Welcome to the third episode of The Idealists (formerly Grit & Grace), where host, Melissa Kiguwa, gets deep... and a little wild with this week’s guest. Ty Stiklorius manages some of the world’s most respected & beloved artists, including John Legend, Lindsey Stirling, Charlie Puth and the list goes on. She also served as Executive Producer on the Oscar-winning film La La Land & won an Emmy for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert on NBC. Billboard named Ty one of the most powerful women in music and after this interview, you’ll know why.
“I got invited because one of my artists was performing at this very exclusive, elitist gathering in the South of Italy with a major tech company. I remember looking around the room and there were 100 of the top CEOs and heads of state… I was sitting in the back of the room with Gloria Steinem and we were noticing there were no women speakers... And there was this prominent music manager who kept taking me around introducing me as ‘John Legend’s girl.’ And I was like… I’m your age and I’m not his girl, I’m his manager.”
ty’s bio:
Ty Stiklorius is the founder and CEO of Friends At Work, a 21st century management and social impact company. Founded in 2015, FAW partners with artists and changemakers to realize their creative, business and social impact goals. FAW’s robust musical roster includes some of the world’s most respected and beloved artists, including John Legend, Lindsey Stirling, Raphael Saadiq, RuthAnne, VOILÁ, Frawley, Katell Keineg, Rita Wilson, Esperanza Spalding and Speelburg. The Impact team works with preeminent leaders in various fields to amplify their work and expand their reach, including such impacters as as former President Barack Obama's Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal.
Ty’s work with John Legend began in 2006 with JL Ventures, where she created and developed artist-focused strategies for content innovation and social impact. Ty is a principal alongside John Legend in the Get Lifted Film Co. production company. She served as Executive Producer on the Oscar-winning film La La Land, WGN’s hit series Underground, NBC’s A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy and the hit Netflix hip-hop competition show Rhythm & Flowstarring Cardi B, T.I and Chance the Rapper. She won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert on NBC.
Billboard has named Ty as one of the most powerful women in music and Fast Company included her on their Most Creative People list in 2017. Ty earned an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA from The University of Pennsylvania. She serves on various non-profit and private company boards, including Penn Law's Advisory Board for the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, LIFT-Los Angeles, and Americans for the Arts.