MCN2015

Digital Strategy & Transformation SIG

Panelists:
Jennifer Schmitt, Head of Information Technology and Electronic Communicationsde, Cordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Jana Hill, Digital Engagement Manager, Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Carolyn Royston, Executive Board, MCN, Independent Consultant
Liz Neely, President, MCN, Harwood Museum of Art

Panelists will speak about their experiences with mentoring in museums, either as mentor or mentee, or comment on the desire for more direct/structured mentoring programs.In the last year, the conversation about mentoring in museum has moved to the forefront. Invisible architecture can be interpreted as the unseen digital infrastructure, but it also includes the intricate human relationships that move the museum forward. With a number of shifts in the upper leadership of the museum community, where do mid-career museum professionals go for guidance and role models? What can we do within and across institutions to help support each other?

This panel will discuss their personal experiences including their role as mentors, mentees, and how to bridge the gap when feeling isolated in your own museum. Jenn Schmitt and Jana Hill will discuss their experiences with the Getty Leadership NextGen program and the idea of peer mentoring. Jenn can discuss cross-departmental mentorship and her experience working with deCordova’s Head of Marketing and PR. Carolyn Royston will address how she participates in more formal structured mentoring programs, and how those relationships can be successful using digital communication as well as physical proximity.

Topics may include: Is mentorship about subject matter and teaching? Or relationships and leadership? How does this lack of mentoring affect the digital transformations we are striving for? Does risk taking become more of a struggle when there feels like less support?

Following this the panel will open up the discussion to the audience to brainstorm with the panel. What does the MCN community want? What would they find helpful as we envision building a more structured program?. Liz Neely and Carolyn Royston will be representatives of the MCN Board, and can speak to the goals for an MCN-led program going forward.Potential Additional Activity:Speed Networking: Mentorship Edition - Have attendees write down a subject they’d like to mentor and/or a subject they want to be mentored in so they can connect more easily.