Shazneen Acaharia was still new to the entertainment industry when she signed up to attend a commercial engagement event organised by the UK Foreign Office, hosted in Mumbai.
Speaking at this event was Green Man Festival’s Managing Director, Fiona Stewart.
At the event Fiona shared her journey taking a small event attended by a few thousand people to what has since become Wales’ flagship week-long music festival bringing 25,000 people a day to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park every year.
Shazneen was so enthused by Fiona’s talk that she applied for an internship. The Green Man apprenticeship covers all areas of entertainment and hospitality which is taught by highly experienced professionals at the top of their game. Shazneen said: “To be Green Man trained is a big deal. Entry is highly competitive, and hundreds apply.”
Knowing these opportunities are highly sought after and hard to come by, Shazneen was over the moon to be offered a one-year internship. Shazneen spent a year working in Wales planning and delivering Green Man Festival 2012, with a line up featuring Van Morrison, Alt J, and Michael Kiwanuka.
Shazneen’s work saw her take on responsibilities that involved artist advancing, artist accreditations, and she was part of the stage management team on the final day of the festival.
She also had a role in organising events in the lead up such as the Busk on the Usk: Cultural Olympiad for Wales. This event was attended by 38,000 people at the Riverside buildings and outside areas across three days. To be part of the organisation of the 2012 Olympics was a life changing experience for Shazneen.
Through her work with the Green Man team, Shazneen discovered a passion for watching a carefully organised plan come together and delivering a quality experience for guests.
Shazneen said: “To be able to be there from the very start at production to then witnessing it come to life on stage was a beautiful moment for me. The execution of it all was on point.”
Fiona Stewart, said: “Shazneen secured the internship because she demonstrated real talent and passion for the industry. In 2012, women were not well represented in our industry, this has much improved and that’s down to women like Shazneen who kicked the door in for others to follow. Wales is an inclusive and fair country and we’re proud Green Man has helped provide opportunities to lead positive change.”
Shazneen, continues: “At the time, many of the roles and approaches to event organisation and management were not recognised in India, but I was able to apply my learning in Wales to the industry in India and bring a new approach.”
In the years since her time in Wales, Shazneen has built a dynamic career as an artist manager, artist programmer for music and theatre festivals, and more recently was part of the team that launched India’s first Apple store.
This year, two Welsh artists performed at Hornbill Music Festival 2024 in Nagaland, one of the largest music festivals in India attracting visitors from all over the world.
“Hornbill Festival is similar to Green Man Festival in terms of location,” Shazneen said. “They are both in a beautiful town in the mountains.
“I also noticed that the people who attend the festivals are similar too. They’re full of good energy and everyone wants to enjoy themselves, have fun and embrace new experiences and cultures.”
Shazneen said: “I’m excited more people are getting the chance to experience the Welsh culture I grew to love. I loved the food, the people, and the air. Every time I woke up in Wales there’s a certain beautiful energy.”
For the latest news and updates on Wales in India, follow @WalesInIndia on X and Wales in India on LinkedIn.
