Guest Commentator: Ken Levy, Vice President, Enterprise Program Delivery, Radian Group Inc. @RadianGroupUS
How do professional development programs prepare arts and culture leaders for being flexible in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic?
When it comes to having the flexibility and resiliency to manage through a crisis, professional development programs can provide you with a range of tools and skills. Here are some specific examples of how professional development can arm you with key skills to navigate through uncertain times.
Starting in late 2020, I participated in the Business on Board program through the Arts + Business Council for Greater Philadelphia. The Business on Board program trains professionals from for-profit companies in nonprofit board service and matches them with arts and culture nonprofits to serve as board members. Business on Board is a fantastic example of how professional development can arm you with some valuable tools to navigate in times of uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The program benefited me in three very specific ways:
One, the Business on Board program addressed some very specific topics and provided training in some critical areas such as strategic planning, community engagement, financial management, legal and fiduciary responsibilities, and succession planning. These and other topics all factor in when navigating through difficult times for an organization. Many of the breakout sessions focused on reacting to the current pandemic and how it affects things like event management, facilities, operations, and safety. It is one thing for an organization to have a solid long-term plan in place, but how does your organization react when something of the magnitude of a COVID-19 pandemic disrupts that plan?
Two, the Business on Board program provided access to peers, organizations, and experts. I was able to collaborate, share ideas and experiences, and learn how other organizations are managing through the same difficult situation.
Three, by matching participants up with arts and cultural organizations, Business on Board participants have an opportunity to immediately get involved with an organization that needs their specific skills. Participants can take the experience beyond a classroom and apply it to an arts organization.
In times of uncertainty, continuing to develop professional skills is critical. Resiliency is crucial for organizations now more than ever, and arts organizations are among those being affected in very material ways by the COVID-19 pandemic. Having the ability to navigate through these challenges is what organizations need. Professional development is a great way to add these skills to your toolbox.
The Chamber’s Arts + Business Council fosters collaboration and exchange between the creative and business communities for the social and economic benefit of Greater Philadelphia.
Apply for Business on Board
Business on Board: Training and Matching Business Leaders with Arts + Culture Nonprofits
Ten Sessions | January – February 2022 | Virtual
Business on Board gathers leaders from the creative community and specialists in board development to paint a picture of the city’s arts and culture landscape and what it means to serve on a board of directors.
