Sherin Striewe in the Keychange Talent Leadership Programme 2026

This month, the initiative Keychange has announced the new group of 44 Music Industry Leaders selected for its Talent Leadership Programme 2026. The programme responds to the findings of the Keychange Pledge Report 2023–2025, which shows that while around half of the signatory organisations are making progress toward gender balance, significant disparities remain across regions, sectors, and social backgrounds. Organisations from Western Europe are particularly well represented, while regions in Eastern and Central Europe and other underrepresented areas are still less involved.

From a total of 255 eligible applications, 44 leaders from 25 countries across Europe and Canada were selected – including Germany, France, Armenia, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. The programme aims to build a geographically diverse and intersectionally inclusive network that actively advances Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) within the music industry.

Participants have at least five years of experience in the music sector and work across areas such as live music, cultural policy, advocacy, creative production, and organisational development. The programme is therefore specifically designed for professionals who are in a position to drive structural change within the industry.

We are especially pleased that our board member Sherin Striewe is part of the new cohort. With her expertise and commitment to a more diverse and equitable music industry, they bring valuable perspectives to the programme’s international network.