Ximara Speech

I’d definitely say watering my relationships. I’ve learned the importance of being intentional about staying connected and not allowing relationships to become “out of sight, out of mind,” especially in the industry I’m in.

Instead of letting every interaction feel transactional or strictly digital, I try to genuinely check in, whether that’s asking what someone is working on, seeing how I can support them, or simply maintaining the connection.

I’ve been in this industry for about 10 years now, and one thing I’m proud of is that many of the people I started alongside are people I’m still connected to today. Maintaining those relationships over the years has made a world of difference, both personally and professionally.

Go with your gut feeling and get very familiar with pivot. The reason why I say that is to me too often especially we are in fields that are like high alert or maybe male-dominant. Sometimes we get a little shy about our voice but I feel like if everyone was meant to have the same like ideal or dream that you had everyone would have it. So I think once definitely go with that gut feeling. People don't know what they like these days and it's up to us to be able to put that on a platter and serve that to the world. Because you never know. They might not like it today but it might be something two months from now maybe a year from now that people wouldn't would have never thought could exist. Go with the good. Lean for the good not the trend.

I would definitely say building the infrastructure. At one point, particularly in the early 2010s, the music industry was much more centered around discovery. We had blogs and other platforms where people were actively digging to find out who or what was next.

Today, discovery is really just step one. Getting music onto distribution platforms is significantly more accessible than it was back then, so the bigger question becomes: once we find the talent, what do we build around it?

For me, that means understanding how we can use technology in an artist’s day-to-day without removing the human element. Personality and genuine connection still matter tremendously. Technology should strengthen the infrastructure, not become the identity.

So I see my role evolving beyond simply discovering talent. It’s about helping build the systems around that talent—understanding the audience, developing the strategy, identifying opportunities, and ultimately figuring out how we can scale what’s already working into something sustainable.

I would definitely say finding a space that allows me to put a little bit of myself into everything I do. That’s really important to me. Especially in a world that’s becoming increasingly driven by technology, I think personality and individuality matter more than ever.

In some form, sales touches almost every industry. And in my industry specifically, you have to know how to sell more than a product—you have to communicate personality, perspective, and what makes you or your work valuable.

For me, that goes hand-in-hand with passion. I thrive when I genuinely care about what I’m building and can bring my own perspective to it. I’ve learned that I’m very much an all-or-nothing person; there isn’t much of a gray area for me. When I believe in something, I’m fully invested.

So ultimately, I thrive in spaces where I can combine personality, passion, and purpose—where I’m not just completing the work, but actually leaving a little bit of myself in it.