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ManagementAdvice for the Next Generation
International Manager Spotlight: Right Hand Co. on Managing Khalid, Building Artists and Giving Back
The team sat down for an interview about their roles, how they work together with Khalid and their advice to the next generation of music professionals.
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Discovering Khalid
Stewart first discovered Khalid when he was a teenager releasing songs online.
“During that time, I was managing a lot of producers who were having great success,” Stewart recalls. “We came across Khalid through mutual friends on Twitter, actually. He was uploading music to SoundCloud – early versions of songs that would later end up on American Teen, like ‘Saved.’”
It wasn’t just talent that caught Stewart’s attention, it was vision.
“When I met him, he was still in high school. I told him, ‘You’re special, and you’re going to be the biggest artist in the world.’ And even at that young age, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. He knew who he was and who he wanted to become.”
That level of self-awareness made an impact.
“It’s kind of incredible, honestly – sitting down with someone who’s 17 or 18 and seeing that kind of clarity and foresight,” he adds. “So to be there, to witness it all come to life, it was honestly mind-blowing.”
For Stewart, the impact of seeing music come to fruition is hard to describe because it's bigger than words.
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“It’s more of a feeling than anything – you just feel it. Music is powerful. It’s one of the most powerful natural resources that God ever created. It brings people together.”
Courtney Stewart of Right Hand Co. photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto, 2025. Makeup by Jacqueline Marques and Vanessa Baudner.
Building the Right Hand Team
The philosophy behind Right Hand Co. is rooted in service.
“We’re in the service business. Our job is to serve our artists and deliver for them,” Stewart explains.
That approach means being with artists through all seasons, good and bad.
“It’s not just about being there when things are going well. It’s about being on the rollercoaster with them, not waiting at the end of the ride, but actually riding it with them.”
Diagne, who started as Stewart’s assistant and is now the General Manager, exemplifies that principle.
“She’s really the heartbeat of the company – she keeps everyone in line, keeps us accountable,” Stewart says. “She’s even pulled me aside and told me when I was wrong. You need that honesty.”
That same grounded energy runs through Holly and Lopez, who both joined the team in January 2022 in coordinator roles and have since grown into leadership.
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“It was a lot of learning on the spot, even with some prior knowledge,” says Holly. “This was actually my first job in the industry, so there was definitely a learning curve. But the team was really patient, understanding, and supportive. They helped me get settled and gave me the space to grow and actually thrive.”
Today, as Director of Artist Relations, she sees herself as someone who supports both vision and process. “No artist is the same, no task is the same, no day is the same… it’s all hands on deck,” she explains. “We all have our individual titles and clearly defined strengths… but at the same time, no one’s above jumping in to help wherever needed.”
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Lopez, the Director of Marketing, comes from a very authentic place: online fandoms. He learned about marketing as a fan first, serving other fanatics on a grassroots level before it became part of his profession.
“From when I was about 13 to 18, I was fully immersed in the Lady Gaga fanbase,” he shares. “There was always so much happening – creative marketing, different looks, outfits, events, opportunities. Every release had a completely unique rollout. That kind of energy and creativity really fuelled my passion and pushed me toward pursuing a career in music marketing.”
The Ever-Changing Role of an Artist Manager
Ask the team what artist management actually looks like, and they’ll tell you: it’s never the same two days in a row.
“One day we might be preparing for a video shoot, which looks completely different from prepping for a radio interview,” Diagne says. “There might be a day where Khalid’s in the studio and not feeling the session – and in that moment, we have to figure out how to communicate that to whoever he's working with, in a way that protects those relationships.”
Lopez adds: “You really have to know how to juggle a lot of different personalities… Communication skills are absolutely essential when it comes to management.”
Stewart says being an artist manager is actually like doing 10 other jobs at once, from business to therapy.
“At Right Hand, we’re involved in every single aspect of an artist’s career… At this point, all of us are basically like junior attorneys.”
But they’re also emotionally attuned to the work.
“These artists are real human beings,” Stewart says. “They’re sacrificing a lot to chase a dream – and they’re trusting us to help them get there… We’re essentially their family.”
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Mame Diagne of Right Hand Co. photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto, 2025. Makeup by Jacqueline Marques and Vanessa Baudner.
Advice for the Next Generation
Each team member has their own wisdom to share for young managers entering the industry.
“There’s so much I could say,” says Holly, “but I think one of the most important pieces of advice is to stay open-minded and be like a sponge. Don’t get distracted by what you don’t know, just be quick to learn. Keep trying.”
Diagne shares two lessons: “Your network is your net worth – but even more importantly, your integrity matters deeply in this industry… My second piece of advice is actually my alma mater’s motto: ‘Find a way or make one.’”
Stewart emphasizes patience and mentorship. “Trust the process. It’s okay to have mentors. It’s okay to ask for help. Experience is the best teacher. Surround yourself with people you admire… Trust the process – it’s part of the journey.”
And the common thread? Kindness.
“The way you treat people really sets you apart,” Stewart says. “We don’t force it – it just happens naturally. I think one of the most important things in management is making sure your team is aligned. When everyone’s on the same page, and you lead with kindness, that goes a long way.”
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The Right Hand Foundation
This same ethos of support and intention fuels The Right Hand Foundation, the nonprofit wing of the company focused on providing free housing to single mothers and their children.
“The idea actually came from our team just doing random acts of kindness,” Stewart shares. “We were at a give-back event on the south side of Atlanta… and we saw so many families living in motels – short-term stays until they could figure out where their next check was coming from.”
Instead of assumptions, Stewart listened. “Many of these women had jobs, had degrees, had done everything ‘right’, but life happened.”
The foundation doesn’t stop at providing a roof. “It’s not just about giving them a place to live for 12 months – it’s about helping them regain their footing, build independence, and ultimately fly on their own,” Stewart says. “That’s the heart of what we do.”
Relvyn Gael Lopez of Right Hand Co. photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto, 2025. Makeup by Jacqueline Marques and Vanessa Baudner.
The Name That Says It All
So why “Right Hand”? It's their mission statement.
“We see ourselves as the artist’s right hand,” Stewart says. “Even on the charitable side, with the foundation, it’s the same. Everyone we come into contact with… we want to be their right hand. We want to be the support they need.”
“We’re present, we show up, and we follow through. If we say we’ve got you, we mean it.”
And what binds it all together – music, marketing, philanthropy, purpose – is the team itself. “We truly pride ourselves on diversity,” Stewart adds. “That kind of diversity matters… We respect each other’s opinions, we embrace those differences, and we bring all of that into the work.
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