Secrets of Success
“How do older female workers, previously in leadership
positions within museums, libraries and galleries, approach building a career post institutional life?
What sustains them and supports their success,
and what led them to make the change in the first place?”
Kathleen Soriano, cultural consultant, arts professional, broadcaster and CAO Associate was recently funded by the Clore Leadership Programme to undertake research into independent women workers in the arts.
Secrets of Success (which you can download via this link) explores how older female workers, previously in leadership positions in museums, libraries and galleries, approach building a career post institutional life. In so doing it considers what sustains them and supports their success as well as looking at what led them to take the step into independent working in the first place.
Kathleen interviewed 17 women from the charitable cultural sector from across the UK who had been directors of cultural organisations, directors of departments within an organisation, and executive team members. All were over 40 years of age with a minimum of 20 years’ experience in the sector, and had been working independently for a minimum of 1 year at the time of the interview.
Those interviewed have found themselves to be ‘more content in their independent roles - in control of their own destinies, earnings, and finding enough interest and learning in their projects to sustain them.’ And in the words of Jane Fonda, enjoying and benefitting from the ‘experience, wisdom, wholeness and authenticity’ that comes in mid-life.
I was one of the women Kathleen interviewed and it was such an interesting experience to reflect on how my own leadership has changed and evolved as I have become older.
Running a business has required a different skill set to working within a large-scale and complex organisation, but it is a skill set I have adapted to quickly and love. So many cultural professionals are unaware of what incredible entrepreneurs they are or could be, particularly women. Of course I am still making mistakes and learning all the time - but with a positivity, enthusiasm and curiosity that was subdued in my younger self.
We need to celebrate our successes more - so huge thanks to Kathleen for shining a light on us.
Lucy Shaw, Director and Founder, CAO
