Dynamic Women – Los Angeles – Michelle Pesce

For Michelle Pesce, music was more than background noise—it was a calling. Growing up in a home where her father’s turntable set the soundtrack, Pesce was later inspired after winning tickets to a major music festival.

This transformative experience changed everything. Moved by the energy of music electrifying that crowd, Pesce invested in her own turntables and mentored under DJ Spinderella of Salt-N- Pepa. What started in small hip-hop clubs eventually turned into a 25-year career at the top of Hollywood’s private event and entertainment scene.

That rise was not without hardship. Both of Pesce’s parents passed away by the time she was 15, shaping the resilience that now defines her. “I had to figure things out without the comfort of a security net underneath me,” she says. “I made it happen in spite of a lot of ‘no’s.’”

That persistence and taking chances eventually led to the launch of Nona Entertainment, her artist booking firm, now celebrating 10 years of championing elite event DJs and creating equity within the industry. Pesce supports nearly three dozen musicians through Nona and fosters community through initiatives like “DJs Who Lunch,” where female L.A. DJs gather to collaborate, connect and look out for one another.

In a recent milestone, Pesce summited Mount Kilimanjaro alongside fellow female entrepreneurs from Vital Voices and EY Winning Women. Yet Pesce remains most energized by firsts—those rare, exhilarating moments that still give her butterflies after decades behind the decks.

Rooted in her adopted hometown of Los Angeles, Pesce continues to fuel connection, creativity and collaboration. “Whenever I land back in the city, I feel like I am home and can recharge,” she says. “This city grounds me.” Each day, she proves that in music and in leadership, women can raise the bar together.