MusiCares congratulates Executive Director Laura Segura on being honored as a Billboard 2023 Women In Music top executive in activism and philanthropy. Since starting at MusiCares in 2020, the organization has seen growth in services, programs, partnerships, and its internal team. Segura has also guided the organization through their long-term recovery efforts during and post pandemic.
Her leadership and inspiration reaches beyond MusiCares and those we serve, and this recognition shows her impact across the music industry. And although it wasn’t her first time receiving the Billboard Women In Music honor — she also made the list in 2022 — Segura felt just as empowered at this year’s ceremony.
“I was humbled by the thought of all that it takes for women to live their lives to the fullest,” she captioned an Instagram photo from the event. “Stay strong out there ladies.”
In celebration of International Women’s Day, MusiCares highlights Segura with an interview that dives deeper into what keeps her inspired, MusiCares’ achievements over the years, and embracing authenticity as a woman in music — and beyond.
MusiCares’ mission has the importance of equality and empowerment built in. What about the mission inspires you as a leader?
The inclusivity of the MusiCares mission is what keeps me inspired. I love that we help all the humans behind music, because music gives so much to the world.
I love working for a company that creates safe spaces and works to dismantle stigmas. I'm naturally driven to serve and give back, and when I know that we do it on such a scale, for so many people in the music industry, that really keeps me inspired. My hope is that I lead in the same way, being inclusive and intentional on always lifting those around me.
What are you most proud of in the past year at MusiCares?
I’m most proud of the team that we're building internally at MusiCares. We have done a lot of work to preserve the respected 30+ year reputation of MusiCares, while also turning a new page to modernize and digitize our operations. That has required us to go through a lot of change as a team.
This last year, coming out of the hardest relief effort the organization has ever completed, it’s been beautiful to watch how the team has come out stronger, better and bonded. I'm so proud of our team. It is the team that brings our mission to life every day in service of the music community.
MusiCares was able to serve over 21,400 clients, which is double what an average year used to be. What led to that shift and what do you think this next year will look like?
Well first, we’re comparing a multi-year average to this latest year. So, I think it is important to acknowledge this has not been an immediate shift. This impressive stat is actually pointing to the massive evolution of the organization.
That said, we have seen a lot of growth in the last few years, for sure, for a couple reasons. The pandemic has forever changed music and who we are as a music community. We took a stand very early, alongside the Recording Academy, to create the COVID Relief Fund. I think taking that stand as an organization, to raise our hand and do the hard work it took to help the community through such a devastating time, has raised awareness about who MusiCares is and what MusiCares is capable of.
I think that also helped destigmatize asking for help. It’s raised awareness around the importance of mental health and preventative health year-round, not just in times of disaster or in times of crisis. So more people are asking for help, more people are dedicating themselves to preventative wellness, and more people are aware of what MusiCares can do for them. MusiCares is stronger than ever knowing that we can be a scalable solution for the music community, in the worst of times and in the best of times.
What are you most excited about in this next year for MusiCares?
I'm most excited about continuing to think about innovative ways to serve, and to challenge ourselves to target and personalize services for certain genres and for certain types of needs that require more acute response. MusiCares has done a great job over the years of providing health and human services broadly. I know that we can keep digging deeper to find new frontiers as an organization, and that's what excites me the most.
Do you have any advice for women just starting out in their careers, hoping to find a path to leadership?
First and foremost, I hope that the current leadership of companies and industries recognize how many up-and-coming women there are who want opportunities — and I would hope that opportunities are being created for them.
For the individuals trying for those opportunities, I'd say the most important thing is not to fixate on leadership in terms of a title or rank, but rather, focus on being true to who you are and what your calling is. Day in and day out, regardless of your title, be authentic and true to that calling. The more you can do really great hard work with that authentic truth in mind, leadership positions will naturally come.
It's about being a leader in your own personal life, and being true to who you are first. That makes you ready for leadership titles or positions when they're presented in your career.
I think most women will get discouraged or frustrated if they're just chasing a title. You might find yourself getting the title and then finding out that it doesn't actually fulfill what you were looking for in the first place. The most important thing is to find your natural talent, and then lean into that. And then I think the other side of the coin is for those in power to recognize others who are naturally inclined for leadership, and provide for them paths to grow.