At 18, music super fan Kim Hawes was working as a merchandiser, touring the world with bands to sell t-shirts, posters and other promotional items.  She worked her way up to tour accountant and then became one of the first ever female tour managers, working with over 40 bands, including Motorhead and Black Sabbath.

After the birth of her daughter made touring less appealing, Kim worked as a crisis manager, consulting with tour managers and record companies to solve the problems that some with touring. She is a published author and motivational speaker, with an interest in mental health and empowerment for creative people.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut. Or anything that would get me recognition. But at that time, girls were told that exciting careers were not for them. Music never occurred to me as I didn’t know that it was an actual industry. I just knew that I loved listening to it.

Who inspired you when you were younger and why? Do they still impress you?

My mum, a single parent, raised me with the support of my grandparents and showed incredible strength throughout. She believed in me enough to let me go on tour with musicians to pursue my dreams, even while facing criticism from others. Even though she is no longer alive, I still am in awe of who she was, her strength and determination.

Describe your school days

I lived in a small village in Lancashire called Hesketh Bank, halfway between Preston and Southport. Expectations were small. My school days were hard as I was bullied for the colour of my skin. My father was from Pakistan and I never knew him.

As a female, I was constantly being told I could not do that. This was back in the late 60s and early 70s where women were expected to just get married or become secretaries. In a strange way, this gave me a desire to prove that I could do anything and it didn’t matter about my skin or that I was female. Did I rebel? Yes, but not in a bad way. I just wanted to try everything and not be ridiculed for doing so.

Do you have a key anecdote or piece of advice that you regularly share with young people?

Take courage. You might doubt yourself and feel like something is not a possibility for you, but the only guarantee is this: if you don’t try, nothing changes. Don’t let  ‘what if?’ be your story.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

On my very first tour whilst merchandising, I was asked by the tour manager if this was a career I would like to pursue. I replied with “I would love your job” and he immediately shot me down by saying that girls cannot be tour managers. So when I became one of the very first in the whole world, it was very gratifying. Later, I was given an honorary degree from UCLAN for being a pioneer for women in the music industry.

And your biggest failure?

Failure is something I look at differently to most people. I look at failure not negatively but as a lesson on how to do something differently the next time.

Who is the most inspiring speaker you have heard?

I don’t have one inspirational speaker but many quotes that inspire me from people older and wiser than me.

I love this quote, that is often attributed to Sir Winston Churchill, though there is not evidence he actually said it: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”

Again, this one’s credited to Marilyn Monroe,  but perhaps mistakenly. It’s still great: “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring”.

Other quotes that really resonate include “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase” from Martin Luther King and “Things do not happen. Things are made to happen” from JFK.

Finally, as Nelson Mandela said: “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.

Why is speaking in schools important to you?

I love to encourage young people to follow their dreams; to take opportunities sent their way. They may not always be what they wanted to begin with but wait….  Your dreams can come true just differently. Just follow opportunities without fear as you never know where they may lead.

What makes you relatable?

I cannot sing.

I cannot play a musical instrument.

I cannot read music.

And yet I have spent my whole working life in the music industry and am loving every second.

Kim is available to speak in Greater Manchester schools about working in the creative industries, being a female pioneer, following your dreams and mental health. Contact info@statetalking.org if you think she could inspire your students.