Laurie Lee Boutet has always been able to spot artists on the rise. She got her start as a music blogger before working in A&R at London’s Mercury Records and then at Universal in Canada. She struck out on her own in 2016, founding boutique company Wednesday Management, and in 2022 started working with The Beaches at a pivotal moment in their career, when they were ready to refocus and make changes. Boutet guided the group toward a breakthrough year in 2023: their song “Blame Brett” went viral and launched them to an international career and a major year culminating in the inaugural Billboard Canada Women in Music Group of the Year.

Amidst these major wins for Wednesday and The Beaches, Boutet is reminded that success isn’t cookie-cutter. “Don’t compare yourself to others,” she shares, especially important advice in an industry that often pits women against each other. “Stay true to your goals, and trust that your journey is uniquely yours,” she adds.

That sense of self is a key ingredient in starting your own company – the kind of confidence that’s led her and The Beaches through a massive year.