Pictured: Arkells with Ashley Poitevin

Ashley Poitevin is the manager of two marquee Canadian acts, Lights and Arkells. Both acts debuted more than 15 years ago, but Poitevin has a knack for working with them on opportunities that keep them constantly refreshed and pushing to new heights. That’s her advice to new managers, “Identify the parts of the job you’re most passionate about, and think about how that can complement your artist’s strengths,” she says. “Can you build upon what sets them apart? Can you find ways to make this fun for the team?”

Arkells and Lights are both already having big years in 2025 – Lights with her new electro-pop album A6 and the Canadian radio hit “Alive Again,” Arkells with marquee shows at KEE to Bala in Muskoka and the upcoming return of their beloved hometown stadium show The Rally in Hamilton – but her proudest achievement this year comes from an unlikely spot. “Getting an event permit from the Toronto District School Board is a marathon I never knew I could complete.” Arkells frontman Max Kerman recently wrote his first book, Try Hard, with Poitevin as a key driver.

They had the fun idea to launch it at his old Toronto high school Harbord Collegiate, but the amount of bureaucracy involved rivalled putting on an event with 25,000 people. But they pushed through and made it happen, and the book has been a multi-week bestseller. “Music isn’t rocket science, but the business can be a grind. Relish in the parts that bring you joy and make it your secret weapon.”