Sophie Kouadio has carved a path in the Ivorian music industry, known for its male dominance, by establishing herself as a female manager. With determination and respect, she has become a role model for boldness and success in a field where women are rarely seen in such positions of power.
With a remarkable career and having served as an executive assistant, Sophie made the daring decision to leave everything to manage the careers of renowned artists and bands such as Kajeem, Kunta and Sisco, Yodé and Siro, Ismael Isaac, Elvis Inspiration Divine, Nelly Joumaa, among others.
Her 30 years of experience have made her a reference for future generations of female managers in Côte d’Ivoire. Recently, during her appearance on the ‘Show Buzz’ program on NCI, she shared a significant anecdote about her responsibilities, particularly when she toured with the group Yodé and Siro, known at the time as Petit Yodé and L’enfant Siro.
Questioned in the “Face à 3” section about the discipline of artists during tours and performances, she revealed facing situations where members of the troupe were accompanied by female companions. With firmness and concern for logistics and security, she explained that she had made the decision to send these companions away. “They traveled with girls. I send them away, ask Siro,” she said. Siro, in particular, was reminded of the rules when Sophie had to step in, excluding his guests to prevent any potential problems, as these companions were not covered by the artists’ insurance. “Siro, I was chasing away his girlfriends,” she adds.
This measure, far from being whimsical, reflects the rigor necessary to manage all aspects of a tour, including those that may seem trivial, but which actually pertain to professional and responsible management of music events and their participants.