Rashida Anderson-Abdullah ’24, who now goes by HP Sherie (The Headbanging Princess) to symbolize her transition from politics and journalism to music and entertainment, grew up in a family that bonded through music, often watching awards shows together on television. Through those experiences, plus her fascination with a handful of rock and heartthrob bands during high school, she developed strong opinions about what quality music and artists are—and aren’t.
“I had all these opinions on music, and I wanted to do something with them,” says Sherie. “But, early on, I ruled out a career in entertainment. I didn’t view it as a reliable path, and I wanted a career that would allow me to impact communities that need an advocate.” For her, making an impact meant pursuing a career in law—and she was preparing to do so by participating in her high school’s mock trial program and speech and debate teams.
Her next step was to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Illinois Chicago. After that, she planned to attend law school, take the bar, and become a lawyer. One thing she didn’t consider about her chosen career path, however, was the mental toll it would take. As she studied politics and law, music and entertainment became ways to de-stress. Eventually, their healing and wellness capabilities caused her to reconsider her future.
After graduating, she worked for the Schuler Scholar Program, an education nonprofit. This experience helped her connect the dots on new ways she could pursue music and the arts as a career. “I realized that becoming a lawyer wasn’t the only way to be a community advocate,” she says. “There were other ways I could make a difference while still maintaining a healthy mind.”
As a scholar coach, Sherie helped low-income and first-generation students find their way into top schools, coaching and mentoring them through the application process and helping them plan for a successful college education.
“I enjoyed the aspects of my role that involved using media or music as a tool for students to connect with each other and get used to telling stories for college admissions,” she says. “We often referenced or used music and other creative arts to help them along their journeys, and I enjoyed those experiences the most.”
To make the official transition away from the legal profession, Sherie applied to two master’s programs—an MS in Journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and an MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) from Northwestern’s School of Communication—with the intention of only completing one.
When she was accepted into both, however, she couldn’t choose between them. So, she earned her journalism degree first, knowing the program would give her writing and networking skills if she revisited a career in law or politics. During that time, she was also a health and science reporter for Medill News Service and a researcher for Hearst Television.
In 2023, after earning her MS in Journalism, she enrolled in the MSLCE program to learn more about the business side of entertainment. One of the first courses she took—Understanding the Creative Industries, taught by Lecturer Freda Love Smith—helped her realize what the field truly encompasses. “It allowed me to think about the industry as more than just the movies, TV shows, and music we listen to and watch. These things help us make sense of who we are as a society and what that means.”
Hands-on work is helping her apply what she’s learning. Her favorite project so far involved the opportunity to create a transmedia franchise for an existing brand. Her team turned the game series Legend of Zelda into a movie, TV show, and symphony tour featuring the game’s music. “We got to think about how we could expand this world and tell this story in a way that resonates with more and more people. Every new transmedia story provides a unique value and has a unique audience, too.”
She’s also a digital and social intern for iHeart, managing social media content and spending time on-air for the Angi Taylor Show on Rock 95.5 FM and working with Darryl Dennard, the host of V103’s Chicago Speaks, to pitch story ideas and book interviews.
These experiences, combined with what she’s learning in the MSLCE program, are helping Sherie connect her creative expertise with business knowledge, strategic skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset. As a result, her 10-year goal is to establish a music/museum venue that caters to Black artists, musicians, and fans.
“There’s a misconception that heavy metal and rock genres were developed by White icons and have mostly White audiences, but that’s simply not true,” she explains. “I want to highlight the artists of yesteryear that contributed to the progression of the genres and also use the space to uplift current Black rock artists. What I’m learning will help me pull the pieces together to build my enterprise. For example, I’ve discovered how company founders can convince people to invest in their projects. That’s a big part of being an entrepreneur: having persuasion skills to convince people to buy in.”
Three skills Rashida Anderson-Abdullah (HP Sherie) built through the MSLCE program:
- How to ask the right questions. “We’re encouraged to conduct informational interviews to find out whatever we need to learn to get us to where we need to go. I’m so comfortable interviewing, uncovering information, and researching, which has helped me amp up my industry knowledge.”
- How to pitch story ideas. “This skill will be invaluable to me for my own enterprise. It’s been a wake-up call: I know I need to be able to strategically pitch an idea to an investor.”
- How to develop effective go-to-market strategies. “We’ve learned about content creation, distribution, presentation, curation, and more.”
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