About us

Cat’s Mother Network

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Cat’s Mother Network

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Cat’s Mother Network ⚡ Cat’s Mother Network ⚡

About Us

Cat’s Mother is a not-for-profit female focused networking service.  Our aim is to connect young women (18-24) from low income backgrounds with professional established women who work in the music industry.  

We hold various networking events and workshops but our main focus is arranging free 30 minute meetings (in person or online) for our beneficiaries who aspire to build a network and/or work in all sectors of the music industry. We encourage and support young women to build their networks whether that be in marketing, the live sector, artist management, A&R, legal or sync.

Please note that this service is not aimed at song writers or artists but for those interested in a career on the business side.

“BRIDGING THE GAPS BETWEEN WHO YOU KNOW AND WHAT YOU KNOW”

How? Our process is simple

Our exclusive rolodex of independent, experienced and inspiring women have committed to a voluntary “bank” of ½ hour consultancy sessions for up and coming female entrepreneurs, career women and creatives.  These 30-minute slots are gifted by our organisation to support the talent development and industry awareness of ambitious entry level individuals. After an initial discussion designed to discover what you need to get your paw in the door, we curate our consultancy match-making service according to relevance and individual need. The Cat’s Mother then organises a time and a place that makes the conversation convenient and impactful.

Our Story

Natalie Wade co-founded The Cat’s Mother Network in 2019 alongside Niki Evangelou. A recent Campaigner of the Year, Women in Music Awards 2023 winner, Nats’ personal mission is to help young and diverse people access and enter the music and creative industries. Since founding Small Green Shoots in 2009 and The Cat’s Mother in 2019, she has worked tirelessly to create pathways for young people from low-income backgrounds and provided opportunities for diverse young women in the creative industries. Wade's significant contributions have earned her multiple accolades, including a BEM and recognition as an Unsung Hero.

Alongside Natalie sits the rest of our board members, consisting of 5 diverse, female and committed Trustees most of whom have never held a Trustee position formally, regardless of being considered leaders in their fields, as well as a Steering Group made up of young women dedicated to supporting The Cat’s Mother mission of creating a more diverse and inclusive music and creative industry.

Our Team

  • Natalie Wade

    FOUNDER

  • Sara Lord

    CO-CHAIR OF BOARD

  • Charlotte-Anne

    CO-CHAIR OF BOARD

  • Shiama Young

    BOARD MEMBER

  • Kate Etteridge

    BOARD MEMBER

  • Laura Leon

    PROGRAMME & MEETINGS MANAGER

OUR EVENTS

Cat’s Mother hosts an annual series of events exploring topics including Future Women in Music, How to Get That Second Interview, Introduction to the Music Business, and How to Ask for a Pay Rise.

These events are made possible through the support of organisations such as Handle Recruitment, Music Week, PPL, and Amazon Music, and take place in Central London, across the UK, and online, with a continued focus on expanding regional access and reach.

In 2023, 2024 and 2025, we have celebrated the Cat’s Mother of the Year Award, recognising outstanding women across the music industry. The inaugural 2023 award was presented to Emma Banks, Head of CAA, followed by Sonia Diwan, Owner/Partner at Sound Advice (Legal) LLP in 2024.

In 2025, Abi Leland was presented with the Cat’s Mother of the Year Award, recognising her leadership, influence and commitment to supporting the next generation of talent within the music industry, as reported by Music Week.

As highlighted in Music Week, Cat’s Mother has continued to grow its mentoring programme and community impact, with its first fundraising event receiving strong industry backing, reinforcing the demand for accessible mentorship and career development opportunities across the UK.

In 2026, Cat’s Mother was named the official charity partner of the Music Week Awards, marking a significant milestone for the organisation and further cementing its role in supporting and championing the next generation of women in music.

The annual awards evenings also feature special performances and appearances from Cat’s Mother ambassadors. ENNY, Cat’s Mother Music Ambassador, performed in 2023, while Yazmin Lacey attended as 2024’s ambassador, continuing our commitment to celebrating and amplifying emerging and established talent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • We make an informed decision about which Cat’s Mother you will meet based on your interests and needs against the Cat’s Mothers’ experience, knowledge and expertise.

  • We will try to accommodate any selection that you make, however if you don’t get the Cat’s Mother that you request, we will ensure that we allocate you someone who is still within your chosen creative field. 

  • No, this is an absolutely free service. 

  • Our Cat’s Mothers are very busy ladies and will be dedicating voluntary time out of their busy schedules, so we have a 72-hour cancellation policy. If you fail to let us know within this time frame that you cannot make it, unfortunately we won’t be able to arrange another appointment.

  • This will be at the discretion of the Cat’s Mother during your meeting.

  • You won’t be able to see the same Cat’s Mother again, but they can refer you back to us so that you can see a different Cat’s Mother within your chosen field.

  • It gives them the opportunity to give back in a way which suits them, which many of our Cat’s Mother’s find very rewarding. 

  • The slots are only half an hour as often, this is the only break that our Cat’s Mothers can fit in, however we ask that you send us 3 “agenda” questions in advance. This will enable the Cat’s Mother to get prepared for the meeting so that you can get the best out of your time.

  • All Cat's Mother meetings take place online via zoom, with occasional meetings taking place in person, depending on the availability.

  • We can consider this on a case by case basis.

  • Each Cat’s Mother has committed to a specific number of hours which they’re donating in the form of voluntary consultancy sessions for aspiring female creatives.

  • Of course! We’d love to hear about your experience as it will help us improve our service. We’re all ears.

  • Please get in touch with kate@catsmother.co.uk to receive a link containing our short expression of interest form.