Kiana Jami
Kiana Jami is a Manager of Brand Consulting at The Team, a sports and music agency that was formerly known as Wasserman. In her role, she leads strategic initiatives to help brands navigate opportunities across sports, music, and entertainment in the U.S. market. Since joining the company in January 2025, Kiana has focused on marketing consulting, business development, artist development, and songwriting, creating culturally fluent brand strategies that engage diverse audiences. She describes her work as a “Hannah Montana world,” balancing hands-on involvement in day-to-day music operations with behind-the-scenes strategic planning.
Kiana began her career in the music industry in 2018 and made a pivotal professional move by relocating independently from Toronto to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in a faster-paced market. Prior to her current role, she gained experience leading media campaigns and marketing strategies for high-profile clients including LEGO, Wendy’s, and Kimberly-Clark. Her approach emphasizes trusting intuition, standing firm on her value, and integrating visible client-facing work with strategic industry insight.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a focus on Media from the University of Western Ontario and is completing her MBA at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics. Kiana also earned a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate from RBC Music and a certificate in Digital Marketing. In addition to her professional work, she serves as a board member of the Lemon Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening Canada’s live entertainment industry through artist development, wellness for tour crews, and community-driven music initiatives.
• Digital Audio Advertising
• Advanced Google Analytics
• Udacity Artificial Intelligence
• Music Entrepreneurship Certificate
• Western University - BA
• Ontario Scholar
• Lemon Foundation
• JOT Competitions
• DECA Inc.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents, who immigrated from Iran to Canada with nothing but the determination to give their children a better life. Watching them build a life from scratch taught me resilience, perspective, and the belief that no challenge is too great. Their journey inspires me daily and reminds me that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For young women entering this male-dominated industry, stand your ground, know your worth, and trust your intuition. Rely on your gut, and seek a trusted mentor or confidant to navigate challenges. Staying confident and having support will help you thrive in an often demanding and unpredictable environment.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is that it remains male-dominated. In Canada specifically, there are gaps in funding, resources for live performance and touring, and wellness support for both artists and crews. Additionally, the community is less connected compared with the U.S., which presents both challenges and opportunities to build stronger networks and support systems.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both work and life are resilience, hard work, and a strong sense of self-worth. I also prioritize family, trusting my intuition, and fostering community within the music industry, helping to create supportive networks for artists and crews alike.