Sarah Owen
Sarah Owen (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) grew up in the music industry, where her mother walked before her and where she has now forged her own path. For the past nine years, Sarah has managed the Aotearoa Music Awards at Recorded Music NZ, including leading the awards’ significant rebrand.
As Kairangaranga for the organisation, Sarah navigated efforts to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and contribute towards the growth, future, and support of Māori within the industry. Currently, Sarah is focusing on the Māori Music Industry Coalition, breathing life into the innovative visions they hold for the future of her hapori puoro. She sits on the Executive Committee for the Music Managers Forum Aotearoa, and works music festivals over the summer months.
What does leadership look like to you?
To me, leadership embodies the art of being uncomfortably comfortable in getting things wrong. It’s about prioritising people, fostering a high-trust, collaborative environment, and ensuring intergenerational and succession planning. True leaders understand the importance of nurturing the potential in others and then gracefully stepping aside, allowing future leaders to flourish. They value innovation and diversity of thought, recognising that the best solutions often emerge from collective wisdom. Leadership, in its essence, is not just about achieving short-term goals but also about charting a course for a sustainable and prosperous future – thriving long after you’ve moved on.
How does your community show up in your practice?
Community has always been at the core of my favourite professional moments, shaping how it shows up in my practice. It’s about crafting human-centred responses that prioritise people first. It’s about surrounding myself with individuals who share a similar purposefulness, fostering a supportive network of like-minded individuals who believe in the power of collective effort. Whether it’s in my favourite projects or daily interactions, community is the driving force that propels my work towards meaningful impact, ensuring that the human element remains central in everything I do.
