Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Roe.
Hi Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My career has taken a few unexpected turns, but each step has shaped how I lead today. I began in Washington, D.C., working on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Senate Majority Leader before joining a Presidential campaign. I went on to serve at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
When I returned home to Kansas City, I shifted my focus to community-based work with individuals with disabilities and eventually launched an administrative services business, where Folk Alliance International (FAI) became one of my clients. That connection sparked a passion for the folk music community and its mission.
I joined FAI full time in 2014, taking on a central role in leading staff and contractors and managing day-to-day operations. My background in politics naturally evolved into strong advocacy for arts and culture at both the federal and state levels. Over the years, I also had the opportunity to learn under three Executive Directors, each shaping my understanding of the organization and the broader music ecosystem.
Today, as Executive Director, I have the privilege of leading a global network of more than 3,000 members that include artists, presenters, agents, record labels, administrators, and cultural leaders from around the world. My focus is on strengthening our community through expanded scholarships, deeper support for our regional chapters, and continued advocacy for the independent music sector.
It’s been a winding path, but every chapter has prepared me to champion the rich, interconnected world of folk music.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but the challenges have shaped me into a stronger and more grounded leader. Early in my career, I moved through several very different environments, from Capitol Hill to federal agencies to nonprofit work, which meant constantly learning new systems, expectations, and cultures. Each transition came with its own uncertainty.
Within Folk Alliance International, I’ve navigated some particularly difficult periods. I stepped into interim leadership twice during times of organizational transition, which required stabilizing operations, supporting staff, and keeping the community connected. More recently, unexpected crises, like the last-minute conference venue change due to a labor strike and sudden funding losses, forced our team to pivot quickly and creatively to keep our conference and programs strong.
Personally, one of the biggest challenges was learning to trust my own leadership style. I had to move past comparison and recognize that I didn’t need to mirror the leaders who came before me. I could lead in a quieter, relationship-driven way and still be effective.
These struggles weren’t easy, but they taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of a strong team. Looking back, the hard moments were often the ones that moved me forward the most.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is truly unique. I run an organization that serves the global folk music community. When I first learned about Folk Alliance International in 2012, I honestly didn’t even know how broadly “folk music” could be defined. It turns out I’d been listening to it all along. At FAI, we understand folk as “music of the people,” which means it can sound vastly different depending on where you are, from the traditions of Finland to the sounds of the rural Ozarks. At its heart, it’s storytelling through song.
As a membership organization, we support artists, industry professionals, venues, and cultural partners around the world. This gives me the opportunity to represent both the organization and Kansas City at conferences and events across the globe. Much of my time is spent at showcasing conferences, where I get to listen to incredible and often unexpected music from every corner of the world. Engaging with our membership is one of the most inspiring parts of my job.
FAI also hosts the world’s largest conference dedicated to the folk music genre. Our next conference will be in New Orleans in January 2026, where we expect around 2,800 attendees from 40–50 countries. We produce more than 160 Official Showcase performances on full production stages built inside the hotel ballroom spaces. The entire event happens under one roof, with professional development sessions during the day and a truly magical experience at night: our community transforms 70–80 hotel guest rooms into intimate, acoustic showcase spaces, sometimes with the beds removed or pushed aside. Attendees wander room to room discovering new artists. It’s unlike anything else in the music industry, and it captures the heart and community spirit of folk music.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The qualities most important to my success are confidence, adaptability, and authenticity.
Confidence has been an ongoing journey for me. In past roles, I sometimes felt I needed to be an expert in everything, but I eventually learned that true leadership is about creating the conditions for others to shine. Letting go of control and trusting my team was a major turning point. When I stepped into my current role, I also had to stop comparing myself to previous Executive Directors and recognize that my own quieter, more personal leadership style was not only valid but well-suited to a community-driven organization. Working with a professional development coach during that transition helped me build clarity, self-trust, and a renewed sense of confidence.
Adaptability has been equally essential because things rarely go as planned, and the ability to pivot with steadiness and clarity is vital in the arts and nonprofit world.
And authenticity allows me to lead in a way that feels true to who I am. I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from fitting someone else’s mold, it comes from embracing your strengths and showing up with honesty and intention.
Together, these qualities have guided me through challenges and helped me grow into the leader I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.folk.org/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/folk_alliance
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/folkalliance
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-roe-71a19a30/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/folkalliance
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/folkalliance
