness, empathy and humility, without feeling the need to hide parts of yourself to be respected.” She encourages women to embrace these traits and show up as their best selves without conforming to external pressures.
Melissa also shared her journey toward achieving work-life balance. “There’s a stigma that to be successful, you must throw yourself entirely into your career,” she said. “But if I’m not well — mentally, physically or emotionally — then my team, clients and boss won’t be well either because I’m the glue holding everything together.” She emphasized the necessity of reclaiming agency over her time, not just as an option but as a backbone for long-term success. Prioritizing personal well-being is essential for delivering your best work and sustaining creativity.
Reflecting on missed moments with friends and family, Melissa spoke about the importance of reprioritizing: “I had to fall back in love with music by attending electronic music shows — reconnecting with what propelled me into this career in the first place.”
(Image Source: Lotus Tsang)
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Female Leadership:
Melissa acknowledged the challenge of imposter syndrome, especially as a woman and the youngest person in many rooms. “You have to reclaim your power,” she said. “Being a woman and having these qualities makes me a better leader.”
She also addressed the misconception of competition among women for limited leadership roles. “There’s this false notion that women are in competition for spots at the table,” she explained. “We need to support each other and usher in the next generation of female leaders in business and music.”
Melissa strongly advocates for mentorship, especially for women in business. She encourages finding mentors who push and inspire you to navigate challenges and achieve success.
I am pleased to have learned from Melissa, the conversations we shared were inspiring and transformative in helping me in navigating my career. Her emphasis on embracing kindness, empathy and humility as a woman is important when fostering an environment for women to support and to rise together.
I am Lotus, the author of this post. As a creative professional and advocate for mental health and the strength of vulnerability, I foster community empowerment through conversation cards, conversations and my brand media platforms, Vulnerably Evolving. I am passionate about creating inclusive environments and supporting the next generation of leaders through storytelling, art and collaboration.
