Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caroline Mongillo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Caroline, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
When thinking about taking a risk, I believe that for the average person, fear enters the room. Risk means entering a space where there are unknown outcomes, where both the good and bad are possible. This isn’t the most comforting feeling because there is a lack of security. But what if the best case scenario happened as a result of taking that risk…what if your wildest dreams came true, and then some…what if you became the greatest version of yourself as a result? Those positive “what-ifs” are what I choose to focus on and become unapologetically delusional about. If you affirm to yourself daily that the risks will result in a positive outcome, overtime you start to genuinely internalize it…sort of a “fake it till’ you make it” type of mentality. Once you truly believe it is all going to work out in your favor and you will get where you want to go by taking risks, they actually become attractive. You won’t hesitate to take them and it will always feel worth it to do so. Conversely, if you were to think about not taking the risks, you could come up with a few ideas of how life would continue on as a result. Are those the results you want for yourself? Is that the life you want to lead? In the end, the worst case scenario of taking a risk is that the outcome isn’t exactly what you wanted. But the story doesn’t end there. You’ve then learned more about yourself and where to go next, and that’s valuable information you wouldn’t have discovered had you not taken the risk to begin with. So think big, dream big, move big for yourself, you’re worth taking risks for. This is the mindset I’ve coached myself to develop over time to take risks.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I represent Synesthesia Collective LLC, an artist management group and music collective that focuses on creating equity within the electronic music industry and acts as a safe powerhouse for artists to develop and excel in their careers. A large part of our mission is to empower womxn in the industry and create more seats for us to have successful careers. While we will happily represent artists of all identities and walks of life, as the founder of Synesthesia Collective, and with my team expanding, I will only be hiring womxn operate the group to fulfill my promise to my mission. This is important to me personally because the industry is very male-dominated and has been for many years; it’s time for more women to have power.
Music has always been an immense passion of mine. From a very young age, I have been a music fanatic, dancer, and even entrepreneur. I have always known I would work in the industry in some capacity, and would lead a unique and meaningful project true to my love for it. I worked in several different roles beginning in 2015, from music venue and festival operations, to marketing and PR-based roles. In October 2023, I finally decided to jump into my entrepreneurial spirit and Synesthesia was born. I have flown to tens of different cities for our artists’ events and expanded artist presence in almost every region. Our artist roster is expanding this year and we are currently taking submissions! I am so excited to see our growth in the next year to come.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Open-mindedness, patience, and high self-belief are three qualities and skills that have been most impactful in my journey thus far. I have found that you need to be open-minded to the many different paths that your journey to success could take you down, as some of them are disguised as obstacles and road blocks, but are really stepping stones to where you want to go. You may also change course on your own volition as you learn more about the position you once thought you wanted to be in, or as you learn more about yourself and your desires over time. The only constant is change- be open to it. Patience is another skill that’s been a significant contributor to my career development, and how it allows for you to seize control and enjoy the process of becoming. We can easily get overly excited about diving head first into our goals, especially when they are rooted in such passion. We want to do everything at once, and we want to do it all ourselves. Too often, this unfortunately leads to burn out, which halts your progress and can potentially stunt reaching your potential. Slowing down, creating an organized plan with many steps (big, medium, and small) on how to achieve your goals, and recruiting help when necessary are all vital for a successful journey. Patience allows you to not rush the natural timeline of the process, which ultimately allows you to enjoy it much more easily (and peacefully might I add). Lastly, high self-belief has allowed for me to sustainably pursue my passions and purpose with music. When you believe in yourself enough to go for what you want, what feels right in your bones, you can achieve anything. Nothing kills motivation and drive more than disbelief and discouragement in oneself. Surround yourself with supportive individuals, take care of your mind, body, and spirit daily, and find (or create if need be) the time and space to relax and participate in activities that inspire happiness in you. These practices help maintain a steady mind and instill confidence that will contribute to high self-belief. If you are early in your journey (much like myself) just remember that all good things take time, do not take shortcuts, always stay humble and kind to others and to yourself, and remain a student of life.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is an individual that understands the meaning of authentic creativity and has discovered what that looks like for themselves. Of course, in the context of music, this looks like being able to project their unique sound through their originally produced music, where they are easily identifiable among other artists and songs. This artist has an innate passion for music…it’s in their bones and runs through their veins…and sees themselves contributing their art to the community for the indefinite future. An ideal client of mine is also open-minded to feedback and change, as the industry and needs of it are constantly changing. Working with a manager, my client must be collaborative and receptive to external opinions and professional guidance, as I will always be looking out for their best interest and have the expertise to back my decisions. They must give time and allow space to trust this. Being an artist alone doesn’t require you to be a businessman/woman+, but making a successful and lucrative career out of it requires more expansive thinking, which is almost always better developed with the assistance of a team. An ideal client understands and embraces this. Most importantly, an ideal client is excited about their capabilities and their future in music, and is ready to take the next steps to make their wildest dreams come true.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/UR60Ht2MzkSJq?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafAgkU25CbggXx6SPwWsrRhqXDByVHRHhZuObO-w_f7_DkmHM1uYxD9IrifLg_aem_cLY1PuOxX6iEMDHLr6fRkA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synesthesiaco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Synesthesia-Collective/
Image Credits
Kap Off Media
Collective Perspective Media
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
