Pauleanna says: Jennifer Hyland is our next "Woman with a Story" feature. She currently works in brand management and has built a great reputation among many. After discovering her passion at a young age, she pushed through obstacles and never gave up until she was able to create the world that she had always desired. Now, she runs one of the city's leading Brand Management firms and has established an elite roster of clients. As you read her story, you will see that persistance pays off and taking risks is worth it!
How old are you? 20s/30s/40s?
30’s
What is your zodiac sign?
Aries
What is your educational background?
College
Where were you born? Raised? Live now?
Born in Oshawa, raised in Whitby, live in Toronto
Single or Taken?
Taken
First job ever?
Working in the cafeteria at The BAY at 16 to pay for my band trip.
First “real” job?
Casino Dealer at 19, BMG Records at 23
Your 5 “must haves” of the moment?
My ipad, my blackberry torch, my passport, Maybelline black liquid eyeliner, Stilla watermelon lip gloss
What are you currently listening to?
Mary J Blige “My Life II” Drake “Take Care”, DRU “On The Brink”, Keshia Chante “Night & Day”
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| Jennifer at a Urban/Pop songwriters camp in Los Angeles with a great group and Canadian and US writers. This picture was featured in Billboard Magazine with an article on the camp. She keeps this picture to remind her of the fact that you can have something that starts as an idea that can actually become reality. |
So what do you do?
Artist & Brand Manager at tanjola Brands for Keshia Chante (Universal), DRU (Universal), Q-Benjamin (Warner), Jesse Jones/U-ology 101, and songwriters Rupert Gayle, Justin Forsley, Shiloh, and jacksoul.
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| TIFF 2010 Opening Party with Keshia Chanté |
Take us along the path (personal & professional) that took you where you are today.
I always knew I loved music, but had no idea how that would turn into a career. I started interning at BeatFactory Records in 1999 and that turned into my first job at BMG Records in 2000 running the Lifestyle Marketing department nationally. A year later I was recruited by the VP of A&R at BMG to come work for him in A&R as well as in International Exploitation for all the domestic acts such as Rascalz, jacksoul, Keshia Chante, Shawn Desman, In Essence and Canadian Idol etc. I worked at BMG through the merger with SONY and left in 2006 to join ole publishing as Creative Manager primarily building their Urban music catalogue and developing songwriters & producers. In 2008 moved to Los Angeles to help open ole’s new US office where I worked with all the US major record labels and publishers doing song camps for their artist projects and continuing to develop urban & pop writers/producers. In 2010 I came back to Toronto to work with former colleagues of mine, Ivan Berry and Daniel Mekinda who were starting an Artist/Brand Management company called tanjola. We currently represent such artists, brands and songwriters as Keshia Chante (Universal), DRU (Universal), Q-Benjamin (Warner), Jesse Jones/U-ology 101, Shiloh, jacksoul, Rupert Gayle, Justin Forsley and Shy Sharity.
What’s the toughest thing you’ve been faced with thus far?
I think the toughest thing about this industry is staying motivated and preserving through the development or re-development stages. Success comes, but it’s not always instant, in fact it’s rarely instant. An artist’s career goes in cycles from my experience. There are up and downs. You have to keep yourself motivated during the down times and remember that success can literally be one day away.
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| Jennifer got this tattoo to remind herself that the bad moments pass so not to worry too much, but the good moments also pass, so you still need to enjoy the present moment more. The font is based on John Lennon’s handwriting who she admires as a social activist and musician. |
What did your parents want you to be?
My parents always told me they just wanted me to be happy and that I could do whatever I wanted.
What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given?
1. “It’s easier to apologize then to ask permission.” If you want to do or try something new in business sometimes you just have to trust your gut and do it rogue. Most people have a million reasons not to attempt something new and will often say NO, before they’ll say YES. If you can avoid asking for a YES first, you more often then not are able to take a risk and create new innovations and opportunities.
2. “Don’t drink at industry functions.” Nuff said!
What advice do you have for women who want to follow in your footsteps?
Take risks, trust your gut and just because no one has done it before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done! Always take care of your health first! I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.
Anything can be done if you set your mind to doing so. Find someone who supports your career, rather than someone who envies it. Relationships need to be nurtured, just like a career. You have to make time for both in order for both to grow. It’s not always easy, but it can be done.
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| Jennifer and Keshia Chante in Kenya this past May with CANFAR (Cdn Foundation For Aids Research) to help out at the local schools and orphanages where majority of the children had HIV and whose parents died due to AIDS. "It was an eye opening experience that really changed my perspective on life." |
What’s next for you?
What’s next? Only God knows that. I’ve made a lot of “plans” in my life and they rarely go as I expect. Right now I just live one day at a time and try to enjoy the journey rather than focus on a destination.
Projects I’m working on in 2012 include:
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| This pic was taken on Jennifer's last day in A&R at SONY BMG with KC and her dear friend Haydain Neale from jacksoul who passed away in 2009. He was one of the most talented and humble artists she has ever worked with |
Where do you see yourself in 5 years... 10 years?
I’m sure I’ll be able to look back on this statement and laugh, but…I’ve already done so much in my career. I’ve travelled the world, lived abroad, gone to the best parties, worn those expensive heels and experienced some really cool things in my life. I think I see myself settling down in the next 5 – 10 years. I hope to get married, have a few kids and enjoy that journey of being a mom and a wife, which I think is one of the toughest but most fulfilling things in life.
I assume I will always have my hand in music, developing and creating something new. I hope to branch off into TV concept development also. I have a few things in the cooker as we speak.
And lastly, in your opinion, What do Women Want??
Women want to be happy!
