Merging Creativity and Business: Angela Gil MA ’17’s Unconventional Success Story

Angela Gil MA ’17 is an executive and creative producer with over 17 years of global experience. Specializing in live media, she is a storyteller at heart, designing multi-platform programs that authentically connect culture, brands, and fans. Her work bridges music, community, and activism, creating meaningful connections between brands and audiences. 

In 2022, she joined Rolling Stone as Head of Events and Programming, where she successfully built the brand's intellectual property in the live media space. During her tenure, she conceptualized and launched music-driven platforms, including Future of Music and Musicians on Musicians(Opens in a new window), which quickly became two of Rolling Stone's most successful franchises, generating billions of impressions. Having achieved her objectives for the department, Gil recently transitioned from this role to pursue other strategic and creative projects.

Prior to this role, Gil created her own project, FutureX Sounds, a platform combining music, community, and activism—earning coverage from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Vibe, to name a few. Through festivals, pop-up sessions, and recorded albums, these artist-curated initiatives shifted the spotlight to emerging artists, behind-the-scenes people, and social justice causes. She credits Berklee for having helped her in structuring these types of projects and earning the skills that she still carries to this day.

Gil’s trajectory to success is not the most typical. She joined Berklee Valencia’s Global Entertainment and Music Business (GEMB) program with a master’s degree in digital marketing, advertising, and communications, an MBA at IE Business School, and her own company already established. “I was definitely the oldest person in the classroom but that helped me a lot. I knew exactly what I wanted from Berklee, and obviously a lot of knowledge was in the class, but I knew that a lot of it was also outside, networking, not only with professors and teachers, but also with my peers,” she observed.

Reflecting on her time at Berklee Valencia, Gil expressed how the GEMB program prepared her for the fast-paced and ever-evolving media and entertainment industry, and how she found immense value in the exchange among a diverse cohort of students. “I learned a lot from my younger peers. I was inspired; their perspective was super useful for me and kept me intrigued and curious,” she said.

However, her journey didn’t continue seamlessly after Berklee. Looking back, Gil acknowledges that the path was never linear, but one of trial and error. While mentorship and connections played a crucial role in her journey, she emphasized the importance of creating her own opportunities, and of perseverance and adaptability. “Stay curious, stay hungry, and adapt to everything that is going on around you,” she advised. 

“I think that seeing and having people in front of you who can inspire you and also give you an example of what a path after Berklee might look like is really helpful,” she continued. Yet, through it all, she remained open to learning, seizing opportunities, and trusting that every step, even the missteps, would eventually lead her to where she needed to be.

Most recently, Gil was honored with Berklee Valencia’s VALE (Valencia Alumni Leadership and Excellence) Award during the ninth edition of the Berklee Global Career Summit. The VALE Awards recognize Valencia alumni who have made a profound impact on the music industry. This distinction celebrates her exceptional leadership and contributions, highlighting her influence and achievements in the field. “I’m just truly honored. I just heard that apparently I’m the second GEMB student to receive the award. I know I'm the first woman in my program. So that also makes it super exciting, hopefully setting the tone and giving an example to other women. We can do it.”