Meet William Fortney
About Me
I love building genuine and valuable connections with clients by doing the things I love. I bring focus and drive to any project I take on. When I have a vision, I find ways to make it happen. I have an MBA with a focus in strategy and marketing from the University of Texas, and I live in Austin, Texas with my family.
I’d love to chat with you about how we might work together in the future.
Experience
What I’ve Done
Founder, Picasso Music Group
2020-Present
This is my newest musical baby! started Picasso Music Group because I am passionate about the artistic development process. Picasso helps independent artists with release strategies, content generation, ad campaigns and contract negotiations.
MBA+ Project, Black Fret
Spring Semester 2021
Worked with a diverse group of MBA students passionate about the future of music and non-profits. As a group of 5 we developed a robust go-to-market strategy including a ranked system to prioritize new markets. Our top market was unanimously approved by the organization to be their next expansion city.
MBA+ Project, City of Austin
Spring Semester 2020
Myself and a diverse, cross-functional team of 5 classmates worked together to build a financial model and conduct market research for a COA affordable housing program. We also partnered with local non-profit Community Powered Workshop to build a sustainable business plan for the next 5 years.
Director, ACE Academy
2019 -2020
Director of Programs & Head of Summer Wonders, a summer program serving the gifted and talented community. During COVID-19 in 2020 we were forced to shift to online on a moments notice and with the help of a great team I was able to keep the program profitable and expand it from Austin to nation-wide. Reported directly to COO and managed a marketing budget and up to 15 employees.
Creative Consultant/Project Manager
2015-2019
Worked closely with the Hollywood Records and Disney Music team to manage creative projects and live music events. Duties include, managing rehearsals, building tour budgets, managing tours, engineering and recording audio, and all things artist development. Also wrote and published compositions and performed live.
Educator
Ongoing
Over the years I have offered private lessons and developed curriculum for group classes in guitar, songwriting, and digital music production. Additionally I oversaw the Intern program at the recording studio I managed in LA. Since getting my MBA I have also begun offering classes in marketing and strategy.
Educational History
Where I studied
MBA, UT McCombs
January 2019 - May 2021
Studied business with great professors and amazing classmates. The program brought my skills of managing creative projects together with quantitative thinking and reasoning. MY FAVORITE CLASSES: Strategy, Valuations, Leading People and Organizations.
Political Science, Missouri State University
2007 - 2010
Studied Political Science with a focus on International Relations. MY FAVORITE CLASS: International Relations Trip to Kenya