photo by steed media service

For Sheila Henley, learning as much as possible about the music industry is an ambition that was cultivated in her as a student at Columbia College. “I was in a class called music publishing and the gentleman who taught the class, Paul Kelly, inspired me to want to get more involved in the business of entertainment,” explains Henley. Though he has passed away, Henley is forever grateful for Kelly’s influence. “I just wanted to know how the business was run; he took me under his wing and became my mentor.”

Henley has since worked independently in the industry and founded her own publication, Women In Entertainment (also known as W.In.E.). “The concept of the magazine is to bridge a gap,” she says. “We’re [a publication] that caters to women and shows women in all aspects of the entertainment industry. [We] show other women that this is a platform for you to be a visionary.” Henley is passionate about keeping young professionals informed about options in the entertainment industry.

Henley’s passion for the industry also fuels her work with the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME). As membership coordinator, she’s one of the organization’s most visible members. “It’s very important because Chicago is sometimes looked at as a third-rate market in the entertainment industry,” she says. “We’re trying to break out of that and present something new and different.” –todd williams.

For more information, please visit www.nabfeme.com.

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