From her early days working in Chicago nightclubs to becoming a leading figure in music booking, Ali's path through the industry exemplifies dedication and strategic vision. While balancing bartending shifts with her music business studies at Columbia College, she established the foundation for what would become an influential career in independent music.

Her breakthrough came at The Billions Corporation, North America's powerhouse independent booking agency, where she quickly proved herself to be a force of nature. In just eighteen months, she landed her first major signing with the genre-defying Calexico—and that was just the beginning. What followed was the creation of a roster of some of the most influential artists in entertainment today, including Sufjan Stevens, Glen Hansard, The New Pornographers, Car Seat Headrest, Neko Case, The Midnight, Mt. Joy, David Cross, Ibeyi, Pup, Amyl and the Sniffers and Vacations.

Beyond artist development, Ali has shown a strong commitment to industry leadership and community involvement, working with the charitable organization Plus1 and serving as chairman of the KEXP advisory board for four years.

Currently, as one of the founders of Arrival Artists, she oversees an independent booking agency representing more than 275 artists. The agency distinguishes itself through its innovative profit-sharing model, which extends to all employees—a rarity in the industry. Through a strategic partnership with ATC Live, Arrival Artists coordinates global strategies for their shared clients, advancing a modern, collaborative approach to artist representation.