About Abe Ovadia
Abe Ovadia’s entrepreneurial story began with a skill he loved—playing guitar. Over time, he turned that foundation into a career spanning performance, education, business ownership, licensed products, publishing, and podcasting.
Each chapter opened another possibility. Teaching music led to opening a music academy. Performing introduced new audiences and markets. Experience with guitar connected to a product business that expanded into several categories. Years of playing and teaching became material for books and conversations with other musicians.
Through Your Skills, Your Business, Abe shares how those opportunities developed, what it took to pursue them, and how attendees can recognize possibilities within their own knowledge, skills, and interests.
From Music Teacher to Business Owner
Abe began by teaching music and eventually founded Monmouth Music Academy. Building the school expanded his responsibilities from working directly with students to attracting families, hiring teachers, coordinating schedules, and operating a business.
The academy was recently acquired by a music education franchise, adding the experience of selling a business to his journey as an entrepreneur.
Abe also served as a college professor, bringing his experience as a working musician into higher education. Across private instruction, college teaching, and business ownership, he learned how the same expertise can support very different professional opportunities.
From 15 Products to More Than 1,000
As the founder of Master Strap, Abe developed a product business that grew from approximately 15 products to more than 1,000 strap offerings.
An NCAA licensing deal became part of that expansion, connecting the products with collegiate brands and school communities. The business grew beyond guitar straps into several categories.
Guitar straps connecting music with school identity
Luggage straps for travelers and college fans
Camera straps serving another audience of enthusiasts and professionals
Shoulder bag and crossbody straps extending the business into everyday accessories
Master Strap’s story gives Abe a concrete way to discuss product development, licensing, identifying related markets, and the operational demands of a growing catalog.
From Restaurant Performances to the Blue Note and Beyond
Abe’s performance career has taken him from restaurant engagements to headlining New York City’s Blue Note Jazz Club. He also developed educational programs for public libraries and school assemblies, adapting his musical experience for audiences of different ages and backgrounds.
He has presented programs at more than 100 public libraries, combining live performance with musical history, storytelling, and audience engagement.
These experiences illustrate a central theme of his entrepreneurship talks. One skill can create several kinds of opportunities when you understand what different audiences need and develop an offer that serves them.
From Teaching Experience to Books and Podcasting
Abe has authored 15 books, organizing his musical and teaching knowledge into resources readers can use independently.
He also created and hosted Rabbit Hole Sessions, interviewing 200 jazz musicians about their lives, careers, and creative work. The podcast extended his work into another format, creating a platform for conversations, relationships, and shared experience.
Together, publishing and podcasting added new ways to use the expertise he had developed through years of performing and teaching.
