{"id":12411,"date":"2026-03-06T12:59:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T12:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=12411"},"modified":"2026-03-06T16:48:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T16:48:03","slug":"celebrating-the-women-powering-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/spotlight\/celebrating-the-women-powering-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"The Women Powering Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meet the women at Spotlight who invest their expertise to expand your opportunities.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In celebration of International Women\u2019s Day,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> we\u2019re showcasing some of the fantastic women working behind the scenes at Spotlight <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to champion performers and casting professionals. From policy and marketing to product development and member support, these &#8220;architects of opportunity&#8221; share their career journeys and the insider wisdom they contribute to the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contributors include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Kelly Wiffen (Public Affairs):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bridges the gap between the arts and government, with a keen interest in the safeguarding and education of young performers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tracy St Martin (Marketing):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Oversees the teams creating high-quality, actionable content to help performers globalise and grow their careers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mel Brown (Success Management):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Acts as the human face of the brand, advocating for empathy and breaking &#8216;glass ceilings&#8217;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cindy Dean (Support):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A 24-year veteran who emphasises the power of kindness and authenticity in a competitive industry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Jasmine King (Customer Success):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Vets applications and supports agents, drawing inspiration from diversity and the courage to &#8220;be bold&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Marie-Anne Roche (Product):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Uses rigour and creativity to produce and improve the digital features that make up the Spotlight platform.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through advice on asking the right questions, embracing vulnerability, and trusting one\u2019s instincts, these women demonstrate that when the team behind the curtain is empowered, the entire performing arts community gains a stronger stage.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Kelly Wiffen, Head of Public Affairs<\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My role is to represent Spotlight in conversations with Government, Parliament, Civil Servants and other external organisations.<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tell us a bit about you:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have worked in the creative industries my whole working life \u2013 for regulators, arm&#8217;s length bodies and trade unions. I love this sector and am happiest watching a musical at the theatre or an action movie at the cinema!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is one thing you give to your role every day that you hope the Spotlight community gains from?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My 100% commitment to making things better for our members and our partners. My role is to represent Spotlight in conversations with Government, Parliament, Civil Servants, and other external organisations \u2013 ensuring your voices are heard where it matters most.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is a piece of &#8216;insider&#8217; industry knowledge you\u2019ve gained that you want to &#8216;give&#8217; back to the women in our community today?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When women work together, we can be amazing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s the best piece of advice you\u2019ve received from another woman in the business that you still carry in your professional life today?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s strength in saying that you don&#8217;t know or understand something. Asking questions creates power.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>If you could pick one woman from history to join your department for a day, who would it be and what would you tackle together?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Millicent Garrett Fawcett. I would want to ask her how it felt to be so right about something, despite knowing that people in power didn&#8217;t want to listen. She was a lobbyist like me, even if it wasn&#8217;t called that then. She believed in change through persuasion and peaceful means. I&#8217;d get her to help me lobby to improve the education and safeguarding of young performers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Kelly\u2019s advice to her 21-year-old self: &#8220;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is not it. Give it a while, it will work out great.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Quickfire Questions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How Long You\u2019ve Worked At Spotlight: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Character I See Myself In:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em> Buffy the Vampire Slayer<\/em> (less the vampires, more the sass!)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office Superpower:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Translating complex policy into plain English.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Survival Job:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> I worked in Debenhams throughout college and uni. Everyone should have to work in retail before entering Parliament \u2013 it changes you!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A Woman Who Inspires Me:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> I\u2019ve had amazing female bosses who showed me how to lift other women up, but I was always impressed by Baroness Dinah Caine CBE.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Secret Skill:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> I make the best tea cakes in the world.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Tracy St Martin, Senior Vice President, Marketing for Talent Systems (Spotlight\u2019s parent company)<\/h3>\n<p class=\"actor-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-size aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Tracy-St-Martin.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Tracy-St-Martin.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI oversee the marketing team and strategy for our global casting and crew-hiring platforms.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tell us a bit about you: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mum to a toddler and a Brussels Griffon, lover of indie rock and prestige TV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is one thing you give to your role every day that you hope the Spotlight community gains from?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring the content, insights and access we offer to performers are high-quality, practical and actionable, and will help them grow their careers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is a piece of &#8216;insider&#8217; industry knowledge you\u2019ve gained that you want to &#8216;give&#8217; back to the women in our community today?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask a lot of questions and take on challenges that feel outside of your scope or experience \u2013 that\u2019s the best way to learn and grow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s the best piece of advice you\u2019ve received from another woman in the business that you still carry in your professional life today?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYour mentors don\u2019t need to look like you.\u201d For a long time, I searched for a mentor who was a woman in marketing, like myself, but eventually, I realised that mentors come in all shapes and forms \u2013 and their leadership style, approach to tackling challenges and perspective on personal development can be more instrumental than their subject matter expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Tracy\u2019s advice to her 21-year-old self: &#8220;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep doing what you love and you\u2019ll stumble into the career that makes sense for you.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Quickfire Questions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How long you\u2019ve been at Talent Systems: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seven years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Character I See Myself In:<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Am\u00e9lie<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a shy only-child with a big imagination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office Superpower:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 Maintaining a 360\u00b0 view of what&#8217;s happening across seven brands, five marketing channels, and two regional teams simultaneously.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Survival Job:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Selling handbags at Nordstrom (American upmarket department store).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A Woman Who Inspires Me:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bozoma Saint John \u2013 she\u2019s an English major (like me) who worked her way up in marketing and has parlayed her success into activism, philanthropy and advising and empowering future leaders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Secret Skill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I know the lyrics to (and can sing) the theme songs from all my favourite \u201880s TV sitcoms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Mel Brown, Senior Success Manager<\/h3>\n<p class=\"actor-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-size aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/mel-brown-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/mel-brown-scaled.png\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Image credit: Jonathan Birch<\/em><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI look after the performer members on Spotlight.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tell us a bit about you:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am a massive theatre fan and spend most of my free time there if I can. Since being with my partner, my love for long steam train rides at heritage railways has grown. I love exploring new countries, trying new food and binge-watching <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below Deck<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Love Is Blind<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Traitors<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is one thing you give to your role every day that you hope the Spotlight community gains from?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That there is a face behind the brand and that we are here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is a piece of &#8216;insider&#8217; industry knowledge you\u2019ve gained that you want to &#8216;give&#8217; back to the women in our community today?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are here to challenge and break those glass ceilings. If someone has not done it before, it doesn&#8217;t mean you can&#8217;t, and always lead with kindness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s the best piece of advice you\u2019ve received from another woman in the business that you still carry in your professional life today?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That it\u2019s okay to be emotional \u2013 your feelings are justified. Empathy is an important skill in any business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>If you could pick one woman from history to join your department for a day, who would it be and what would you tackle together?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michelle Obama. I find her to be an extremely insightful individual. I would love to hear more about how she challenged the tide, forged her own path, and established her own identity alongside a world-famous husband. I would love to get some tips from her on how to challenge those in more privileged positions to understand the nuances the industry faces on a daily basis and how we as a company can improve our allyship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Mel\u2019s advice to her 21-year-old self: &#8220;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">March to the beat of your own drum, you are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. &#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Quickfire Questions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How Long You\u2019ve Worked At Spotlight: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nine years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Character I See Myself In:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Julie Andrews in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sound of Music<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She was young, strong, feisty, and liked to sing \u2013 just like me!\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office Superpower:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Small talk champion.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A Woman Who Inspires Me:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Kelly Wiffen, who has forged an incredible career in Public Affairs. She is so knowledgeable, fair and insightful. She is authentically herself and that is what I aspire to be.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Secret Skill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being dyslexic, I see things differently than most, and I like to lean into the unusual patterns that my brain forms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Cindy Dean, Head of Support<\/h3>\n<p class=\"actor-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-size\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cindy-Dean-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cindy-Dean-scaled.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI manage and guide our Support team.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tell us a bit about you:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m originally from South Africa but I\u2019ve called the UK home since the late 90s. I currently live with my husband and our two large cats who, if I\u2019m honest, are the real heads of the household. Oh, and a very, very old tortoise!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is one thing you give to your role every day that you hope the Spotlight community gains from?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My daily goal is simple: to lead with kindness. We are a community, and no one should ever feel like they\u2019re navigating this world alone. Being kind takes so little from us, but for a performer or a peer, it can be the shift that turns their whole day around. That\u2019s the legacy I want to leave here at Spotlight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is a piece of &#8216;insider&#8217; industry knowledge you\u2019ve gained that you want to &#8216;give&#8217; back to the women in our community today?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After years of watching stories unfold at Spotlight, the most valuable &#8216;insider&#8217; secret I can share with women in our community is simply this: just be yourself. There is an incredible beauty in authenticity that shines through in a way nothing else can. So often, that light goes unseen because we lack the confidence to let it out, but there is truly no reason to hide. Your most powerful tool is your own unique truth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Cindy\u2019s advice to her 21-year-old self: &#8220;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stop worrying so much about the future \u2013 you\u2019ve got this, lady!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Quickfire Questions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How Long You\u2019ve Worked At Spotlight: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24 years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office Superpower:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve been with Spotlight for quite a while now, which means I\u2019ve seen it all! I love sharing our stories, especially back when we were still publishing physical books. It&#8217;s a wonderful part of our history that I\u2019m always happy to chat about.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Survival Job:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before I found my home at Spotlight, I took the &#8216;struggling artist&#8217; path quite literally as a children\u2019s party entertainer \u2013 dressing up as a clown and face painting! It turns out that managing a room full of sugar-fuelled toddlers is actually excellent training for just about any professional challenge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Secret Skill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I have a passion for sewing and once threw my hat in the ring for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Great British Sewing Bee<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It didn&#8217;t quite happen, but I still count it as my first (almost) acting credit!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Jasmine King, Customer Success Manager for Agents and Casting Directors<\/h3>\n<p class=\"actor-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-size\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jasmine-king.jpeg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Jasmine-king.jpeg\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSome of my responsibilities include vetting agency applications and casting breakdowns, onboarding agents onto Spotlight\/Tagmin, onboarding Casting Directors onto Spotlight, and supporting our lovely members as they use each platform.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tell us a bit about you:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m a film, TV and video game lover. I\u2019m currently watching <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9-1-1 (Season 9)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (my favourite show) and playing <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Dead Redemption<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. I\u2019m also getting back into fitness \u2013 Pilates is my go-to, but I tried Zumba for the first time not too long ago and loved it!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s the best piece of advice you\u2019ve received from another woman in the business that you still carry in your professional life today?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn to say no and stop people-pleasing! Being a &#8216;yes&#8217; person will eventually burn you out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Jasmine\u2019s advice to her 21-year-old self:\u00a0 &#8220;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You miss 100% of the shots you don\u2019t take so be bold and go for it. The worst thing someone can say is \u2018no\u2019.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Quickfire Questions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How Long You\u2019ve Worked At Spotlight:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> On and off for the past four years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Character I See Myself In:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> I wouldn\u2019t say this is the first time I saw myself in a character, but what really stood out to me was when I saw <em>Ballet Black<\/em> perform at the Theatre Royal Stratford East for the first time in 2022. I practised ballet as a child and for a long time I was the only Black ballet dancer in my class. I hadn&#8217;t seen ballerinas wearing braids and ballet shoes that matched their skin tone until I saw the artists from Ballet Black. It made me want to start practising ballet again.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office Superpower:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m a solo networker. I learned to get comfortable with that during my freelancing days. If you need me at an event, I\u2019ll be there.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Survival Job:<\/b> <b><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freelancing in general. I have a film\/media production background and finding work after the pandemic was a real struggle!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A Woman Who Inspires Me:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I commend Rihanna\u2019s work ethic. She\u2019s worked her way to the top. From growing up in sunny Barbados, to breaking out in the US with her music, and then becoming a billionaire businesswoman with Fenty Beauty, she\u2019s the epitome of self-made, which I admire.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Secret Skill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">D\u00e9j\u00e0 vu. I can dream about something or blank out and see something flash before my eyes before it happens in real life. It happens occasionally.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Marie-Anne Roche, Product Manager<\/h3>\n<p class=\"actor-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-size\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marie-anne-roche.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marie-anne-roche.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI define what new features we build and which problems to solve. I work with Engineering and Design to improve Spotlight for performers and industry professionals.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tell us a bit about you:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I grew up in France but spent all my adult life abroad. My first role out of university was in Product and I love how varied it is. I worked on about 10 different products, but Spotlight is my favourite by far. Outside of work you will most likely find me in a random country traveling or teaching\/practicing yoga.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is one thing you give to your role every day that you hope the Spotlight community gains from?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rigour and creativity. I try to think of ways to solve existing problems while coming up with exciting new functionalities that will continue to fuel the number of jobs on Spotlight, helping agents and performers find the perfect role and casting directors to find the right talent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is a piece of &#8216;insider&#8217; industry knowledge you\u2019ve gained that you want to &#8216;give&#8217; back to the women in our community today?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more you understand and articulate your strengths, the easier it will be to find your space. When you own who you are, opportunities become more aligned and it will be easier for people to advocate for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What\u2019s the best piece of advice you\u2019ve received from another woman in the business that you still carry in your professional life today?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kindness and competence are not mutually exclusive. You can be caring and still be respected \u2013 it can even make you stronger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Marie-Anne\u2019s advice to her 21-year-old self:<\/b> &#8220;<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust your instincts, you&#8217;ve never regretted doing so.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Quickfire Questions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How Long You\u2019ve Worked At Spotlight: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One year<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Character I See Myself In:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mulan. She is determined and stubborn and I admire that she fights for what she thinks is right. Also, who wouldn&#8217;t want to have Mushu as a guardian?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office Superpower:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unpacking complex issues and finding the easiest ways to solve them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Survival Job:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working as a tour guide in Paris, for a Segway tour company. I had to memorise a lot of random facts on the city and develop my sales skills to find clients.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A Woman Who Inspires Me:<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phoebe Waller-Bridge \u2013 her work is bold and funny and she seems very authentic.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>My Secret Skill: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am on a quest to brew the perfect cup of coffee.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From dealing with complex policy, building the infrastructure that allows your talent to be seen, to supporting you throughout your career, these women are more than just the team behind the platform \u2013 they are your advocates in the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This International Women\u2019s Day, we celebrate their brilliance and invite you to carry their advice forward: be bold, lead with kindness, lift others as you climb and never be afraid to march to the beat of your own drum. As you navigate your own journey, remember that your most authentic self is the greatest gift you can give to your craft.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet the women at Spotlight who invest their expertise to expand your opportunities. In celebration of International Women\u2019s Day, we\u2019re showcasing some of the fantastic women working behind the scenes at Spotlight to champion performers and casting professionals. From policy and marketing to product development and member support, these &#8220;architects of opportunity&#8221; share their career [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[229,53],"class_list":["post-12411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlight","tag-spotlight","tag-spotlight-experts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Women Powering Spotlight | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet the women powering Spotlight. 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