WHO IS SOUNDGIRLS.ORG ?

Founded in 2013 by veteran sound engineers Karrie Keyes and Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato,  SoungGirls.org is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide a professional community for women working in the audio industry wherein they can seek advice, mentorship, and empowerment.

In 2012, Keyes and Pettinato found each other as they sat on the “Women of Professional Concert Sound” panel at the Audio Engineering Society Conference in San Francisco. These two women had more than 40 years combined experience in the audio industry, and they immediately connected through their shared experiences, stories, and passions.

For the bulk of both of these producers’ professional careers, they had constantly been asking themselves and others: “Are there other women working in audio and sound? If so, where are they and how can I meet them?” It was there sitting on that panel that Keyes and Pettinato envisioned an organization that could increase the visibility of women working in the audio and sound industry. Through SoundGirls.org, they established that yes, there are women working in audio and sound. And yes, these women deserve to be seen, heard, celebrated, and employed!

Five years since the birth of SoundGirls.org, the nonprofit has grown into an international force, amassing over 4,000 members worldwide through internationally-based chapters. Through these chapters, SoundGirls.org offers scholarships, mentorships, job placement, business development and workshops for women hoping to jumpstart their career in audio and sound.

Last year, SoundGirls.org launched SoundGirls Productions, an initiative providing professional sound system equipment rentals, professional crew and gear, and experience to women who want to dive into the world of production. They do this by matching an industry veteran with an intern, allowing the seasoned veteran to show the intern the ins-and-outs of the audio industry, all the while providing support, empowerment, and inspiration.

Additionally, SoundGirls.org has created a Directory of Women in Professional Audio and Production which allows women in audio and sound to add their name, upload their resume, and share the directory with colleagues across the industry in order to increase female visibility and increase access to employment opportunities.

You can learn more about SoundGirls.org and how to get involved here.