Women in Pro Audio: Erika West’s Journey Continues Women in Pro Audio: Erika West’s Journey Continues...

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In the earliest iteration of our Women in Pro Audio interview series in 2021, we introduced you to Erika West, an audio professional who, at the time, was a seasoned road warrior—mixing front-of-house (FOH), coordinating radio frequency (RF), and designing PA systems. Her journey started with mixing church in ear monitors at age 11 and quickly grew into a full-time career that, as she recalled, finally earned her parents’ recognition as a “legitimate career” after her first George Strait stadium show. Today, we’d like to continue Erika’s story, as she has entered a new chapter, transitioning from the adrenaline-fueled world of touring to a global position with L-Acoustics. This time, we catch up with her to discuss her move to L-Acoustics, her work with immersive audio, and the evolving landscape for women in pro audio. 

From Road Warrior to Education Specialist 

Since our last conversation, Erika has taken on a new role with L-Acoustics as an Education Specialist. For those familiar with L-Acoustics, we take pride in our commitment to advancing the pro audio education landscape due to the advancement of sound technologies and tools. When asked about the significant adjustments required to move from a production-side role (FOH, systems tech) to a manufacturer position, she shared that one of the biggest changes was the work environment itself, along with the “opportunity to create connection points for other audio professionals.” 

Erika now works remotely alongside a diverse team of coworkers “from all over the world, from here in the USA, England, France, Greece, Singapore, Australia, and beyond.” She expressed her appreciation for her new position. “I love getting the opportunity to work with such a wide range of amazingly talented people on education-related projects and creating events for other audio professionals that I would want to attend.” 

A notable example of this was the first-ever L-Acoustics Connect Conference, which was an Education department-led event held in Paris, France, that hosted audio professionals from around the world. Erika was “honored to be a part of this event.” 

The Passion Continues 

Reflecting on one of her most memorable professional moments since the last interview, Erika shared her excitement from her touring days, recalling the first time she flew an L-Acoustics K1/K2 system with delays for a George Strait stadium show. 

“The feeling of hearing the PA roar at FOH is a memory I’ll never forget. It sparked the desire for me to learn more about designing and tuning a large-scale distributed system and grow into being a better Systems Engineer. This meant taking more advanced system calibration training like Variable Curvature Line Source and Loudspeaker System Calibration, as well as looking at sources of literature like AES white papers and webinars offered by L-Acoustics and resources from other engineers.” 

Women in Pro Audio: Persistence and Purpose 

In her previous interview, Erika candidly discussed the unique challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, including the difficulty of professional, platonic communication with male colleagues and the struggle against “ignorant assumptions,” such as being turned down for a tour because of her gender.  

Today, “the core issues are still there,” Erika states, and the struggle is real, but so is the shift. She continues, “While I still see talented women overlooked for gigs and interviews due to old biases, I am also starting to see the direct opposite: production managers and artists actively requesting female crew to bring balance to their teams. All I can say to other females in the industry is: As long as you work hard, always respect others, and continue doing a great job despite what others may think or say about you, they won’t be able to ignore you. Even if they don’t like you, they’ll never forget your name, so make sure you are giving them something worth remembering.” 

Erika also reflected on the best piece of advice she’s received, which helped her navigate inevitable setbacks and rise to her current position: “You can’t be grateful and anxious at the same time.” She explained that these emotions are governed by two different parts of our brain. After facing her own highs and lows in the industry, she realized that finding things to “regret or be anxious about” was a waste of her time. By practicing gratitude, we can “shift our focus to a more beneficial emotion.” 

Industry Changes 

When asked what she would change about the pro audio industry’s workflow, education, or culture, Erika specifically pointed out that she would dismantle one outdated philosophy in the industry. The unforgiving mentality that says, “You are only as good as your last show. This idea actively suffocates innovation, leaving no necessary room for experimentation, risk, or the essential failures that precede major growth. The production world can often be unforgiving, but I’ve started to see this change over time, and I hope more people will be more open-minded about people’s failures.” 

The underlying motivation that fuels Erika’s work is her core purpose: “The desire to help others and leave things/people better than I found them. Some days, that means tweaking a mix day by day to get better results. Some days that means lifting someone’s spirits when they aren’t having the best day. Or even just cleaning up a rack to make it more efficient. While these are just a few of what may seem like small tasks or events, they all add up at the end of the day and make me happy, feeling as though I’ve made a difference with my time and energy.” 

The Impact of Immersive Audio 

In her previous interview, Erika mentioned she was “very intrigued with the whole immersive sound idea” and excited about tools like L-ISA. Now, working with the company behind the technology, she says, “I have had first-hand experience with L-Acoustics’ immersive technology and I’m blown away at the impressive tools offered and ease of use of the product. Its ability to transform spaces and overcome standard mixing constraints is just what we need to move into the next phase of concerts, taking us from live entertainment to a live experience.” 

Finally, for other women just getting started who might be feeling overwhelmed or like an outsider, Erika advises: “The secret to professional growth isn’t having all the answers, but mastering the art of the question. You must start with what you know and use it to build your list of resources. When I mentor those who feel they are “behind” in their careers, I guide them to formulate concise, powerful questions and identify the tools they have available to them. Whether that’s a trusted colleague, a specific book, an online publication, or testing a new hypothesis on a live gig. The true barrier isn’t a lack of knowledge; it’s becoming paralyzed with the fear of the unknown. We must frequently and intentionally visit that uncomfortable place, because only there, in the gap between what you know and what you seek, can genuine professional growth be found.” 

Erika West: Pushing Sound Forward 

We are impressed with how much Erika’s journey has evolved, demonstrating that the pursuit of excellence can take a pro audio career to unexpected and rewarding new heights. We’re excited to see where she’ll go next! Erika was instrumental in the success of the first-ever L-Acoustics Connect Conference—a global, education-led event for audio professionals focused on advancing knowledge and creating connection points within the industry. If you are interested in what the L-Acoustics Education team has to offer and want to elevate your skills with industry-leading training, stay tuned as we announce more details for the 2026 Connect Conference. Erika’s story is a clear reminder that passion, purpose, and the willingness to learn can fuel a limitless career in pro audio.