In recent years, an increasing number of entrepreneurs have taken up DJing as a way to balance the demands of running a business with personal passion and creativity. Hasan Hadi, managing director and founder of Southgate Solicitors, a family law firm in north London, began DJing in 2025 and credits the hobby with enhancing his focus and work-life balance.
“I’m trying to use what I’m learning from gigs and festivals,” Hadi, 39, said. He views DJing not as an escape from his professional responsibilities but as a complementary activity that sharpens skills relevant to both careers. “Managing a law firm in the day and then DJing, they both need very similar skills,” he explained, citing the importance of reading the room and adapting in real time.
Hadi, who performs under the name Haddi, enrolled in DJ courses at London Sound Academy last January and has started music production training. He has played at prominent London venues including Egg and Ministry of Sound and appreciates the connection DJing fosters with people from across Europe’s music community, despite closures throughout the UK nightlife scene since 2020.
Other prominent figures who blend executive leadership and DJing include Steven Bartlett, known for his role on BBC’s Dragons’ Den and as founder of The Diary of a CEO podcast, and Victor Riparbelli, co-founder and CEO of AI video platform Synthesia, valued at $4 billion. High-profile corporate leaders like Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, who DJed as DJ D-Sol, and Shopify president Harley Finkelstein, highlight the crossover between business leadership and performance arts.
Tina Woods, aka DJ Tina Technotic, launched her DJ career at 60 after health issues redirected her from raving to learning the craft. Having founded Collider Health, a consultancy focusing on public-private partnerships in wellness innovation, Woods now operates a DJing event business called Longevity Rave, partnering with brands such as Sentia and Free Spirits. She emphasizes the social benefits and community connection that music and dancing offer entrepreneurs, often working with start-ups in the wellness sector.
Several founders began their careers as DJs before transitioning fully to business. Andy Cato, co-founder of agriculture company Wildfarmed and member of Groove Armada, leveraged his music career earnings to invest in farming. Similarly, Alana Macfarlane, co-founder of digestive health brand The Gut Stuff and part of the duo the Mac Twins, balanced a DJ career with business before selling the company to the Swiss food giant Hero Group earlier this year. Macfarlane noted growing interest among entrepreneurs in learning DJing, highlighting its appeal across diverse professional fields.
For many entrepreneur-DJs, the allure lies in the interaction with audiences and creative expression, while others, such as Riparbelli, treat it as a more private pursuit. This emerging trend illustrates how creative outlets like DJing can serve as both personal reinvigoration and an extension of leadership skills in a competitive business environment.