The Museum Enterprise Leadership program grew out of a strong need evidenced at the successful November 2018 FLAME (Forum for Leadership in Art museum Education) which convened in New York. Participants felt the workshops presented a strong business perspective and offered new and valuable insights. As one of the convening organizers, Judith Koke, Deputy Director and Director of Professional Learning at the Institute for Learning Innovation, knew this signaled an important opportunity. Partnering with Kimberly Young, a long time Director of Executive MBA programs and professional learning at multiple universities, a new program has developed. This program, the Museum Enterprise Leadership program, is based on the specific knowledge of the strengths, gaps and challenges Directors of Education face in operating effectively at the enterprise level. The curriculum is based on the four pillars of enterprise leadership, financial acumen, sense making, and community of practice.
Enterprise Leadership
- Leaders with an enterprise mindset treat their organizations’ functions, geographies and systems as interconnected and interdependent parts of a cohesive structure with one goal: delivering on the mission and strategic plan. Enterprise leaders do not change one element without considering how it will impact others, and expect everyone to put the needs of the enterprise ahead of those of a single function or project.
Financial Acumen
- Building on existing budget management skills, the enterprise leader applies a broad understanding of financial management principles to ensure decisions are fiscally sound, and strategically aligned with organizational values.
Sense Making
- We underscore the importance of sense making as a process of creating situational awareness and understanding in situations of high complexity or uncertainty, in order to make decisions.
Community of Practice
- As a group of individuals with shared interest in the success of art museums in serving their communities, now and in the future, we leverage our relationships to share resources, knowledge and skills to ensure the success of individuals and the group.