Leadership Museum
Before transitioning to a career in education, I spent my twenties working in museums, where I had the opportunity to witness profound leadership in action. As a technical worker, I collaborated with renowned curators, designers, and museum directors in institutions known for producing world-class exhibitions. This experience allowed me to observe leaders up close, often under significant pressure, and gain insights into their approaches. Among these experiences, one moment stands out: during an exhibition project at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, then-director Philippe de Montebello not only remembered my name but invited me—a contractor—to share my thoughts in a meeting with curators and designers. His intentionality in making me feel valued and seen left a lasting impression. That moment exemplified true leadership: the ability to uplift and include those who might otherwise be overlooked. It taught me that people remember not just what you accomplish but how you make them feel.
Artist Statement: Leadership Museum Submission
For the Leadership Museum, I present a simple yet profound object: a single strand of thread, suspended in space. This thread represents the small yet essential acts of leadership—the ones that often go unnoticed but weave the fabric of impactful change. My guiding notion of leadership is rooted in remembrance and recognition: remembering names, seeing the unseen, and hearing the unheard. The thread symbolizes the core of leadership as I have experienced it—not as grand gestures or towering authority, but as deliberate, human moments of connection and inclusion.
This notion stems from my time working in museums, where I encountered leaders who shaped my understanding of leadership. Philip de Montebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, remembered my name and invited my thoughts, though I was a mere contractor. Thelma Golden at the Studio Museum in Harlem exuded confidence and authenticity, showing the power of presence. Alexander Munroe at the Guggenheim modeled grace under pressure, balancing care with high-stakes decision-making. These leaders shared one vital trait: they created threads of connection, weaving a sense of belonging even in hierarchical spaces.
Knitting is my personal metaphor for leadership, inspired by Michelle Obama’s words: leadership begins with one thread, one stitch at a time. In my own practice, I remind myself of the leaders who made me feel seen, as well as the threads I strive to weave with those I lead. This thread, both fragile and unbreakable, represents the small but intentional acts that, when combined, create something beautiful and enduring. Leadership, like knitting, is built one thread at a time.