Sarah Nagourney

I attribute my success to a combination of longevity, adaptability, and genuine love for the work. Music has been part of my life since I wrote my first song at nine and became a professional singer-songwriter in my teens. Over more than four decades in the industry, I’ve learned how to keep evolving while staying true to who I am creatively.

That journey has taken many forms—performing internationally, writing songs for artists such as Wynonna Judd and Wayne Brady, managing and developing emerging talent, and mentoring young creators through programs like GRAMMY U and She Is The Music. I’ve never believed in standing still; I’ve always looked for new ways to contribute and grow.

Equally important has been authenticity—trusting my own perspective and the stories I want to tell through songs and creative projects. Today, through She Creates Noise, I’m continuing that mission by highlighting women in the industry and sharing the many paths to success. Supporting others, especially women navigating a complex business, has not only been meaningful work—it has been a key part of my own success as well.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can build a career you love while also inspiring others and making a meaningful difference in their lives.

My advice to young women is to understand that success in this industry rarely happens overnight, and no path is too small to begin with. I want them to hear the stories of the women I’ve interviewed—women who started as receptionists, assistants, or answering phones at places like Sony Music or Chrysalis Records and went on to become leaders in the business. Sometimes the first step is simply getting in the building, showing up consistently, and proving your value over time.

For songwriters and producers, it’s important to remember that craft takes patience. Several guests on my podcast have talked about the “10,000 hours” idea—writing thousands of songs, learning through repetition, and improving long before success arrived. Talent matters, but persistence matters just as much. Keep creating, keep learning, and don’t be discouraged by how long it takes.

For artists and performers, there is no substitute for experience. You have to get out there, perform, take risks, and develop your voice in the real world. Confidence often comes after action, not before it.

And finally, education matters. Whether through formal schooling or self-education, learning how to research, communicate, think critically, and navigate opportunities gives you a real advantage. The more informed and prepared you are, the less intimidating the business becomes—and the more possible your goals start to feel.

Right now, my biggest challenge—and greatest opportunity—is expanding awareness of my podcast, She Creates Noise. The show is not yet a year old—it reaches its first anniversary in June—but it has already gained strong momentum, with an impressive lineup of high-profile women across the music industry.

My focus now is growing the network around it and making more people aware of what we’re building. There are still relatively few women podcast hosts in this space, and even fewer women represented in executive roles within the industry, which makes these conversations especially important.

My longer-term goal is to secure a fiscal sponsor so the podcast can expand into a charitable mission, including scholarships and educational opportunities for women pursuing careers in music. It’s still early days, but that vision is very much ahead.

I truly believe the podcast serves a public purpose. I want it to reach a broad audience, but especially young women who need to hear the stories of accomplished women and see that success in this industry is possible for them too.

The values that matter most to me are mentorship, authenticity, and giving back. I started in this industry at a very young age and, having grown up in it, I’ve always felt drawn to helping others navigate what can be a challenging business. Mentoring and encouraging emerging artists has become one of the most meaningful parts of my career. I do that through formal programs like GRAMMY U and She Is The Music, but also informally with many of the younger writers and artists I continue to work with.

I also deeply value artistic independence. I believe artists should have as much ownership as possible over their image, sound, and creative direction, because that leads to stronger identity, greater confidence, and more authentic work.

Through She Creates Noise, I try to extend those values by sharing the stories of accomplished women in music so younger women can hear firsthand how success is built and see what is possible for themselves.

Giving back is equally important to me. I’m a founding member of Impact 100 New York, which has grown from 100 women to more than 400 members, each contributing annually to fund meaningful causes. I believe strongly in supporting smaller organizations that may struggle for visibility and resources, because they are often doing some of the most important work.